How do batteries work?

How do batteries work?
Scroll for prep
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Slide Image
5
Why are these trees such weird shapes? What do you think? Look at the pictures for clues. What else do you see in the pictures? Hint: The trees were trimmed by people.
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
5
Did you notice the power lines? Those carry electricity! People cut off tree branches near power lines so trees don’t get zapped like this! Electricity can make sparks, which can start fires.
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
5
There’s always electricity flowing inside of the power lines. They’re
like tubes with electricity inside. Sometimes during storms, if the
cables break, you can see the electricity starting dangerous fires.
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
4
Lightning is a form of electricity! Watch these lightning bolts in slow
motion. What shapes do you notice? After thinking about that, think
about this: If lightning hit the ground, what would it look like?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
4
Check it out! Lightning hit the ground in this golf course. What pattern do you notice in the grass?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Slide Image
3
An artist is going to zap a piece of wood with electricity. What do you think it will look like when it’s zapped? (Never try this yourself.)
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
3
Watch as this piece of wood is zapped with electricity at its two corners. The electricity sets the wood on fire and it spreads. Check out the patterns that it makes! Look familiar?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Slide Image
2
Maybe you’ve heard of electric eels before. And you may know that electricity can light up a light bulb. Here’s a strange question: Could you get an electric eel to light up a light bulb? How?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
2
A scientist put a FAKE human arm in a fish tank with an electric eel. The fake arm has a lot of light bulbs inside. Watch what happens as the eel jumps up and onto the arm!
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
1
Electricity makes cool branching patterns when it hits things. Could you invent something for lightning to hit? Hint: Electricity likes to hit metal. (It’d be dangerous to really do this, but you can pretend!)
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
1
People have made metal suits for fun! That big round machine makes electricity, and it zaps the metal suit! (NEVER do this—t’s very, very dangerous. These people are trained scientists.)
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
1
A band called “ArcAttack” sometimes wears metal suits. Imagine
playing a guitar while being struck by lightning! (It doesn’t hurt them,
but only because the suits are special, built to be safe!)
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Slide Image
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

Overview

In this mini-lesson, students explore how the dissection of a frog led to an incredible discovery, and later, the invention of the battery!

Exploration

5 mins

Extend this lesson

Writing

Activity

Download this Lesson to your device so you can play it offline:
Credits