Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A battery is a device consisting of one or more electrochemical cells with external connections for powering electrical devices such as flashlights, smartphones, and electric cars.
Related terms
Primary Battery: These are batteries that are not rechargeable once depleted; they're like single-use lunchboxes filled with food that can't be refilled once eaten.
Secondary Battery: These are rechargeable batteries; think about them as reusable lunchboxes – once you've eaten all your food, you can refill it again!
Terminal Voltage: The voltage outputted by a battery when it's delivering current; this would be like measuring how much food you have left in your lunchbox after eating some of it.