Final answer:
The statement about excessive parasitic draw discharging the battery over a short amount of time is true. Parasitic draws deplete the battery by continuing to use electricity after the ignition key is off. The flow in a battery circuit involves electrons and excessive loads can cause reduced output voltage, demonstrated when too many lights are connected in parallel to a car battery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Excessive parasitic draw will indeed discharge the battery over a short amount of time. This statement is true. A parasitic draw refers to any electrical device that draws current after the ignition key is turned off. Over time, this can deplete the battery. A common example of parasitic draw is a glove box light that does not turn off when the compartment is closed.
When discussing a battery, it's important to note that the flow of charge is in the form of electrons, not protons. Electrons move from the negative terminal to the positive terminal. In a situation where a wire is placed directly across the two terminals of a battery, shorting out the terminals, a large current will flow leading to rapid heating. This happens because a short circuit allows for a high current flow due to very low resistance, and the energy is dissipated as heat via the battery's internal resistance.
Concerning recharging a battery, some energy used during the recharging process is indeed dissipated as heat due to the battery's internal resistance.
If we connect an excessive number of 12-V lights in parallel to a car battery, the lights will appear dim due to the fact that the output voltage of the battery is reduced by the overload, which demonstrates the relationship between current draw, voltage, and power supply capabilities.