The combination of DC cells wired in series is best described as a what?

The combination of DC cells wired in series is best described as a what?

• A. Capacitor
• B. Battery
• C. Inductor
• D. Resistor

Answer: (B)

Wiring DC cells in series adds their voltages, creating a higher voltage source. A battery is exactly that: multiple electrochemical cells connected together to provide DC power. So the setup described is a battery. This differs from a capacitor, which stores energy in an electric field between plates and charges up to the applied voltage but does not serve as a continual energy source in the way a battery does. An inductor stores energy in a magnetic field and is used for energy storage or filtering, not as a primary voltage source. A resistor is a passive element that dissipates energy as heat and does not supply energy. As a practical note, in series the voltage adds while the available current rating (capacity) stays the same, so more cells raise voltage but not the current capability.

Wiring DC cells in series adds their voltages, creating a higher voltage source. A battery is exactly that: multiple electrochemical cells connected together to provide DC power. So the setup described is a battery.

This differs from a capacitor, which stores energy in an electric field between plates and charges up to the applied voltage but does not serve as a continual energy source in the way a battery does. An inductor stores energy in a magnetic field and is used for energy storage or filtering, not as a primary voltage source. A resistor is a passive element that dissipates energy as heat and does not supply energy.

As a practical note, in series the voltage adds while the available current rating (capacity) stays the same, so more cells raise voltage but not the current capability.