The most common battery type is AA. AA batteries are typically dry cells, which are made with an electrolyte that is inside a paste. An electrolyte is a solution that conducts electricity. When under a load, a thin rod inside of the battery reacts with the paste to produce a voltage.
Background
The first chemical battery was invented by Italian physicist Alessandro Volta. Dry cell batteries were invented by the Japanese clockmaker Sakizou Yai and patented by German chemist Carl Gassner. The first alkaline battery was invented by Thomas Edison, but Canadian chemical engineer Lewis Urry made the first small one and also invented lithium batteries.
Features
AA batteries are typically about 1.988 inches in height and .0571 inches in diameter. They have steel casings and are typically alkaline, so they produce 1.5 volts.
Other AA Battery Voltages
Lithium AA batteries are 3 volts, and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are 3.6 volts. Nickel metal hydrides and nickel-cadmium AAs are also rechargeable and are 3.6 and 1.2 volts, respectively.
Care
AA batteries should not be placed in pockets or purses with metal objects such as coins or paper clips. To prolong their life, AA batteries should be removed from devices that are infrequently used.
Uses
AA batteries are very popular in households. Common uses include:
- toys
- remote controls
- radios
- portable TVs
- smoke alarms
- flashlights
References
- Getting Started in Electronics; Forrest Mims III; 2000
- Story of Inventions; Frank P. Bachman; 2008
About the Author
Kim Lewis is a professional programmer and web developer. She has been a technical writer for more than 10 years and has written articles for businesses and the federal government. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Science, and occasionally teaches classes on how to program for the Internet.
Photo Credits
Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Jason Rogers