For example, when a cell phone is connected to an external battery supply. How does the system know to flow energy to the cell phone? If the cell phone had more charge would it reverse and start to send power to the external battery supply?
In: Physics
All DC batteries have a current path, positive and negative.
Assuming the stronger battery in question has enough energy to overcome the resistance of the second battery.
Assuming they are making a circuit they’d “charge” each other until the stronger one doesn’t have the power to overcome the resistance of the weaker battery.
This whole process costs energy. So 10% battery meets a 100% battery, the best you’d get is two batteries at 30-40%.
If the batteries are connect out of phase … depending on how much power is applied, bad things may happen.
Normally, your intuition would (sort of) be the case. However, your phone battery does not get connected directly to whatever you plug in. Instead there is a charging circuit that regulates the voltage and current in the phone and ensures proper energy flow, as well as preventing your battery from catching fire. Unless you’ve got an S7, in which case RIP.
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