Johnf09



media type="custom" key="3138346" = = = = = = **Early Childhood Facts:** `Alessandro was born on February 18, 1745 in Como, Lombardy, Italy. `He died on March 5, 1827 near Como, Lombardy Italy. `Volta was educated in public schools all throughout his life. `He became the professor of physics at the Royal School in Como. `In 1974, Volta married Teresa Peregrine, and the couple had three sons.

Alessandro invented the first chemical battery called the Voltaic Pipe. Today, we know the Voltaic Pipe as the battery. It was the first object to generate electricity.
 * What Exactly Did Alessandro Invent?**

The battery pretty much allows any electronic object to work. The battery is the main power source for the object, and is the only way the object can run or function properly. Batteries are put into all sorts of objects from cell phones to cars.
 * What does the battery do?**

A battery has a positive and negative side to it. The positive side is called the **cathode**, and the negative side is called the **anode**. To illustrate how a battery works and how the components interact, let’s take a simplified battery and attach it to a light bulb. As the light bulb draws power from the battery, electrons start to flow from the anode (the negative part of the battery) through the external bulb connection and back to the cathode (the positive part of the battery). This flow of energy from the battery to power the light results in a decrease in the voltage (the energy level) of the battery. In other words, as a battery is used or discharged over time, the voltage drops as the anode and cathode undergo electrochemical changes. You can **create your own voltaic pile** using coins and paper towels. Mix salt with water (as much salt as the water will hold) and soak the paper towel in this brine. Then create a pile by alternating pennies and nickels. See what kind of voltage and current the pile produces. Try a different number of layers and see what effect it has on voltage. Then try alternating pennies and dimes and see what happens. Also try dimes and nickels. Other metals to try include aluminum foil and steel. Each metallic combination should produce a slightly different voltage.
 * How the battery Works:**
 * Did you know?!**

Sources!!! = http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventors/volta.htm** = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltaic_pile http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/battery2.htm http://www.rayovac.com/wizard/battery_howwork.htm