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HEADING:
To study various factor on which the internal
resistance/emf depends on
INDEX:

S.NO TOPIC PAGE NO

1. INTRODUCTION 2
2. AIM 2
3. MATERIAL REQUIRED 2

4. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS 2

5. THEORY 3
6. PRINCIPLE 4
7. PROCEDURE 4
8. OBSERVATIONS AND 8
CALCULATIONS

9. RESULT 10
10. ERROR 12
11. BIBLIOGRAPHY: 14
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INTRODUCTION:
There is a great need of batteries in our
daily use electronic appliances and the use is
increasing every day. Thus, the batteries need to
be made more powerful so that their potential
can be increased greatly.
Thus, this project report is based on
practical analysis for the factors affecting the
internal resistance of a cell.
When the internal resistance of the cell is
decreased we can increase the potential
difference across it, and hence make it more
reliable.
AIM:

To study various factors on which the internal

resistance of a cell
Depends.
APPARATUS AND MATERIAL REQUIRED:
Potentiometer, battery, three one way
keys, a rheostat of low resistance, a
galvanometer, a high resistance box, a
fractional resistance box, an ammeter, a
voltmeter, a voltaic cell, electrolytes of different
concentrations, a jockey, connecting wires and
sand paper.
TERMS AND DEFINITIONS:
1. Internal resistance: The
resistance offered by the electrolyte of a cell to
the flow of current through it.
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2. EMF (E): Potential difference of a cell in an open

circuit i.e.,
When no current is drawn from it.
THEORY:
The internal resistance of the cell is the
resistance offered by its electrolyte to the flow of
ions. The internal resistance of a cell
• is directly proportional to the distance between
the electrodes
• Is inversely proportional to facing surface area of
the electrodes in the electrolyte.

• Decreases with increase in temperature of the

electrolyte.
The internal resistance of a cell is by

𝒍𝟏−𝒍𝟐
𝒓= 𝑹 𝒍𝟏

Where 𝑙1, 𝑙2 are the balancing lengths without

resistance and without resistance (shunt),
respectively and R is the shunt resistance in
the parallel with the given cell.
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PRINCIPLE:
Principle of a potentiometer: Potential
difference across the length of a conductor of
uniform area of cross-section carrying steady
current is directly proportional to its length. The
internal resistance of a cell depends on
(i) distance between the plates (electrodes)
(ii) common area of the electrodes immersed in the
Electrolyte and
(iii) concentration of the electrolyte
PROCEDURE:
• Clean the ends of the connecting wires with
sand paper and make tight connections
according to the circuit diagram.
• Tighten the plugs of the resistance box.
• Check the e.m.f. of the battery and of the cell
and make sure that e.m.f. of the battery is
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more than that the cell, otherwise null or

balance point will not be obtained of.

To study variation of internal resistance with

distance of separation
• Keep both the electrodes at a distance of 16 cm.

• Take maximum current from the battery,

making rheostat resistance small.

• Without inserting a plug-in key, adjust the

rheostat so that a null point is obtained on
the last wire of the potentiometer.

• Determine the position of the null point

accurately using a set square and measure the
balancing length (1) between the null point and
the end P.

• Next introduce plugs in both keys and. At the

same time, take out a small resistance (1-5 W)
from the shunt resistance box connected in
parallel with the cell.
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• Slide the jockey along a potentiometer wire and

obtain the null point.

• Measure the balancing length ( L) from end P.

Record these
• Now keep the electrodes 12 cm apart.

• Then remove the plugs of keys K, and K2.

Wait for some time and repeat steps 7 to 10.

• Next, keep the electrodes 9 cm apart to obtain

another set of observations.
To study variation of internal resistance with
area of electrodes
• Keeping all other factors constant, increase the
area of electrodes in the electrolyte by dipping
them into the electrolyte at different depths for
each observation.
Obtain three such observations by repeating
steps 7 to 10. Record your readings.
To study variation of internal resistance with
concentration of
Electrolyte
• Keeping all other factors constant,
decrease the concentration of electrolyte
by adding distilled water for different
observations.
• Obtain three such observations by repeating
step 7 to 10. Record your readings.
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To study variation of international resistance

with Temperature
Keeping all other factors constant,
increase the temperature of electrolyte
Obtain three such observations by repeating
step 7 to 10. Record your
Readings.
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OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS:

I. Effect of separation between the
plates Determine the internal resistance of the cell
for different separations between the plates with
the same electrolyte. Keep the common area of
the plates immersed in electrolyte same
throughout your observation. Record the
observations inTable
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II. Effect of common area of plates immersed in

electrolyte :
Determine the internal resistance
of the cell by changing the depth up to which the
two plates are immersed in the electrolyte or by
changing the level of electrolyte in the cell. Record
the observations in Table. Breadth of plate: 12
cm.
III. Effect of concentration of the electrolyte:
Maintain a constant distance
between the two plates and keep their area
immersed in the electrolyte same. Determine the
internal resistance of the cell by filling it with
electrolyte of given concentration. Repeat this
measurement with electrolytes of varying
concentrations, but filling the cell up to the same
level in every case. Record the observations in
Table
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RESULT:
1. Internal resistance of a cell
increases with increase in distance
between the electrodes.
2. Internal resistance increases
with decrease in common area of electrodes
immersed in the electrolyte.
3. Internal resistance increases
with decrease in concentration
Of the electrolyte.

REFERENCE:
• The Electromotive Force of the cell is
constant and is equal to E = 0.98 Volt.

• The internal resistance of a cell is directly

proportional to the separation between the electrodes.

• The internal resistance of a cell is inversely proportional

to the area of the
Electrodes dipped in electrolyte.
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• The internal resistance of a cell is inversely

proportional to the temperature of electrolytes.

• The internal resistance of a cell is inversely proportional

to the concentration of the
Electroly
te

PRECAUTION
Ensure that the emf of battery E is greater than emf of
cell E1.
1. Positive terminals of E and E1 both
should be connected at terminal A of
the potentiometer.
2. The current should not be passed
for a long time so as to avoid any
heating of the wires resulting in
the change of resistance.
3. The length of the wire should always
be measured from the end A of the
wire, where all the positive terminals
are connected.
4. Jockey should not be pressed too
hard on the wire; otherwise the
diameter of the wire may not remain
uniform. Also do not press the jockey
on the wire while sliding it
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SOURCES OF ERROR:
1. Potentiometer wire may not be of
uniform area of cross- section
throughout its entire length.
2. The emf of the auxiliary battery
producing the fall of potential along
the potentiometer may not be constant
throughout the course of experiment.
3. End resistance of potentiometer
wire is not taken into account.
4. Heating of the potentiometer wire
due to current, may introduce
some error.

DISCUSSION:
1. Internal resistance of a cell also
depends upon temperature. Temperature of the
electrolyte should therefore be kept constant
throughout.

2. In order to protect the galvanometer

from damage due to excessive current, a high
resistance should be connected in series with it
while obtaining approximate position of the
balance point. This does not affect the position
of the balance point in any way.
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However, this resistance should be

removed while trying for the exact position of
the balance point. The same purpose can be
achieved by using a shunt across the
galvanometer.
3. Internal resistance also depends
upon the current drawn, so the current drawn
should not change appreciably.
4. The resistance of a conductor
increases with its length; hence the internal
resistance of a cell increases with separation
between the plates.
5. The resistance of a conductor
varies inversely with its area of cross-section.
Hence, the internal resistance of a cell
increases with decreasing common area
between the plates.
6. The conductivity of an electrolyte
depends on the degree of dissociation of the
electrolyte.
Factors affecting internal resistance:
The internal resistance of a cell depends on:
Surface area of
Electrodes (more surface area → less resistance)
Distance between the electrodes (more distance
→ more resistance) Nature and concentration of
electrolyte (higher concentration → more
resistance)
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BIBLIOGRAPHY:
1. NCERT book
2.NCERT lab
manual
3. Wikipedia
4. docfoc
5. slide share