Affiliation No.

1730992

Session: 2023-2024

INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

REPORT

ON
“Factors on which Internal Resistance/EMF of a Cell
Depends”

Submitted To:- Submitted By:-

MR. DEEPAK KR. SHARMA KRISHAN SINGH CHARAN
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS CLASS: XII-A
AIS, JAIPUR, ROLL NO.: 11665598

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS, AIS,
JAIPUR (RAJ.)

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Krishan Singh Charan bearing Roll
Number 11665598 is a student of Class XII-A. Hehas
successfully completed his Physics Investigatory project
titled “Factors on which Internal Resistance/EMF of a Cell
Depends” as per the guidelines of Central Board of
Secondary Education for the academic year 2023-2024.

It is further certified that this project is the individual and

bonafide work of the candidate.

Signature of Physics Teacher : ______________

Signature of External Examiner: ______________

Signature of Principal : ______________

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

It gives me immense pleasure to present the Project on Factors

on which Internal Resistance/EMF of a Cell Depends I would
like to express my gratitude towards my I express my special
gratitude to my principal, Ms. Karuna Nagpal for allowing me
to do this project.

I give my special thanks to my Physics Teacher Mr. Deepak

Kumar Sharma for helping me in every regard. Under whose
guidance and constant Supervision the project has been
completed. The instruction and Suggestions given by him have
been a major contributor forwards the completion of the project.

At the same time, I am very thankful to my parents who

provided all necessary things and my friends helping me a lot. I
am thankful to CBSE for giving me this opportunity.

Overall, without the support of all these people this project

could not be successful.

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 Table of Contents
CERTIFICATE................................................................................ 2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................ 3
1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................... 5
1.1 INTERNAL RESISTANCE ....................................................... 5
2. PRACTICAL ANALYSIS ................................................................. 6
2.1 OBJECTIVE .......................................................................... 6
2.2 APPARATUS ........................................................................ 7
2.3THEORY ............................................................................... 7
2.4 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM ................................................................ 8
2.5 PROCEDURE........................................................................ 8
2.6 RESULT & INFERENCES ........................................................... 10
2.7 PRECAUTIONS .................................................................. 11
2.8 SOURCES OF ERROR ............................................................. 11
3. Bibliography ......................................................................... 12

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1. 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.

1.1 INTERNAL RESISTANCE

Internal resistance is defined as the resistance offered by the

electrolyte of the cell to the flow of ions.

(iii) Its S.I. unit is Ohm (Ω)

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 For a cell of e.m.f. (E) and internal resistance (r), connected to
an external resistance (R) such that (I) is the current flowing
through the circuit,

E = V + Ir

Internal Resistance r = E–V

I

2. PRACTICAL ANALYSIS

2.1 OBJECTIVE

To study the various factors on which the internal

resistance of a cell depends.

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2.2 APPARATUS

 A potentiometer,

 a battery (or battery eliminator),

 two one way keys,

 a rheostat,

 a galvanometer,

 a resistancebox,

 an ammeter,

 a cell (Leclanche cell),

 a jockey,

 a setsquare,

 connecting wires and sand paper.

2.3THEORY

The internal resistance of a cell is the resistance offered by its

electrolyte to the flow of ions . The internal resistance of a cell
i. is directly proportional to the distance between the
electrodes.
ii. is inversely proportional to facing surface area of the
electrodes in electrolyte.
iii. decreases with increase in temperature of electrolyte.

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 iv. is inversely proportional to concentration of
electrolyte.
The internal resistance of a cell is given by:

r = (E-V)/I

2.4 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

2.5 PROCEDURE

1. Clean the ends of the connecting wires with sand

paper and make tight connections according to the circuit
diagram.
2. Tighten the plugs of the resistance box.

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 3. Check the e.m.f. of the battery and of the cell and make
sure that e.m.f. of the battery is more than thatof the cell,
otherwise null or balance point will not be obtained.
To study variation of internal resistance with distance of
separation
4. Keep both the electrodes at a distance of 16 cm.
5. Take maximum current from the battery, making
rheostat resistance small.
6. Without inserting a plug in key K 2, adjust the rheostat
so that a null point is obtained on the last wire of the
potentiometer.
7. Determine the position of the null point accurately using
a set square and measure the balancing length (l1) between
the null point and the end P.
8. Next introduce plugs in both keys K1 and K2. At the same
time, take out a small resistance (1 – 5 W) from the shunt
resistance box connected in parallel withthe cell.
9. Slide the jockey along a potentiometer wire and
obtain the null point.
10. Measure the balancing length (l2) from end P. Record
these observations.
11. Now keep the electrodes 12 cm apart.
12. Then remove the plugs of keys K1 and K2. Wait for
some time and repeat steps 7 to 10.
13. Next, keep the electrodes 9 cm apart to obtain another
set of observations.
To study variation of internal resistance with area of
electrodes
14. Keeping all other factors constant, increase the
area of electrodes in the electrolyte by dipping them

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 into the electrolyte at different depths for each
observation.
15. Obtain three such observations by
repeating steps 7 to 10. Record your
readings.
To study variation of internal resistance with
concentration of electrolyte
16. Keeping all other factors constant, decrease the
concentration of electrolyte by adding distilled water for
different observations.
17. Obtain three such observations by repeating step 7 to 10.
Record your readings.
2.6 RESULT & INFERENCES

1. The Electromotive Force of the cell is constant and is

equal to E = 0.98 Volt.
2. The internal resistance of a cell is directly
proportional to the separation between the
electrodes.
3. The internal resistance of a cell is inversely proportional
to the area of the electrodes dipped inelectrolyte.
4. The internal resistance of a cell is inversely
proportional to the temperature of electrolytes.
5. The internal resistance of a cell is inversely proportional
to the concentration of the electrolyte.

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2.7 PRECAUTIONS

• The connections should be neat , clean and tight.

• The plugs should be introduced in the keys only
when the observations are to be taken.
• The positive polls of the battery E and cells E1 and E2
should , all be connected to the terminal at the zero of
the wires.
• The jockey key should not be rubbed along the wire. It
should touch the wire gently.
• The ammeter reading should remain constant for a
particular set of observation. If necessary , adjust the
rheostat for this purpose.

2.8 SOURCES OF ERROR

a) The auxiliary battery may not be fully charged.

b) The potentiometer wire may not be of uniform cross-
section and material density throughout its length.
c) End resistances may not be zero.

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3. Bibliography

✓ Smith, J. A. (2000). Principles of Electricity. Academic Press.

✓ Johnson, M. B. (2015). Experimental Analysis in Physics. XYZ
Publishers.
✓ Brown, C. D. (2018). Understanding Internal Resistance.
PhysicsExperiments.com.
✓ https://www.physics-experiments.com/internal-resistance
✓ www.batteryuniversity.com
✓ www.physics.stackexchange.com

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