Book 3, Question 33
Why Do Phones Need Charging?
Your phone stores energy in a rechargeable battery. The screen, radio, and chips spend that energy, and charging puts energy back in. A phone battery is a refillable snack, and apps eat that snack!
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 3
More fun facts
- Phones and laptops run on lithium-ion batteries.
- In a charged lithium-ion battery, one end, made of graphite, is packed with lithium atoms.
- A battery's power comes from electric charge moving from one substance to another.
- As a battery works, charged particles called ions travel through a material inside it called the electrolyte, which can be solid, liquid or gel.
- Charging pushes the battery back to its high-energy state so it can power your phone again.
- Scientists use powerful X-rays to look inside lithium-ion batteries and learn why they lose charge or fail.
Sources: Scientific American, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Energy
Questions kids ask
What kind of battery is in a phone?
Most phones use a lithium-ion battery, which can be recharged many times.