Practical 5.

3 Report
INVESTIGATION OF THE INTERNAL RESISTANCE OF A DRY CELL
Table of Contents
Table of Contents.........................................................................................................................0
Aim of the Experiment..................................................................................................................1
Variables.........................................................................................................................................1
List of Apparatus and Equipment...............................................................................................2
Procedure......................................................................................................................................2
Protocol Diagram..........................................................................................................................3
Analysis..........................................................................................................................................3
Qualitative data........................................................................................................................3
Quantitative data and Sample Calculations...........................................................................4
Graph of V against T.................................................................................................................4
Evaluation.....................................................................................................................................6
Conclusion....................................................................................................................................7
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................7
Aim of the Experiment
In this experiment, we aim to determine the internal resistance of a dry cell. The dry cells we use
so frequently in our everyday lives consist of chemicals such as lithium ions in order to convert
chemical energy to electrical energy which can be dissipated in a circuit for numerous
applications. These chemicals and certain internal components of a dry cell have an internal
resistance, which results in a fraction of the energy produced by the chemical reactions inside the
cell to be expended when driving charges across the components of the dry cell. Considering the
fact that the current, I, remains the same throughout the circuit and by implementing Ohm’s law,
the total electromotive force (e.m.f) of the dry cell can be represented in the following equation.

ε =IR+ Ir

In the above equation, ε refers to the e.m.f of the dry cell while R refers to the total load resistance
and r refers to the internal resistance of the dry cell. Hence, Ir would equate to be the potential
difference across the internal components of the dry cell while IR would be the terminal potential
difference. As such, given that we can find the terminal potential difference using a voltmeter and
the current of the circuit using a current sensor, we can rearrange the equation as such in order to
conduct an experiment based on the relation to find the internal resistance of the dry cell.

V t =−Ir+ ε

In the above equation, Vt, measured by a voltmeter connected across the dry cell, is the terminal
potential difference while I as measured by the current meter, is the current flowing through the
circuit. Using this equation, we can plot a graph of Vt against I for different values of I and find
the value of r using the gradient.

Variables
Type of Variable Rationale Method of Control
variable measured
Independen The current The two variables in the relation A rheostat was used to change
t flowing mentioned above are Vt and I. the effective resistance of the
through the Since it is very feasible to circuit, causing the current to
circuit, I change I in the circuit, I will be change as the e.m.f of the cell
independent variable of this can be said to have remained
experiment. constant over the course of the
experiment due to its newness.
The variable was measured
using a high precision current
meter, connected in series to
the circuit.
Dependent The Changes made to the value of I A voltmeter was connected in
terminal will cause the value of Vt to a parallel arrangement across
potential change, allowing us to attribute the dry cell in order to measure
difference, the data collected to the relation the terminal potential
Vt mentioned in the previous difference, Vt.

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 section.
Fig 2.1 The table of the independent and dependent variables

Type of Variable Rationale Method of Control

variable measured
Controlled The dry cell In order for the value of ε, The dry cell in this
used the e.m.f of the dry cell, to experiment was brand new.
remain constant throughout Hence, the chances of the
the experiment, the same e.m.f of the cell decreasing
dry cell had to be used notably over the course of
throughout the experiment. the experiment are very low.
The voltmeter Each and every unique The same voltmeter was used
used voltmeter, regardless of the throughout the experiment.
model or manufacturer,
would inevitably have a
slightly different internal
resistance, affecting the
value of Vt shown (Neural
Dump, 2014).
Fig 2.2 The table of controlled variables

List of Apparatus and Equipment

1. 9 V (as defined by manufacturer) dry cell
2. Variable resistor/rheostat/potentiometer
3. Switch
4. Current sensor with an absolute uncertainty of ±0.001 A
5. Voltmeter with an absolute uncertainty of ±0.01 V
6. Connecting leads with crocodile clips
7. LabQuest Mini Interface
8. Laptop connected to interface

Procedure
1. Approximately 5-6 ice cubes are added to the 250 cm 3 beaker. The beaker is then filled
with water until the water level is slightly higher than that of the ice. This will be the first
mixture to be used in the experiment.
2. A retort stand is then used to clamp the sealed syringe. The sealed syringe is then lowered
into the mixture such that the entire gas column is submerged under the surface of the
mixture. The thermometer is also submerged into the mixture and supported by the retort
stand. Once thermal equilibrium is reached, the temperature is recorded down as T. The
corresponding volume of the gas in the gas syringe, V, is also recorded down.
3. Steps 1-2 are then repeated, reducing the number of ice cubes and increasing the amount
of water in the mixture each time, so that the temperature of the gas, T, will also increase.
4. Some water is then boiled in the electric kettle. The beaker is then filled to ½ of the
volume with regular tap water and a ¼ of the volume with boiling water from the kettle.

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 This mixture will then be the mixture to be used in the experiment. Step 2 is then
repeated.
5. Step 4 is then repeated, increasing the amount of hot water and reducing the amount of
regular tap water each time, so that the temperature of the gas, T, will also increase.
6. Once enough data sets have been collected, the recorded data for V and T are then
tabulated. The data is then processed further so as to plot graphs and analyse the
relationship between the two macroscopic properties.

Protocol Diagram

Thermometer

Clamps attached
to retort stand
Sealed gas
syringe
Beaker

Ice-water mixture

Fig 5 The diagram of experimental setup

Analysis
Qualitative data
One key observation to take note was the fact that the volume of the gas in the sealed syringe
changed at a very slow rate as the its temperature underwent changes. Hence, it is safe to assume
that the rate of change of momentum of the plunger in towards the gas molecules is negligible,
meaning that the rate of change of momentum of the gas molecules as they collide with the inner
surfaces of the syringe is also deemed to be negligible. Hence, it is safe to say that the pressure of
the gas is constant as no external force is being applied on the plunger as well.

Another key observation to take note of is the fact that the tip of the gas syringe had been melted
in order to seal it. Hence, the volume suggested by the syringe might not have a small systematic
error whereby, the volume is actually less than it is in reality. However, upon further inspection

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of the gas syringe, we realised that this error would not greatly alter the results of this experiment
as a very small portion of the tip of the syringe had been involved in this melting process.

Quantitative data and Sample Calculations

Table of Capture of Raw Data

Trial No. Temperature, T / ℃ (±0.5) Volume, V / cm3 (±0.5)

1. 9.0 24.0
2. 21.5 25.0
3. 31.5 26.0
4. 43.0 27.0
5. 57.0 28.0
6. 68.0 29.0
Fig 6.2.1 The table of raw data

Table of Capture of Processed Data

Trial No. Temperature, T / K (±0.5) Volume, V / cm3 (±0.5)

1. 282.2 24.0
2. 294.7 25.0
3. 304.7 26.0
4. 316.2 27.0
5. 330.2 28.0
6. 341.2 29.0
Fig 6.2.2 The table of processed data

Sample calculations using Trial 1:

Temperature∈K =T emperature ∈° C+ 273.15=9.0+ 273.15=282.15 ≈ 282.2

∆ T ∈Kelvin=∆ T ∈° C=0.5

*Conversion from ℃ to K courtesy of

https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/29050/what-is-the-significance-of-273-16-k
(Michael, 2015).

Now that we have the values of both V and T for all the datasets in the appropriate units, we can
carry on with plotting the graph of V against T.

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Graph of V against T
From the equation we had obtained in the first section of this report (also stated below), we can
comprehend that the graph to expect would be a linear graph, as its equation is in the form
y=mx+b , where m is the gradient of the graph and b is the y-intercept of the graph.

nR
V= T
p
nR
From the above equation, we can understand that would be the gradient of the graph of V
p
against T, where R is the gas constant. The y-intercept of the graph should also be close to zero in
order to verify Charles’ law to be true.

Graph of Volume, V, against Temperature, T

Fig 6.3.1 The graph of V against T

From Fig. 6.3.1, we can observe that the y-intercept is very close to zero and that the best-fit line
is a straight line that passes through all the error bars. Hence, we can conclude that the volume of
a gas and the temperature of a gas are directly proportional to each other.

In order to further evaluate Charles’ law, we can also derive the experimental value of the number
of moles of the gas using the gradient of the graph, as mentioned before. The original volume of
the gas in the syringe was 26 cm 3 at room temperature and pressure, close to Standard
Atmospheric Temperature and Pressure (SATP). At SATP, one mole of any gas occupies 24.0
dm3. The pressure is taken to be 1.01×105 Pa.

26 cm 3=( 26× 10−3 ) dm 3=0.026 dm3

No .of moles of gas ∈syringe=0.026 ×24=0.624 mol

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 nR
gradient=
p

gradient × p
n= =gradient ×12154.03129
R

*Gradients have to be converted from cm3 K-1 to m3 K-1.

max slope=¿ 0.1065 cm 3 K−1=( 1.065 ×10−7 ) m3 K−1 ¿

min slope=¿ 0.06446 cm 3 K −1=( 6.446 × 10−8 ) m 3 K −1 ¿

average slope=0.08460 cm3 K −1=( 8.460 ×10−8 ) m3 K−1

−7
max n=1.065 ×10 ×12154.03129=0.0012944 mol ≈ 0.00129 mol

min n=6.446 ×10−8 ×12154.03129=0.00078345 mol ≈ 0.000783 mol

average n=8.460× 10−8 ×12154.03129=0.0010282mol ≈ 0.00103 mol

0.00129−0.00103=0.00026

0.00103−0.000783=0.000247 ≈ 0.00025

∴ Experimental no . of moles= ( 0.0010± 0.0003 ) mol

From the above, we can see that the experimental value of the number of gas is far smaller than
the real value. However, there is a reason for this. After all, the gas we are dealing with is not an
ideal gas as room temperature and pressure is neither low pressure nor high temperature. Ideal
gases have negligible volume while real gases don’t. This is why there is such a large disparity
between the experimental value for the number of moles and the real value for the number of
moles.
Evaluation
Strengths of this experiment Weaknesses of this Source of error
experiment
By sealing the syringe, we It was extremely hard to read The melted tip in order to seal
were able to ensure that the the value for the volume of the syringe resulted in a
amount of gas in the syringe the gas column in the syringe systematic error whereby the
remained the same due to the refraction of light volume recorded is more than
throughout the entire as it passed through different the actual value of the volume
experiment. Hence, the mediums such as ice, water of the gas column for each
changes in volume were only and glass. This could result in corresponding temperature.
due to the change in parallax error.
temperature.
By using a retort stand to Due to the fact that the The random error due to the
hold the gas syringe, we were syringe plunger moves very uncertainty of a syringe is

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 able to make sure that the
syringe does not come into
contact with other objects
such as the sides of the
beaker. Hence, we can safely
assume that the temperature
of the mixture is the same as
that of the temperature of the
gas.
Fig 7.1 The table of strengths, weaknesses and sources of errors
slowly when change in very high as it only gives
volume is occurring, this is volume values up to 1 d.p.
sometimes not very This was probably one of the
noticeable to the naked eye. reasons as to why the best-fit
Hence, there is a possible line did not perfectly pass
random error in the volume of through the origin in the
the gas column that is graph of V against T. A more
recorded. precise large volume syringe
could be used.
This experiment is not Plastic, being a very good
conducted under conditions insulator, might have
of an ideal gas – high prevented the gas’s
temperature, low pressure. temperature from being the
Hence, the gas might not same as that of the mixture,
completely obey Charles’ causing a random error.
law.

Conclusion
The graph of V against T has helped us to verify Charles’ law to be true, as the two variables are
evidently directly proportional to each other as the best fit line passes through all the error bars
and very nearly passes through the origin as well. This deviation is probably mainly because of
random errors due to the precision of the instruments used to measure volume (ChemistryGod,
2019). Another cause may be because thermal equilibrium had not yet been reached between the
mixture and the gas.

By evaluating the gradient of the graph, we were also able to prove that a real gas in unfavourable
conditions such as room temperature and pressure would not completely behave like an ideal gas.
A real gas would behave most like an ideal gas in high temperature and low pressure, which is
not the case in this experiment.

Bibliography
ChemistryGod. (2019, November 14). Charles's Law Syringe Experiment ~ ChemistryGod.
Retrieved July 22, 2020, from https://chemistrygod.com/charles-law-experiment-syringe

Dryden, M. D. (2015, April 21). What is the significance of 273.16 K? Retrieved July 22, 2020,
from https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/29050/what-is-the-significance-of-
273-16-k

Tsokos, K. A. (2014). Physics (Sixth ed.). Cambridge.

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