A standard 12 V car battery has an ampere-hour rating of 40 Ah, whereas a heavy-duty battery has a rating of 60 Ah. How would you compare the energy levels of each and the available current for starting purposes?

Question

Physics

Saul Becker

15 February, 18:48

A standard 12 V car battery has an ampere-hour rating of 40 Ah, whereas a heavy-duty battery has a rating of 60 Ah. How would you compare the energy levels of each and the available current for starting purposes?

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Answers (1)

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Brenda Hull · Answer 1

Ah is a unit of charge.

A battery with 12 V and charge capacity of 40 Ah will have energy content

= volt x charge

volt = 12 V

Charge = 40 Ah

= 40 x 60 x 60 A. s

= 144000 coulomb

energy content = 12 x 144000

= 1728000 J

energy content of heavy duty battery

= 12 x 60 x 60 x 60

= 2592000 J

Ratio = 1728000 / 2592000

= 2 / 3

Current can not be compared as current depends upon the resistance of appliance used. As resistance of appliance is unknown, current can not be compared.