Final answer:
A battery can possess chemical potential energy, which can be converted to electrical energy when connected in a circuit. The law of conservation of energy ensures this energy can change form but is never lost, explaining how batteries store and release energy. Over time, a battery will deplete its stored energy and go flat as the energy is converted and used up.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, a battery system can either possess or lack energy. A battery stores chemical potential energy that can be converted into electrical energy. This process occurs during a chemical reaction inside the battery when it is connected in a circuit, converting the chemical potential energy to electrical energy, which then powers the movement of electrons through the circuit. When we use a battery to power a device, the chemical potential energy is methodically converted into other forms of energy, such as electrical energy, heat, and light (in the case of a lightbulb).
The law of conservation of energy states that energy can change form but is never lost. This principle explains why the energy from a battery is stored in the electric field between the plates, similar to how the gravitational potential energy of a raised hammer is stored in Earth's gravitational field. If no electric field existed between the plates of a battery, the battery would not have the potential to store energy. Therefore, just as a bag of chips contains calories that can be converted to energy for our bodies, a battery contains chemical potential energy that can be converted to electrical energy for a circuit.
To illustrate this concept in another way, consider a situation where a battery is placed in a circuit. Normally, it would supply power to the circuit. However, in some cases, such as during battery charging, the battery can absorb power from the circuit. This versatility reflects that a battery can both store energy and have that energy converted to other forms.
Eventually, a battery will 'go flat' when all its chemical potential energy has been converted into other forms of energy in the circuit. This is why batteries must be recharged or replaced after extended use. The decrease in a battery's potential energy as it is used is akin to a car battery that is unable to start the car or power electronic components, indicating that the battery has lost its stored energy.