Batteries power much of your daily life. In this video episode of Crash Course Physics, we're going to talk about how they work. We're also explaining how terminal voltage results from the natural internal resistance of every real...

This video outlines in simple terms why a motor controller is needed and what it does. [5:29]

Does the distance between the copper and zinc electrodes matter? What happens to the deflection when we hold them close vs. far apart? Why is there a difference? Watch this video lecture to find out. [1:06]

Learn about the invention of the battery from a recreation of Alessandro Volta and Luigi Galvani journey. [8:29]

Video lecture shows testing out a cell which holds the metals at a constant distance. We add it to salt water and then check the deflection. Can this be used as a standard unit? [1:09]

Sal continues working on the battery operated beetle bot, "Spout." [6:16]

Simple device which we can use to measure our homemade batteries. You can test it with any household battery first. What does this deflection represent? What forces are involved? [0:50]

What's the difference between one piece of metal and three pieces of metal in our cell. Does deflection change? Why? [1:07]

The study of electricity goes all the way back to antiquity. But, by the time electricity started to become more well known, a few familiar names started to appear. Edison, Galvani, Ohm, Ampere, Volta, and a few others really changed the...

What is the process that provides voltage in a battery cell? Check out this virtual lab.

In addition to his work as a politician and author, Benjamin Franklin was a significant scientist of his era. He is best known for his experiments with electricity, which proved that lightning was electricity that could be stored in a...

By pulsing the connection to the battery we can cause a compass to spin. Watch this video to figure out how this works. [0:47]

This demonstration shows an example of reduction-oxidation reaction. [1:04]

Watch as we test out a cell that holds the metals at a constant distance in this Khan video. We add it to salt water and then check the deflection. Can this be used as a standard unit? [1:08]

What happens to the deflection when we attach the penny and zinc in the opposite direction? Watch this video to find out. [1:22]

This demonstration shows that when we pull a cell out of the electrolyte it still causes a deflection, which increases when pressure is applied. How could this lead to more efficient batteries? [0:39]

A video challenging students to design a more powerful battery to light a blue LED. [0:30]

See the solution in this video how to get a four-cell battery generates 2 volts to generate 3 volts to light the blue LED. [0:36]

Does the distance between the copper and zinc electrodes matter? What happens to the deflection when we hold them close vs. far apart? Watch this visual demonstration to answer these questions. [1:05]

We attach our galvanometer to a piece of copper and zinc. Then we submerge the metals in pure water and vinegar. What is the difference? Watch this visual demonstration to answer this question. [1:22]

This visual demonstration shows an experiment with a strong acid as an electrolyte and observing the change in deflection compared to weak acid (vinegar). [0:43]

Watch as we experiment with hot vs. cold vinegar as our electrolyte. Does the deflection in our galvanometer depend on temperature? [1:36]

What's the difference between one piece of metal and three pieces of metal in our cell. Does deflection change? Watch this visual demonstration to answer these questions. [1:07]

The video lesson is from Khan Academy's physics library. The discovery of the battery, along with its connection to electromagnetism, are discussed.