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TIL charged alkaline batteries don't bounce but dead ones do

Amazing Way to Test Batteries!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_m6p99l6ME

Here is a simple and amazing way to test any alkaline battery without tools! Works in seconds! Try it!Looks like bajarider1000 did this before me so thanks f...

As an alkaline battery is discharged, the anode undergoes oxidation from Zn to ZnO.

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The battery most likely begins to bounce because of displacement of water by solid ZnO bridges between particles of zinc in the gel. These bridges provide less impeding and attenuating paths for pressure waves, in turn making the battery bouncier.

Bhadra, S.; Hertzberg, B. J.; Hsieh, A. G.; Croft, M.; Gallaway, J. W.; Van Tassell, B. J.; Chamoun, M.; Erdonmez, C.; Zhong, Z.; Sholkapper, T.; Steingart, D. A. The relationship between coefficient of restitution and state of charge of zinc alkaline primary LR6 batteries. J. Mater. Chem. A. 2015, 3, 9395–9400.

2 comments

Crul

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Caveat from Do dead batteries really bounce? | Office for Science and Society - McGill University:

while it’s true that dead batteries bounce, so do half full batteries, and even 99% full batteries. All this test can really tell you is whether a battery is brand new or not.

Ullallulloo

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That's a good caveat. I've never taken out a half-discharged battery though. I'll just end up with a few batteries on my desk where I can't remember if they came from the box or the device.