How a lead acid battery works

To properly understand how the electrical system of a motorcycle or a car works, it helps if you have a detailed understanding of how the battery works.

In this video I describe in detail how an automotive lead acid battery works. I assume that the viewer has no prior knowledge of batteries and I try to explain things in as simple a detail as possible while also breaking down the complex chemical reactions and physics that takes place inside. Unfortunately I don't think you can truly explain how a lead acid battery works without invoking the chemical reactions or explaining the flow of ions or electrons which involves a small amount of physics.

Some notes to properly frame the scientific language found in the video:

H2O = Chemical symbol for water (liquid)

H2SO4 = Chemical symbol for sulphuric acid (liquid)

Pb = Chemical symbol for Lead (metal)

PbO2 = Chemical symbol for Lead Dioxide (solid)

PbSO4 = Chemical symbol for for Lead Sulphate (solid)

H+ = Hydrogen ion (positively charged as its missing an electron)

HSO4- = Hydrogen Sulphate (negatively charged as it contains an extra election)

Electron = Fundamental charged particle which orbits the nucleus of most elements or atoms. The flow of free electrons in conductors is electricity.

Ion = An atom or molecule which is missing one or more electrons usually found orbiting the neutral form of the atom or molecule

Electric field (or force) = The invisible field surrounding a charged particle, charged ion or a charged metal surface which is responsible for attracting particles or ions of the opposite charge towards it. The field also repels particles or ions of the opposite charge. It has no effect on uncharged particles.

Видео How a lead acid battery works канала The Motorcycle Muse