You are here
What is Electric Cell?
It is a portable source of electrical energy .
- Electric cells have two terminals - positive and negative .
- Positive terminal is the small metal cap that sticks out .
- Negative terminal is the flat metal disc at other end .
- Electric cells provide power to make devices work .
Activity 3.2: Examining Electric Cell (Page 25)
What you need:
- Electric cell
What to do:
- Step 1: Take an electric cell, turn it around and look at it carefully
- Step 2: Look for positive (+) sign and negative (-) sign marked on it
Question (Page 25): Do you notice a positive (+) sign and a negative (-) sign marked on it?
Answer:
We have studied that
electric cells
have
two terminals
. This is why we can see the markings.
- Positive terminal shows + sign on small metal cap
- Negative terminal shows - sign on flat metal disc
Observations
What you see:
- Positive terminal appears as small metal cap with + marking
- Negative terminal appears as flat metal disc with - marking
- Terminals are at opposite ends of the cell
Why this happens:
We have studied that
electric cells
are
portable energy sources
. This is why they need
two terminals
for
current flow
.
- Positive terminal allows current to flow out
- Negative terminal allows current to flow in
Question (Page 25): In a torch, we generally use more than one cell. Are those placed in any particular order?
Answer:
We have studied that
electric cells
have
positive
and
negative terminals
. This is why they must be placed correctly.
- Positive terminal of one cell connects to negative terminal of next cell
- This arrangement allows current to flow properly
