Eli5: why do batteries start working again when you swap them round?
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There’s two reasons why swapping them would affect in anyway whether they work again. The first reason is oxidation or unclean terminals that prevent a good connection. By removing them and then reinserting it’s possible to scrape some of what’s preventing contact.
The second reason is more so when battery is completely drained. When a battery is under load, the voltage drops and so does the amperage. When a battery is discharged enough, the voltage drops to a point where the device will no longer work (depends on the device, and battery chemistry).
When you take the battery/batteries out of the device, the reaction stops and the battery will cool down and voltage will rise a bit allowing a little bit more current to flow. Giving he appearance that a dead battery might not be completely dead yet.
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