Science Behind - What are Batteries?

Batteries provide electricity for nearly every small electrical device in the home—from flashlights and watches to power tools. The composition of a battery depends on the purpose for which it will be used. Have fun exploring batteries with these engaging freebies, videos, and kits!

Colorful Electrolysis—Chemical
Demonstration Kit
With the Colorful Electrolysis Oxidation– Reduction Chemical Demonstration Kit, present electrolysis in a very colorful and dramatic way on an overhead projector.

Create Your Very Own Simple
Battery—Guided-Inquiry Kit
In the Create Your Very Own Simple Battery Guided- Inquiry Kit, students create their very own tiny, simple, handheld batteries while learning about electrochemistry and galvanic and electrolytic cells.

360Science™: Battery Challenge
IN this lab, students carry out an investigation to determine which combinations of metals and their aqueous solutions produce the highest voltage. Students determine the battery that produces the highest voltage.

Build the Simplest Electric Motor
Challenge your students to build a simple motor with only three components: a battery, a piece of copper wire and a strong magnet.

Citrus Battery Contest
Design a battery using metal strips and a lemon or an orange.

Aluminum Air Battery
Build a dry cell battery with this fun activity! Batteries provide electricity for nearly every small electrical device in the home—from flashlights to power tools.