🚀 go-pugleaf

On Sat, 25 Feb 1995, Jennifer Wright wrote:

> I have heard on several occasions that rechargeable batteries should not
> be used when doing "batteries and bulbs" type activities.  The recycler
> in me hates throwing away all the batteries at the end of the unit (we
> have a pretty large physics program involving about 200 first year
> students so go through quite a few batteries).  Does anyone know why one
> should not use them?
>
> Jennifer Wright
> Physics Teacher
> Mercer Island High School

Did your source of information suggest *why* such cells are not
appropriate? Only two differences come to mind which could affect the
experiment:

(1) Differences in cell internal resistance. But how often do you have
high school students measure that?

(2) As a result of the different internal resistance, the appropriate
resistance bulb for a single cell will be different. I.e., you might
shorten the lifetime of the bulbs you were using before with the
non-rechargable cell. I suspect the difference in lifetime is so small
that blowing bulbs from other :-) causes would predominate.

        -- Donald