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NCERT Solutions Curiosity Chapter 3 Activity 3.2: Let us observe — Electric cell

Book page 25 Updated on2026-09-05

Q1.
Take an electric cell, turn it around and look at it carefully (Fig. 3.2). Do you notice a positive (+) sign and a negative (–) sign marked on the electric cell?
Answer

Yes. Printed on the outer cover of every cell there is a + sign at one end and a – sign at the other end.

These two marks name the two terminals of the cell:

Mark on the cellName of the terminalShort form
+Positive terminal+ ve
–Negative terminal– ve
Tip: The signs matter a great deal for an LED and for putting cells into a battery in the right order, so never ignore them while making a circuit.
Q2.
Do you also notice that it has a small protruding metal cap on one side and a flat metal disc on the other side?
Answer

Yes — and the two are not decoration; they are the terminals themselves.

Part of the cellWhat it looks likeWhich terminal it is
Metal capA small raised knob sticking out at one endPositive (+) terminal
Metal discA flat metal plate covering the other endNegative (–) terminal

So even if the printing on a cell has worn away, you can still tell the terminals apart by feeling for the raised cap.

Why it happens: The cap and the disc are the only two metal parts a wire can be joined to. Everything in between is the chemical material of the cell, which turns chemical energy into electrical energy. That is why an electric cell is called a portable source of electrical energy.
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