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Physics > Force > Cells Electromotive Force And

Internal Resistance

EMF: Cells, Electromotive

Force And Internal
Resistance

Batteries and cells are important inventions

that have made a lot of our everyday tasks and
life much easier. They are practically used in
most of the portable electronic devices that we
use today. Besides, we can say that we cannot
imagine a world without them. In this article, let
us know more about the cells and their working
principle in detail.

Table of Contents

Cell or Electrochemical Cell

What Is an Electromotive Force (EMF)

of a Cell?

Internal Resistance

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Cell or Electrochemical Cell

A cell or an electrochemical cell is a device
that is capable of obtaining electrical energy
from chemical reactions or vice versa. You
have definitely seen a cell, the small AAA or AA
batteries we use in our remotes.

An electric battery is a device made up of two

or more cells that make use of the chemical
energy stored in the chemicals and converts it
into electrical energy. A battery is used to
provide a continuous steady current source by
way of providing constant EMF or Electromotive
force to an electrical circuit or a machine.

Each cell comprises two half-cells connected

in series by a conductive electrolyte containing
anions and cations. One half-cell is made up of
the electrolyte and the negative electrode, the
Anode. The negatively charged ions, also
known as anions, migrate to the Anode. The
other half-cell includes the electrolyte and the
positive electrode, the Cathode, to which
cations (positively charged ions) migrate.

Redox reactions, reduction and oxidation occur

simultaneously and this powers the battery.
Cations are reduced (it gains electrons) at the
cathode during charging, while anions are
oxidised (it loses electrons) at the anode
during charging. During discharge, the process
is reversed. The electrodes do not touch each
other but are electrically connected by the
electrolyte.

IBYJU'S
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Current,

Cathode Anode

Cation Anion

Electrolyte
solution

Electrolysis @Byjus.com

What Is an Electromotive Force

(EMF) of a Cell?
When there is no electrical equipment
attached to a cell i.e. no current is flowing
through the cell, the electrolyte has the same
potential throughout the cell. The condition of
no current flowing through a cell is also known
as an open circuit. In an open circuit, the
potential of the cell becomes equal to the
difference in the potentials of the electrodes.
Anode has a positive potential (V+) whereas
Cathode has a negative potential (-V–). This
potential difference is known as the
Electromotive Force (EMF) of the cell and it is
equal to;

ξ = V+ − (−V−) = V+ + V−
We know that when we connect an appliance
to the battery, a current flows through the
circuit that is proportional to the voltage. The
ratio of the voltage (V) across an object to the
current flowing through it because of the
potential is known as the resistance of that
object. Resistance in Electricity can be linked to
Friction in Mechanics. The electrical resistance
of a body is the measure of the difficulty in
passing an electric current through it. The SI
unit of electrical resistance is ohm (Ω). The
phenomenon of electrical resistance has led to
the creation of electrical heaters and induction
cooktops. Resistance is given by

R= V
I
The below video explains the relation between
the EMF and voltage:

19,542

Internal Resistance
Similar to how a body opposes the flow of
electricity through it, leading to resistance, the
electrolytes in batteries have a finite value of
resistance. The resistance generated inside a
battery to the flow of current is referred to as
the internal resistance of a battery (r). When a
power source delivers current, the measured
voltage output is lower than the voltage when
no current is flowing through the circuit. This
voltage drop is caused by the internal
resistance of the battery to the flow of current
through it.

Measuring Internal Resistance

The voltage of the battery can be measured

using a voltmeter with no load connected to it.
This is known as the open circuit voltage (VOC).
VOC is equal to the voltage of the ideal voltage
source in the battery. battery. If we connect a
load across the battery, the voltage across the
terminals drops. Let us look at an example to
better understand this.

Measuring the current with a 8Ω external

resistor between the poles of a 8 V battery, we
would expect a current of the following value:

I= V
R
= 1A
In reality, when we measure we measure 0.8 A.

Hence the resistance is:

R= V
I
= 10 Ω
So the internal resistance of the battery in this
case is:

Rinternal = Rtotal–Rexternal
Substiuting the values in the above equation,
we get:

Rinternal = 10 Ω–8 Ω = 2 Ω

Frequently Asked Questions –

FAQs

Q1 What is meant by electric potential?

Electric potential is the quantity of work

required to displace a unit charge from a
reference point to a specific point against
an electric field.

Q2 What is the full form of emf?

Electromotive force is the full form of emf.

Q3 What is electromotive force?

Electromotive force or emf is equal to the

potential terminal variation when no
electric current flows.

Q4 What is the unit of resistivity?

The unit of resistivity is given as ohm-

metre.

Q5 What is the reciprocal of resistance?

The reciprocal of resistivity is conductance.

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