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Electricity

What is Electricity?

Electricity is a flow of charged particles.
Charged particles can be electrons or ions.
If you are not sure what electrons or ions are,
see GCSE Chemistry at electrons or ions.

In chemistry during electrolysis, ions that are
free to move will conduct electricity.
In physics, electricity is a flow of electrons.

What is a Cell or a Battery?

A cell or a battery is a power supply
that uses chemical energy to make electricity.

In the circuit below, electricity will flow from the
cell or battery, through the lamp
and back to the cell. This is called direct current.

Difference between a Cell and a Battery

What is the Difference between a Cell and a Battery?

In every-day life, we use the word "battery".
In physics, one "battery" on its own is called a cell.
Two or more cells joined together are called a battery.

The word "battery" is used to mean "collection".
A collection of cells is called a battery of cells.

The cells of a battery are joined together in series.
The positive side of one cell
touches the negative side of the next cell.

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