| How to Play Pool Like a Mathematician Posted: 25 Mar 2017 05:00 PM PDT Billiard balls collide with nearly perfect elasticity. This means that the kinetic energy in their motion is almost completely preserved, and very little of it dissipates into heat or other energy sinks. This makes pool and billiards a great sport to analyze mathematically. If you have perfect control over how you strike the cue ball and where to aim it, you can always predict what will happen. EditSelected Takeaways - A ball that strikes a rail at angle X will bounce off it at angle X as well (if there is no spin).
- If the cue ball and object ball are equidistant from a rail, you can strike the object ball by aiming at the point on the rail exactly between the two balls.
- If the cue ball is X times as far from the rail as the object ball, imagine two perpendicular lines extending from the rail to the two balls. Aim for a point on the rail of the distance to the object ball's line.
- Ghost ball method for angle shots: Draw a line from the pocket through the object ball. Imagine a ghost ball touching the object ball and sitting on this line. Aim for the center of the ghost ball.
EditPredicting the Angle a Ball will Bounce off a Rail - Understand the law of reflection. Many pool players already know this simple mathematical lesson, since it comes up every time you carom the cue ball off a rail. This law tells you that the angle at which the ball strikes the rail is equal to the angle the ball bounces off at. In other words, if the ball approaches the rail at a 30º angle, it will bounce off at a 30º angle as well.
- The law of reflection originally refers to the behavior of light. It's usually written "the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection."[1]
- Set up the cue ball and object ball equidistant from the rail. In this scenario, the goal is to carom the cue ball off the rail, and have it return to strike the object ball. Now set up a basic geometry problem as possible:
- Imagine a line from the cue ball to the rail, intersecting at right angles.
- Now imagine the cue ball traveling to the rail. This path is the hypotenuse of a right triangle, formed by your first line and a section of the rail.
- Now picture the cue ball bouncing off and hitting the object ball. Mentally draw a second right triangle pointing the opposite direction.
- Prove the two triangles are congruent. In this case, we can use the "Angle Angle Side" rule. If both triangles have two equal angles and one equal side (in the same configuration), the two triangles are congruent.[2] (In other words, they are the same shape and size). We can prove that these triangles meet these conditions:
- The law of reflection tells us that the two angles between the hypotenuses and the rail are equal.
- Both are right triangles, so they each have two 90º angles.
- Since the two balls started equidistant from the rail, we know the two sides between the ball and the rail are equal.
- Aim at the midpoint of the rail section. Since the two triangles are congruent, the two sides that lie along the rail are also equal to each other. This means the point where the cue ball strikes the rail is equidistant from the two starting positions of the ball. Aim for this midpoint whenever the two balls are an equal distant from the rail.
- Use similar triangles if the balls are not equidistant from the rail. Let's say the cue ball is twice as far from the rail as the object ball. You can still picture two right triangles formed by the cue ball's ideal path, and use intuitive geometry to guide your aim:[3]
- The two triangles still share the same angles, but not the same lengths. This makes them similar triangles: same shape, different sizes.
- Since the cue ball is twice as far from the rail, the first triangle is twice as large as the second triangle.
- This means the first triangle's "rail side" is twice as long as the second triangle's "rail side."
- Aim for a point on the rail ⅔ of the way to the object ball, since ⅔ is twice as long as ⅓.
EditCalculating the Angle to Strike an Object Ball - Learn the basics. Most shots in pocket billiards are angle shots or "cuts," meaning the cue ball does not strike the object ball dead on. The "thinner" (more glancing) the collision is, the greater the angle the object ball will travel at, relative to the trajectory of the cue ball.
- Estimate the fullness of the hit. An excellent way to estimate this effect is to sight along the planned trajectory of the ball. At the moment of collision, how much will the cue ball "overlap" the object ball from your perspective? The answer tells you how "full" the collision is:
- A dead-on shots overlaps completely. You could say it has a "fullness" of 1.
- If the cue ball covers ¾ of the object ball, the hit is ¾ full.
- Predict the angle based on the fullness. The graph of these two quantities is not quite linear, but it's close enough that you can estimate by adding 15º every time you subtract ¼ fullness. Alternatively, use these more accurate measurements:[4][5]
- A direct hit (fullness 1) results in a cut angle of 0º. The object ball continues along the same path as the cue ball.
- A ¾ shot sends the object ball out at 14.5º.
- A ½ shot sends the object ball out at 30º.
- A ¼ shot sends the object ball out at 48.6º.
- Use caution for very thin shots. Past ¼ fullness, it becomes difficult even to estimate how much of the ball is covered. More importantly, the cut angle rises more and more steeply, so tiny errors can have large effects. These glancing shots require plenty of practice and good technique even once you've figured out where to aim. If you can, look for another shot you can take.
- Aim with the ghost ball method instead. If the description of fullness doesn't help you, try the "ghost ball" approach:[6]
- Imagine a straight line segment from the pocket to the center of the object ball.
- Extend this line slightly past the object ball. Imagine a "ghost ball" at this spot, squarely on this line and touching the object ball.
- To hit the object ball into the pocket, you should aim at the center of the "ghost ball."
- Follow the thirds rule for kiss shots. A kiss shot involves caroming the cue ball off ball A so it can strike ball B. If you're playing a game that allows kiss shots, remember this rule: if ball A is touching a rail, the desired cut angle is ⅓ of the angle formed by the three balls.[7]
- For example, if the angle with ball A as the vertex is about 45º, the cut angle you want to achieve is about 15º. The fullness rule above tells us that a ¾ full collision should produce this angle.
EditUsing English (Side Spin) - Perfect your stroke first. Consistent stroke form and aim should be your first priorities when you start to take pool seriously. English is a very useful technique, but it has complex effects and you need consistency to practice it.
- You'll have trouble narrowing down the effects of English (side spin) if you're not also controlling the amount of overspin and slipping. These effects are determined by the height you strike on the cue ball. Slipping is completely eliminated at 2/5 of the distance between the center and the top of the ball, but in practical terms 1/5 of this distance is often a better measure for optimal control and speed.[8][9]
- Avoid English when in danger of sinking the cue ball. As long as there is no English, the cue ball will come to a dead stop after a perfect head-on collision. Practice head-on collisions striking the ball with your cue at the midpoint of its horizontal axis. Once you can get the cue ball to stop dead every time, you have enough control to introduce English to your game.
- Practice different amounts of English. There are several types of English, but this article sticks to the most basic form. If your cue hits the cue ball left of center, the ball will spin along this axis — this is "left English." When this spinning ball strikes a surface, the spin will cause it to rebound further to the left than a ball with no English.[10] Similarly, striking the right side imparts "right English" and moves rebounds further to the right. The further from center you are, the more dramatic this effect:[11]
- 100% English or maximum English means you strike halfway between the center and the edge of the ball. This is the farthest from the center you can strike and reliably avoid miscues.
- 50% English means you strike halfway between the maximum point and the center (¼ of the way from the center to the edge of the ball).
- You can use any other percentage of English by striking at different points between the center and the maximum point.
- Understand gearing. When two balls collide, the object ball starts rotating around a particular axis, determined by the angle and the amount of English. If you achieve "gearing," this rotation occurs along the axis of movement. In other words, the object ball's motion is not affected by spin. It will travel exactly along the "line of centers," or the line drawn between the centers of the two balls at the moment of impact.[12]
- The term comes from the analogy of two gears meshing smoothly together, transferring the motion perfectly.
- Adjust your English to achieve gearing for any cut. Once you've aimed your angle shot using the fullness or "ghost ball" approaches from the last section, you'd like to ensure that the object ball doesn't pick up any funny spin and ruin your shot. Here's where a chart can save you a lot of trial and error. All numbers below are for "outside English," meaning you move the cue to the side of the cue ball farther from the object ball.[13][14]
- If the cut angle is 15º, use slightly more than 20% English. (Remember, the cut angle is the angle between the cue ball's original path and the path of the object ball.)
- If the cut angle is 30º, use 40% English.
- If the cut angle is 45º, use about 55% English.
- If the cut angle is 60º, use about 70% English.
- As the cut angle approaches 90º, increase English to 80%.
- Know the effects of a collision without gearing. If you use less English than the "gearing" amount listed in the last step, the cue ball will slide forward during the collision, transferring side spin to the object ball. The object ball will move slightly to the right of the expected cut angle. If you use more English than the gearing amount, the object ball will move slightly to the left of the expected cut angle instead.[15]
- This effect is called cut induced throw: the cut angle transferred a spin which threw the ball off the expected path.
- You can use this to your advantage to make seemingly impossible shots. If your only clear shot would put the ball slightly too far to the right, increase the amount of outside English to throw the ball into the pocket.
- If the object ball is frozen to the rail and you need to slide it along the rail into a pocket, always strike the rail before the object ball. This way, the cue ball imparts momentum along the rail, instead of into it. (If the angle of collision is over 45º, you'll also need to use English.)[16]
- The greater the angle of collision between two balls, the less momentum is transferred. This means you'll need a slightly stronger stroke for thin cuts (collisions at an extreme angle).[17]
- After a collision, the angle between the cue ball's path and object ball's path will always equal 90º.[18] Use this knowledge to avoid sinking the cue ball. Note that extreme spin can break this rule, as can balls with unequal mass (as found on some coin-operated tables).
- People and cue balls collide with spectacular inelasticity. Leave that experiment to the professionals.
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| How to Accept Being Shy Posted: 25 Mar 2017 09:00 AM PDT Many people who are shy think of this personality trait as being a negative one. The truth is that it is not such a bad thing. There is nothing wrong with being shy, actually. While people may call you out on it by saying, "Oh, why are you so shy?" and that may embarrass you, there are many benefits to being shy.[1] You have a chance to think before you act. You do not get too close to people who may be untrustworthy, and you are approachable because you are calm in social situations. Since these benefits may not be enough to convince you should accept being shy, the following are some methods you can try to finally be able to love you for who you are - shyness and all. EditFinding the Positives of Shyness in Your Life - Think about your past. When you think about your past, you may not remember shyness being something that has benefited you. It's likely you remember it keeping you from that guy or girl you liked or the dream job you could have had if you just approached the CEO. While it's your natural tendency to think about the negative results of your shyness, you can change your thinking to come up with positives that came out of being shy.
- Make a list. You probably can list many of the negatives of being shy, but switch gears. Think of all the ways you've been able to benefit from being shy.[2]
- Sometimes shyness allows you to listen to others more closely.
- Shyness gives you time to take in information about your surrounding such as body language.
- Realize that even though you are shy, that you have a deep and rich inner life and inner dialogue.
- Maybe you've been able to catch what people are really saying when they speak because you are listening more than talking.
- You may have a tendency to analyze situations, so you know what you are getting into before you make a move.
- People might like that you don't take over conversations, but instead allow them to vent about their life without disruptions.
- There's a chance you enjoy being by yourself because it's comfortable to you.
- Keep a journal. A journal will help you jot down situations in which shyness has helped you. This will help you as you're journaling and later on when you read back through your entries. You can always go back to see how you've benefited, especially when you're feeling as though your shyness is interfering in your life.
- You might want to write down how your shyness has helped you in your career.
- Shyness can help with your love life as well. Watch for ways it does and jot them down.
- Don't forget how your shyness helps you concentrate on yourself, so you can figure out what you really want in life.
- Write down challenges you have faced because of your shyness and how you overcame them. This can help you next time you face similar struggles.
EditLoving Yourself - Look in the mirror. Take a long deep look at yourself. That is you. You are unique and you've done some great things in your life. Smile at yourself in the mirror. Pay attention to the way you feel when you smile at yourself. Don't allow yourself to ridicule anything about your appearance or personality. Just embrace who you are at that moment. This is how you can begin to accept and love yourself. You are who you are and that is it. Remind yourself of your great qualities and say them out loud as you look in the mirror.
- Hug yourself.[3] This is something you can do no matter where you are because all you need is your arms and body. Think about how you feel when someone hugs you. It feels good, doesn't it? Well, hugging yourself has the same effect if you do it wholeheartedly. It has the potential to reduce your stress levels and boost your self-esteem. It allows you to show yourself the affection that you probably haven't shown for a very long time.
- Hug yourself by wrapping your left arm around the front of your chest and over the upper part of your right arm. Wrap the right arm around the front of your chest and over the upper part of your left arm. You should then give yourself a soft squeeze. Stay in this position for as long as you would like.
- Pat yourself on the back. It's not exactly a hug, but it can give you the same benefits. Just bring your hand and arm up across your chest and over your alternate shoulder. You can then reach your back to give a nice pat.
- Sleep, eat, and move. The better you feel physically, the better you'll feel about yourself. Think about those days when you don't have a single thing wrong with yourself. You are probably in a much better mood than when you're suffering from a headache or other ailment, right? Well, this is why it's important to make sure you take care of yourself. You don't need to be tired and sick to drag you down so you feel bad about your shyness. What you need is to feel great, so you can celebrate your shyness.
 - Make sure to get at least seven hours of sleep. [4] Some people need more sleep and others need less, but around seven hours is average. It's best to test out different amounts of hours to see how long you have to sleep to feel your best. Make sure to go to bed and wake up the same time each day.[5] Yes, that includes the weekends.
- Eat foods that nourish your body. Your body is a powerhouse. It needs fuel to make it through the day. When you don't provide the fuel it needs, it starts to slow down and struggle when it comes to fighting off illnesses and getting work done. This can make you feel miserable. Don't allow yourself to feel that way so you can start to feel bad about yourself, eat the diet recommended by the USDA.
- Exercise. Your body isn't meant to be inactive. Your muscles and organs need to be exercised or they will become weak and run inefficiently. What results is feeling fatigued, depressed, and sick. You do not want to deal with that, so make sure you give your body what it needs to stay strong with aerobic and weight lifting exercises. Experts recommend that individuals should exercise at least 150 minutes a week if it's moderate and 75 minutes if it's intense.[6]
EditSurrounding Yourself with Other Shy People - Spend time with friends who are shy. Since many people who are shy feel alone in their struggles, it's nice to spend time with others who are feeling the same way. While it can be hard to get together with people who are shy since they are not as outgoing, if you're able to find at least one other person, you will see the benefits of it.
- When you're at social events, pay attention to people who are by themselves. Those people are likely shy just like you. While it may not be comfortable to approach them because of your shyness, try to get close to them. If you're able to strike up a conversation, great. If not, being in close proximity may lead to the other person saying hello.
- When approaching someone, you can make it easier to say hello by making a joke about being shy. For example, "These social events are always so difficult because I'm so shy." Just saying this can help you accept your shyness.
- Know that other people may not be at your level of acceptance of being shy, so don't say something such as, "So I see you're just as shy as me..." Focus on your shyness and if that person is too, he/she will say something about it.
- Start a support group.[7] It's not too hard to start a support group in your community. Make fliers to hang in libraries, Starbucks, and other public places and then show up at the time and place you've indicated on the flier.
- This can seem outside of your element, but being able to step out of your comfort zone while still holding on to the fact that you are shy can help. Just know that all you have to do is say hello and ask people how they feel about being shy. You are just having a normal conversation with friends...ones who understand your shyness.
- Start a Meetup for shy people. Meetup.com is a great way to find new people to spend time with in your community. You can set up a personal profile and then a meetup one for your group. Be sure to describe the goal of the group when you're creating a meetup. People will want to know why they should join your meetup. Once you have a few people interested, you can plan to meet them offline.
- You don't have to start your own meetup. There may be one already made for shy people. Search for one first before creating a new one.
- Join online communities for people who are shy. These online communities often have discussions about how it feels to be shy, how to overcome shyness, and how to help others who are shy. It's a great place to work on accepting your shyness and meet others who share in your struggles.
- There are many websites and social media groups especially for shy people.[8] Join forums on websites and groups on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+.
- You can start your own group if you don't see one that you like. This might be a good alternative if you aren't ready to start a support group in your community or start a meetup.
EditResearching the Benefits of Being Shy - Go online to research the benefits of being shy. [9] Shyness has been the focus of many studies over the years. This is how the advantages of being shy have come about. Find studies that support the good in being shy and write down what resonates more with you.
- Start a Google News Alert to keep up on the newest research on shyness. As new research is published about shyness, you will receive an email from Google News.
- You will need to put in keywords for the Google News alerts. Some of the keywords you may want to use are: shy studies, shy research, shyness benefits, and benefits of being shy.
- Request to receive the alert as soon as it is available to receive encouragements throughout the day.
- Adjust the keywords used in Google News Alerts as you see more phrases used in research that have to do with shyness research. You can have as many keywords as you would like, so put in as many as you can come up with to make sure you don't miss anything.
- Contact a local university doing research on shyness. You may be able to participate in the research or simply learn about what they have found in their studies. Usually, universities will have professors and student assistants looking for volunteers to help with data collection or information gathering. It's a great way to use your shyness to help yourself and others.
EditSeeking Professional Help - Schedule an appointment with a counselor. It can be difficult to accept yourself. Usually, this has something to do with your past. Uncovering the reasons you can't accept your shyness will help you. Sometimes, all it takes is understanding why you are so against it. By working with a counselor, you'll be able to comb through the roots of your shy personality and then work with him/her on how to change your perception of it to finally accept it.
- Check with your insurance company to see if they cover behavioral health.
- Search online for counselors who have experience helping people who are shy.
- Speak to the counselor on the phone if possible to ask about how she approaches helping people who are not confident about their shyness.
- Seek help from your physician. Not accepting your shyness can lead to depression. Depression can lower your quality of life and lead to feeling like you want to harm yourself or others. This is serious. Call your physician immediately if you ever feel this way for a depression assessment. There is hope for how you feel. You can love yourself.
- Consider working with a life coach.[10] A life coach who has experience working with shy people will often have a program in place to help guide you through the process of acceptance. A lot of the steps have been mentioned here with embracing your shyness, loving yourself, and then learning more about the benefits. Sometimes, it can help to have someone there by your side to celebrate your progress towards acceptance, which is how a life coach can help you.
- Look for coaches online.[11]Many coaches have a website to market their services so search for one with experience in shyness or confidence building.
- Coaches do not have to be trained or certified, but it's a good idea to choose one that has some training in the area of life coaching. Look for that credential or check the International Coach Federation for coaches to find one that has fulfilled their requirements to ensure you find someone who will be ethical.
- Coaching is a partnership between coach and client. You and the coach will come up with ways to help you accept your shyness. Each session will help you move towards your goals of accepting shyness, and you'll have work in between sessions to further help you.
- Accepting shyness is a daily exercise. Review the benefits you have experienced every day.
- Don't rush the process. It takes time to accept something about yourself that you used to not like.
- Remember you are a good person. Shyness doesn't make you a bad one no one matter what anyone says…including yourself.
- If you start to experience the symptoms of depression for several days, contact your doctor immediately.
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| How to Charge a Car Battery Posted: 25 Mar 2017 01:00 AM PDT Car batteries stay charged by harnessing the extra power of the car's engine, and most can go for at least five years without needing to be replaced or recharged.[1] But even the best car batteries will run out of power eventually — or lose their charge prematurely when you leave your lights on too long. It can be a serious inconvenience to find yourself with a dead battery, but recharging one can require very little in terms of tools or mechanical experience. EditPreparing to Charge the Battery - Put on the appropriate safety gear. Safety is paramount any time you are working on your vehicle. Start by putting on protective eye glasses to protect you from any falling material under the hood of the car, sparks or battery fluid in the event the battery becomes compromised. You may also want to wear gloves. Make sure the area you are working in is well ventilated and lit sufficiently to allow you to see where you are going and what you are working on.[2]
- Gloves are not necessary but may protect your hands from small pinches and cuts while working on your vehicle.
- Make sure there are no children in the area while you work on the battery of a vehicle as sparks could fly if positive and negative cables come into contact with one another.
- Determine what kind of battery you have. In order to properly charge your battery, you must first identify the type of battery you have. You can usually find this written somewhere on the battery, but you may need to check the manufacturer's website if the label is too worn to read or missing. You should also find out the voltage of the battery by looking on the battery's label or by checking in your vehicle owner's manual. Types of batteries include:[3]
- Wet cell batteries may be serviceable, which means there are things you can do to help improve the charge and the life of your battery.
- VRLA Batteries (Valve Regulated Lead-Acid Battery) are completely sealed and require no maintenance. These batteries come as Gel Cell or Absorbed Glass Mat batteries and are less common in cars unless purchased as an after-market modification.
- Get a car battery charger. Pick a charger that is appropriate for your battery and purposes. Most chargers will work for all types of batteries except Gel Cell batteries. There are fast chargers that can charge your battery quickly or even provide you with a jump start, as well as "trickle" chargers that provide a slow but longer lasting charge. Many newer chargers come with a microprocessor to monitor how much the battery has charged. These digital chargers will then stop the process automatically when the battery is fully charged. Older, simpler chargers must be stopped manually to prevent dangerous overcharging and should not be left alone for extended periods of time while connected.[4]
- Read the charger's instruction manual to make sure you are using your particular unit correctly.
- Even new digital chargers should be monitored closely while charging to ensure it functions properly and stops before over-charging the battery.
- Disconnect and remove the battery from your vehicle if necessary. It's important to disconnect the battery before conducting any repairs or maintenance on your vehicle. Most of the time you will be able to charge the battery without taking it out of the car, but if reaching the battery or fitting the charging cables in the engine bay or trunk where the battery is located proves difficult, remove the battery from the car completely while you charge it.[5]
- If you are unsure where your battery is located, check the owner's manual for your vehicle. Some vehicles have the battery in the trunk, while most have it under the hood.
- Disconnect the negative terminal first, then the positive when removing a battery.
- Clean the battery terminals. Any dirt or grime on the battery terminals can prevent the charging cables from establishing a strong connection to the battery, so it's important to clean the terminals thoroughly. Use baking soda and a wet cloth or a sandpaper pad to wipe away any grime or rust. Make sure the terminals are bare metal before moving on to the next step in order to ensure a strong charge.[6]
- Sometimes you may find the battery has a solid charge, but dirty terminals were preventing the electricity from flowing.
- Do not touch the terminals with your bare skin, especially if there is any white powder on them. This powder is usually dried sulfuric acid, and it can burn your skin if you come in contact with it.
EditUsing a Speed or Trickle Charger - Place the charger on a stable surface. Never place the battery charger directly onto the battery as it may connect the negative and positive terminals, causing damage to the battery and charger and possibly even starting a fire. Instead, place the charger on a stable surface as far from the battery as the cables will allow. Before plugging the charger into the wall, ensure the area is well ventilated by opening your garage door or windows if you are indoors.[7]
- Ensure the surface you place the charger on is sturdy and stationary to prevent it from falling or disconnecting from the battery.
- Use the full length of the cables to separate the battery from the charger as much as you can.
- Connect the charger to the battery. Attach the black cable from the charger with the negative (-) sign on it to the negative terminal on the battery marked with the same symbol. Then attach the red cable with the positive (+) sign to the positive terminal on the battery with the corresponding symbol. Make sure to check the connections before plugging in or turning on the charger, as mixing the positive and negative terminals could result in damage to the battery or even a fire. [8]
- Some cars may label the positive terminal with the letters POS instead of a positive (+) symbol and NEG instead of a negative (-) one.
- Ensure the cables are firmly attached to allow electricity to flow from the charger to the battery.
- Set the charger. Digital chargers may indicate the existing voltage in the battery and allow you to set the final voltage level, while older models may simply allow for on and off settings. Speed chargers will also allow you to choose the speed in which you want to charge the battery (often depicted by a picture of a turtle for slow charges and a rabbit for fast ones). A fast charge is good for a car battery that recently died as a result of leaving your lights on or something to that effect, while a battery that has been dead for some time may require the slower charging method before the battery is usable again.[9]
- If you can set the voltage the charger will stop on, set it to the specified voltage on the battery or that you found in the vehicle's owner's manual.
- Never set the charger to fast charge if you will be leaving the vehicle unattended.
- You may want to leave the battery slow charging overnight to fully charge it if it has been dead for some time.
- Check the battery. After allowing the battery to charge, check it to make sure it works. Some digital chargers will provide you with a readout that will tell you if the battery is properly holding the charge or if the battery will need to be replaced. This is often indicated by a percentage like "100%" as in the battery is 100% charged. You may also want to use a voltmeter to measure the voltage of the battery once disconnected from the charger by touching the positive and negative cables from the voltmeter to their respective terminals on the battery. If the battery is still in the car, the easiest way to check it might be to simply hook it up again and attempt to start the car.[10]
- If the voltmeter reads the number of volts that are appropriate for the battery, the charger indicates it's good, or the vehicle starts the battery is sufficiently charged.
- If the voltmeter or charger indicate that the battery is bad or the vehicle won't start, there may be other issues to resolve or the battery may need to be replaced.
EditJump Starting Your Battery - Park a functioning car so that it faces the car you're jumping. Jump starting a vehicle involves using the electrical system of another running vehicle to charge the battery in yours sufficiently to allow it to start and charge itself. Before parking the functioning car, make sure you locate the battery in both vehicles, as some vehicle's batteries can be found in the trunk. Once you have located the batteries in both vehicles, pull the running vehicle up to yours close enough so allow your jumper cables to connect both batteries.[11]
- If the battery is in the trunk of one of the vehicles, back it up to the other so the cables can reach.
- Set the parking brake on both vehicles to ensure they don't move during the charging process.
- Use jumper cables to connect the two batteries. Remember that once you connect the jumper cables to a battery, touching the positive and negative ends of the other side of the cables will produce sparks that may be dangerous. With both cars shut off, connect the jumper cable to the positive terminal of the dead battery and then to the positive of the good battery. Be sure not to allow the negative cables to dangle into the engine bay where they may touch metal that could serve as a ground to complete the circuit. Next, connect the negative cable to the negative terminal of the dead battery, followed by the negative cable on the appropriate terminal of the good one.[12]
- You may need to clean the terminals on both batteries to ensure a strong connection.
- Be sure you connect the positive ends to the positive terminals and the negative cables to the negative terminals. Mixing these up could result in damage or a fire.
- Start the functioning car. With the cables securely connected, start the functioning vehicle so its electrical system can begin charging the dead battery. Do not take the functioning vehicle out of park or neutral during the charging process. Allow the vehicle to run for a few minutes before attempting to start the other vehicle.[13]
- After a minute or two, attempt to start the dead car. If the battery only died recently, it should start right up.
- If it doesn't start after a minute or two, allow it to charge for a bit longer. If the battery has been dead for some time, it may take longer to charge it enough to start.
- Disconnect the cables and allow the vehicle to run. Once the vehicle starts, you can disconnect the jumper cables from each vehicle. Allow the vehicle that had a dead battery to continue to run for a bit. You may have charged the battery enough to start the vehicle, but if you turn it off right away there may not be sufficient electricity to start it again. By letting it run, you give the vehicle's alternator an opportunity to charge the battery the rest of the way.[14]
- If the vehicle dies once again after it is disconnected from the other car, check to make sure the battery is securely connected.
- If the vehicle runs well, take it out for a short drive to thoroughly charge the battery before turning it off again.
EditTroubleshooting Battery Issues - Have the battery checked by an auto-parts store. If you have charged the battery using a charger or another vehicle but your vehicle still won't start, remove the battery (if you haven't already) and take it to a local auto parts store. There, they can charge the battery and check to see if it works fine, can be serviced, or needs to be replaced. If your vehicle's battery is a VRLA battery or a no-maintenance wet cell battery, you will have to replace it if it doesn't hold a charge.[15]
- If the battery is bad, you will need to purchase a replacement for it.
- If the battery is fully charged and working well but your car won't start, check the battery cables to ensure they aren't broken and connect firmly to the battery.
- Test the alternator. A faulty alternator can prevent your vehicle from sufficiently charging the battery enough to start the car again and can even fail to produce enough electricity to keep the vehicle running. You can check to see if you have an issue with the alternator by starting the vehicle, then disconnecting the positive terminal of the battery. A properly functioning alternator will produce enough electricity to keep the vehicle running without the battery, but if the vehicle shuts off, the alternator likely needs to be replaced.[16]
- You can sometimes tell if there is an issue with your alternator by looking at your interior lights. If the lights get brighter as you press on the gas pedal, then dim again when you remove your foot, the alternator may be bad.
- If you remove the alternator from your vehicle, many auto parts stores can test it to ensure it's the problem before ordering a replacement.
- Listen for clicking. If the car won't start, but produces audible clicking when you try, there likely isn't enough electricity in the battery to start the vehicle. This may be because it failed to charge properly when you were charging it or it may be a result of the battery simply being too worn out to hold a charge. Try jump starting the car again, or remove the battery and have it tested.[17]
- Make sure you have a good connection to the battery when charging it, otherwise the battery will not be able to start the car.
- The clicking indicates that there is some electricity in the battery, but not enough to start the engine.
- Take note if the vehicle stalls. If the vehicle starts after you charge the battery, but stalls soon after it starts to run, it may be because of the alternator. If it will start up again or it continues to crank but fails to start running however, the issue is not electrical. You may have an issue with fuel or air delivery.[18]
- Your vehicle needs air, fuel and electricity to run properly.
- You will likely need to take the car to a mechanic to identify the issue if this occurs.
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