Final answer:
A standard flashlight battery converts chemical potential energy into electrical energy which is then transformed into light and heat in a flashlight. This process is akin to how mitochondria in cells convert chemical energy from nutrients into ATP, the currency of energy for cellular activity. An experiment with new and old batteries can show the depletion of stored energy over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
A standard flashlight battery converts chemical potential energy stored within it into electrical energy. This is done through a chemical reaction when the battery is connected in a circuit, leading to the movement of electrons which then power devices such as a flashlight. The flashlight's lightbulb transforms this electrical energy into light and heat by virtue of its resistance to the flow of charge.
These conversions are similar to how mitochondria in cells convert chemical energy from nutrients into a form that cells can use. The mitochondria's process of cellular respiration involves extracting energy from the chemical bonds in glucose and converting it into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is a usable form of energy for cellular functions.
An experiment with new versus old batteries in a flashlight can illustrate how potential energy is stored and then depleted at different rates depending on the condition of the battery. New batteries have more chemical potential energy, thus can sustain the brightness of the flashlight for a longer time before going flat, whereas old batteries will exhaust their stored energy more quickly.