How to test an Alkaline battery without a voltmeter

[pda1]

Here's how to check an A, AA, AAA, C or D Alkaline battery for level of charge without using anything except gravity;

- Hold the battery vertically about an 1" off of a hard surface with the negative side facing down
- Drop the battery
- If it bounces, it's very low on charge or mostly dead
- If it doesn't bounce it has a good charge level

Note- this method for some low quality batteries will not work.

 

[pollenface]

I usually smell them, if they're dead they smell burnt.

 

[macheung]

What is the method of operation behind this?

 

[Zil]

I just tried a dead aaa battery. It did not bounce.

 

[MattiFin]

What is the method of operation behind this?

Something like boiled vs raw egg spinning test..
full battery is more liquidy inside and depleted one turns solid or vice versa.
I saw youtube video of this couple of years ago and had to try it myself: very notable difference between empty and full cell.