Naked Science Forum
General Science => General Science => Topic started by: sharkeyandgeorge on 20/03/2006 10:04:41
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weve all done it, the remotes packed in so we take the bateries out swap them around andit works again...but why? why should changing the position of the batteries make any difference to the charge left in them? does anyone know?
"your not paranoid if they're really after you"
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This is a pure guess. Oxides will tend to build up on the battery terminals. When the batteries are at the end of their life these oxides are sufficient to provide a barrier to current flow. Removing the batteries and replacing them dislodges these oxides, allowing current flow to occur.
A simple test that would confirm this would be to remove the batteries and replace them in the same position. If the remote then works, this hypothesis is probably correct. If they do not, then it is wrong.
Observe; collate; conjecture; analyse; hypothesise; test; validate; theorise. Repeat until complete.
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I think you're right, I've taken the battery out of something that only takes one battery, given it a quick rub and replaced it and its worked again.
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a better thing to do is take the batteries out and rub the terminals with a pencil eraser. Make sure you don't leave any crumbs in the machine.
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John - The Eternal Pessimist.
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ill give it a try thanks
J.B.S Haldane on the perforated eardrums which were a consequence of his pressure experiments "the drum generally heals up; and if a hole remains in it, although one is somewhat deaf, one can blow tobacco smoke out of the ear in question, which is a social accomplishment".
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I must tell my wifey those tips !!