re: #424 retired cynic

I just watched this simple solution to test alkaline batteries for charge. Is it correct?

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I don’t think it would be very accurate, since each manufacturer has slightly different designs for their batteries. The demo would be more convincing if he’d used two Eveready or two Duracells. And used a servo to drop them simultaneously from rest.

I’m doubtful this “test” works, because the density of battery as it discharges can’t change substantially if at all. You’re not removing any material from the battery when you use it (electrons leave and enter), so the mass doesn’t change. The volume of the stuff inside might change, but not enough to change the dynamic behavior of the cell as it falls.