Why do batteries go dead in an unused flashlight while the rest of the batteries still in the pack stay good?

submitted by raven9 from self.AskSaidIt

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[–][deleted] 16 insightful - 4 fun16 insightful - 3 fun17 insightful - 4 fun -  (3 children)

I can explain this phenomenon, because i study it right now ! :-)

It is called "creep" current. Every source of current has certain things connecting its poles. Even the batteries in the pack will go dead. Most likely later because the resistance between them is higher than the resistance connecting the batteries in your flash-light. They most likely are connected by metal which itself has a low resistance, even when turned off.

[–]bobbobbybob 3 insightful - 4 fun3 insightful - 3 fun4 insightful - 4 fun -  (2 children)

They most likely are connected by metal which itself has a low resistance, even when turned off.

are you high?

When a flash light is turned off, there is NO CONNECTION. so your explanation needs to cover what allows the 'creep current'. There is no difference in the internal configuration of a battery in a pack or in a torch.

Is it migration of environmental electrons, limited by the surface area of the electrodes?

Because that would make sense. When plugged into a torch, the +ve and =ve surface areas increase by the SA of all the connected metal. There is no connection between +ve and -ve, otherwise the light would be ON.

In a battery box, the surface area is minimal, as the electrodes are just a button and a flat plate.

Will go find real science to verify

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 3 fun1 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 3 fun -  (1 child)

There is a phenomenon called Brownian motion and above that entropy.

Turned "off" in quantum physical terms means "mostly turned off". It doesn't even relate to a surface, as easily is proven with a statistical integral.