To maintain the current in a given electric circuit, a cell needs to expend its stored chemical energy. The cell undergoes chemical reactions internally, generating a potential difference across its terminals.
What does a cell need to do to maintain the current in a given electric circuit, and what does it expend to achieve this?
Share
To maintain current in an electric circuit, a cell needs to continuously provide a potential difference (voltage) across the circuit. It accomplishes this by undergoing chemical reactions within its electrodes and electrolyte. The cell expends chemical energy stored in its reactants, converting it into electrical energy. During this electrochemical process, electrons flow from the negative electrode (anode) to the positive electrode (cathode), creating a potential difference. The continuous chemical reactions sustain the voltage, allowing the cell to supply the necessary electromotive force to maintain the current flow in the circuit.