Electrical Cell
Contents
Key Stage 1
Key Stage 2
Meaning
An electrical cell is the part of a circuit that makes the electricity flow.
About Electrical Cells
- An electrical cell stores energy.
- Inside an electrical cell there are chemicals that react with each other.
- An electrical cell pushes the electricity along the wires when there is a complete circuit.
An electrical cell. | The symbol for an electrical cell. |
Note for Teachers
Key Stage 3
Meaning
An electrical cell is an electrical device that has a chemical potential energy store which provides a push for electrons to flow around a circuit.
About Electrical Cells
- An electrical cell stores energy.
- Inside an electrical cell there are chemicals that react with each other.
- An electrical cell pushes the electricity along the wires when there is a complete circuit.
An electrical cell. | The symbol for an electrical cell. |
Key Stage 4
Meaning
An electrical cell is a device capable of storing store chemical potential energy which can be transferred by electrically to components in a circuit.
About Electrical Cells
- An electrical cell is a source of direct current.
- Electrical cells contain a store of chemicals which can react to produce a potential difference.
- In an electrical cell a displacement reaction occurs between different metals. The greater the difference between reactivity of the metals the greater the potential difference provided by the cell.
- The reaction only takes place when there is a complete circuit. If the circuit is broken the reaction will stop.
- Once all of the reactants have been used, the electrical cell will stop providing a potential difference.