Phone Gain Weight When Charged
Ever wonder whether Phone Gain Weight When Charged ? Sounds like an odd thing to ponder; however, science says that, theoretically speaking, your fully charged phone is a hair heavier than when it’s completely dead. The point is so miniscule, however, that there’s no feasible way of measuring it.
In this article, we’ll explore the fascinating science behind this concept, why energy can influence mass, and why this weight change remains practically unnoticeable. And if you are curious about when your phone battery seem’s to last longer at the final 1% check out our detailed blog : Why Does the Last 1% of your Phone Battery Last Longer?
The Relationship Between Energy and Mass
The famous equation from Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity is:
E = mc2
This equation describes that energy, E is proportional to mass, m. In other words, if energy in a given system rises, then its mass also tends to increase in proportion by an enormously tiny amount. Here c describes the velocity of light, approximated by 299,792,458 meters in one second, which is, in itself, an utterly enormous quantity. Because this is the case, the smallest change in energy turns out to describe an unmeasurably slight increase in mass.
How Does a Battery Store Energy?
Every time you charge your cell phone, you’re putting more energy into its battery as electrical energy. Most mobile phone batteries are lithium-ion (Li-ion) ones. Here’s a basic description of what happens inside the battery during charging:
1. During Charging: The electrical energy arranges ions and electrons in the battery through chemical reactions so that it stores energy.
2. During Discharge: When you use your phone, the stored chemical energy is converted back to electrical energy to power the device.
Essentially, charging your phone increases the energy stored within its battery.
Why Does the Weight Increase?
According to Einstein’s equation, the energy stored in a charged battery has a mass equivalent. When your phone battery is at 0% (completely discharged), it has lower stored energy. When it reaches 100% charge, the energy stored inside the battery increases, which theoretically adds a tiny amount of mass.
In simpler terms:
0% Charged Phone: Less energy, slightly less mass.
100% Charged Phone: More energy, slightly more mass.
How Much Does the Mass Increase?
The new mass is extremely small simply because the value of c2 (the speed of light squared) is huge. Let us estimate it with some computation
Battery Capacity Conversion
If your battery is 3000mAh (milliampere )
The formula to convert the mAh to Coulomb is :
Charge( in Coulomb) = Battery Capacity x 3600 (second)
1Ah = 3600 Coulomb. Therefor:
3000mAh = 3000 x 0.001Ah = 3Ah
Now convert the coulombs:
3Ah x 3600 second = 10800 Coulombs
Energy Calculation(Joules):
The energy stored in the battery can be calculated using
Energy (in Joules) = Charge(in Coulomb) x Voltage(in Volts)
Example:
Charge= 10800 Coulomb
Voltage = 3.7 Volts
Energy = 10800 x 3.7 =39,960 Joules
Mass Equivalent (Using E = mc2)
To find the mass equivalent of the stored energy:
Where
E=39,960 Joules
c=3 x 108 m/s(speed of light)
m=39,960/(3 x 108)2
Calculate the denominators :
(3 x 108)2 = 9 x 1016
Now
m=39,960/9 x 1016≈4.44 x 10-13kilograms
Convert into grams
4.44 x10-13kg = 4.44 x 10-10
This is approximately 0.00000000044grams
Why Is It Not Noticeable?
The weight change is incredibly minuscule because the amount of energy stored in your phone’s battery is a tiny, tiny fraction compared to the enormous speed of light squared, c2. Human senses and standard measuring devices are not sensitive enough to detect such an infinitesimal difference.
This weight change is smaller than the weight of a single speck of dust!
Real World Application
In the real world, this means:
No Practical Impact on Use: It is so minute that it cannot affect how you use your device or carry it in your pocket.
Technically Correct, But Practically Irrelevant: Science supports this weight change, but it is still a theoretical curiosity rather than something that impacts real experiences.
Conclusion
That indeed, when you charge a cell phone, its mass would increase by the extra amount of energy added because energy is equivalent to mass multiplied by light. This is based on the theory of Einstein explaining how energy and mass have an interrelation. Although very minimal, the difference occurs at the order of trillionths of a gram which therefore can’t be measured.
It does send a reminder about how incredible science can be, even when it comes to the routine of charging your phone.
