Physics

INVESTIGATORY PROJECT:
INTERNAL RESISTANCE/E.M.F OF
CELL DEPENDS

V.VISHNUVARTHAN
Xll-A2
 Acknowledgement
The success and final outcome of this project required a lot of guidance and

assistance from many people and I am extremely fortunate to acknowledge

the support given by everyone all along the completion of my project work.

Whatever I have done is due to such guidance and assistance and I would not

forget to thank them.

I would like to express my gratitude to my physics teacher Kanishkar Sir as well

as our school Principal Mrs. T. S. Vijayasree mam who gave me the excellent

opportunity to do this wonderful project on the topic “Factor on which the

internal resistance/emf of a cell depends”, in which I come to know about so

many new things. I would like to thank my parents because of whom I am able

to finish my project and make it as an enjoyable experience.

 INDEX
1. Introduction
▪ Internal resistance
2. Practical Analysis
▪ Objective
▪ Apparatus
▪ Theory
▪ Circuit diagram
▪ Procedure
▪ Result & Inferences
▪ Precautions
▪ Sources of error
3. Flowchart
4. conclusion
5. Bibliography
 Introduction
1. There is a great need of batteries in our
daily use electronic appliances and
the use is increasing every day.
2. Thus, the batteries need to be more
powerful so that their potential can be
increased greatly
3. Thus, this project report is based on
practical analysis for the factors
affecting the internal resistance of a
cell.
 INTERNAL RESISTANCE

Internal resistance is defined as the resistance offered

by the electrolyte of the cell to the flow of ions.

❖ Its S.I unit is ’ohm(Ω)’

For a cell of emf(E) and internal resistance(r),connected to an external

resistance(R) such that (I) is the current flowing through the circuit

Internal resistance: r=E-V/I

 Practical Analysis
Objective
To study the various factors on which the internal
resistance of a cell depends.

Apparatus
A potentiometer a battery (or battery eliminator),to keys, a
rheostat, a galvanometer, a resistance box, ammeter ,a
cell(Leclanché cell),a jockey ,a setsquare , connecting wires
and sand paper.

Theory
The internal resistance of a cell is the resistance offered by
the electrolyte to flow of ions .internal resistance of cell

Is directly proportional to the distance between the

electrodes
Decreases with increase in temperature of electrolyte
the internal resistance of a cell is given by

R=(e-V)/I
Circuit Diagram
 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.
3. Check the emf of the battery and the cell
and make sure that emf of the battery is
more than that of the cell. Else, null or
balance point will not be obtained.
4. Keep both the electrodes at a distance of
16 cm.
5. Take maximum current from the battery
making the rheostat resistance small.
6. Without inserting a plug in key k2, 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 setsquare and measure
the balancing length(l1) between the null
point and the end point.
8. Next introduce plugs in both keys k1 and
k2.
9. Take out the resistance(1-5W)from the
shunt resistance box connected in
parallel with the cell.
10. Slide the jockey along a potentiometer
wire and obtain the null point.
11. Measure the balancing length(l2) from
end point.
12. Record these observations.
13. Further, keep the electrodes 12cm apart.
14. Remove the plugs of keys k1 and k2.
15. Wait for some time and repeat steps 7 to
12
16. Next, keep the electrodes 9 cm apart to
obtain another set of observation.
17. Keeping all other factors constant,
increase the area of electrodes in the
electrolyte by dipping them into the
electrolyte at different deps for each
observation.
18. Obtain three such observations by
repeating steps 7 to 12. Record your
readings.
19. Keeping all other factors constant,
decrease the concentration of electrolyte
by adding distilled water for different
observations.
20. Obtain three such observations by
repeating step 7 to 12 and record your
readings.
 Observations
S.No Ammeter Position of Null Shunt Internal
Reading Point(cm) Resistance Resistance
With R Without R
1 0.3 660.5 35.5 1 0.94
2 0.3 660.5 77.2 2 1.77
3 0.3 660.5 108.3 3 2.15

Table for effect of separation between

electrodes
S.No Separation Balancing Balancing Internal R/d
Between point point resistance
electrodes L1(cm) L2(cm)

1 1.2 326.6 276.9 0.456 0.38

2 2.5 320.7 219.1 0.95 0.38

3 3.7 660.5 350.9 1.406 0.38

 Table for effect of temperature
S.No Temperature L1(cm) L2(cm) Resistance Internal Tr(k)
Resistance
1 1.2 326.6 276.9 0.456 0.38 301.44

2 2.5 320.7 219.1 0.95 0.38 291.96

3 3.7 660.5 350.9 1.406 0.38 283.87

 Result & Inferences
1. The electromotive force of the cell is constant and is
equal to the 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 inversely proportional
to the area of the electrodes dipped in electrolyte.
4. The internal resistance of a cell is inversely pro to the
temperature of electrolytes.
5. The internal resistance of a cell is inversely
proportional to the concentration of the electrolyte
 Precautions
1. The connections should be neat, clean and tight.

2. The plugs should be introduced in the keys.

Only when the observations to be taken.

3. The positive polls of the battery e and cells E1 and
E2 should all be connected to the terminal at the
zero of the wire.
4. The jockey should not be rubbed along the wire. It

should touch the wire gently.

5. The ammeter reading should remain constant for

a particular set of observation. If

necessary, adjust the rheostat for this purpose.
 Sources of error
1. The auxiliary battery may not be fully charged.

2. The potentiometer wire may not be uniformly

cross-section and material density throughout

its length.
3. End resistance may not be zero.
 Bibliography

• Physics class XII book.

• www.google.com.
• www.wikipedia.com.
• www.slideshare.com.