Sixth Grade
Worksheets
How Do Batteries Work?
There are many different types of batteries. Batteries like the ones in your flashlight are called dry cell batteries. At the top of a battery, you see a plus sign. At the bottom, you see a minus sign. These mark the battery's two poles or terminals.
Inside the battery are special chemicals. A chemical reaction changes chemical energy into electrical energy. Tiny particles called electrons are released from the chemicals. When you connect the terminals of the battery with wire, the electrons flow from one terminal to the other. This flow is called electricity.
Batteries have direct current. Electricity flows in only one direction. Batteries can store power for months or even years. The electricity won't flow until the terminals are connected. Batteries hold potential energy that can be stored until it is needed.
