Question

The purpose of a battery in a circuit is to _____.

provide a conductive path
increase the potential of charges in the circuit
decrease the potential of charges in the circuit
add charges to the circuit

Answer 1

A

Answer 2

actually the conductive path is provided by the wires or conductors that form the circuit.
the battery is creating a potential difference between two points in the circuit, so charge flows between those points.
B or C would be correct depending on how we define potential...

Answer 3

I think Greg_D is correct, and from reading http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/circuits/Lesson-1/Electric-Potential-Difference
i think C is the right one from the conventional definition of a battery's function, that it serves to increase the energy of the charges, as while if the charge flows through the circuit it loses this energy until it is back at the negative terminal of the battery, and the cycle is round: the charges go through the battery again and gain energy.

Answer 4

great contribution fretje!
let's go with answer C then

Answer 5

The battery maintains a difference of electrical potential between two points in the circuit. With the appropriate choice of components and interconnecting paths, the potential difference can cause a flow of electrical current through the circuit. Either B. or C. but it depends.