Hi Lindy,
         What you are describing is a (very) theoretical high energy densit=
y (lots of Watt hours inside) battery with a very very low internal resista=
nce (it can deliver a lot of amps when the load is of sufficiently low resi=
stance).

So if you were to plug this into a remote control in place of an ordinary 9=
V battery it would work fine, the remote would take only the tiny current i=
t requires and the battery would be able to power it for a very long time i=
ndeed (assuming the battery has zero self discharge).

If you were to short circuit the battery with a hefty copper bar then it wo=
uld deliver a huge amount of amps through the low resistance of the bar and=
 probably vaporise it with spectacular and lethal consequences. Definitely =
not the sort of battery to carry in your pocket along with keys and small c=
hange!
 =20
It could be used in place of a car battery if the starter motor and other e=
lectronics were changed to operate on 9v, other applications would all depe=
nd on whether 9V was enough voltage to operate the electronics or overcome =
the resistance of the load.

Power * time does work.
Power is Volts * Amps.
Volts provide the poke to push Amps through Ohms.

Things get more complicated for AC and loads with capacitance or inductance=
 :)

Cheers,
        Robin.=20



-----Original Message-----
From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf Of=
 Lindy Mayfield
Sent: 22 October 2013 13:22
To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public.
Subject: [OT] Thought experiment: Understanding volts vs amps

I've spent years, on and off, trying to understand what volts means and wha=
t watts or amps or current means.  Literally since I first opened a book ab=
out electronics when I was small.

I may perhaps be close.

Given matter to energy conversion rules and laws, and adhering to all known=
 laws of physics...

What if I had a 9 volt battery that could easily supply all the power neces=
sary to my home for 1 year.  Or power a small neighborhood for a day no mat=
ter what  the energy consumption...

This would be indeed an efficient chemical battery, but given the right tec=
hnology, it could be done,  no?

Given that:  Could I plug that same 9 volt battery into  something small, l=
ike a TV remote control, or a hand-held radio?  In place of a 9v battery th=
at I can buy today?  Without any changes to resistors, capacitors, transist=
ors?  No changes to the circuits?

And further, could that same 9 volt battery be used anywhere a battery is r=
equired, a car starter, a toy, an electric wheel chair, an electric train n=
ormally powered by a diesel?  Assuming that in some cases the voltage will =
need to be changed?

It's probably painfully obvious those are my questions, not any out of a bo=
ok or for a class.  :)

Thanks!
Lindy


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