system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: why do batteries have multiple lower voltage cells in series instead of just one big cell at the rated voltage of the battery?
gpt
To explain what cowboysauce means, each chemical reaction pair has a specific voltage that is dependent on the chemicals.  You cannot change it by making it into a bigger container or larger surface area.  That could change the current but not the voltage.  the only way to get more volts is to place the batteries in a row (in sequence), so each one adds a potential (a voltage), until you have the target total voltage.  Kind of like why a ladder has many steps.  Our legs can only go so high with each lift (just like a single chemical cell can), but if we put lifts in a row (cells in sequence), we can get up pretty high.