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A study to determine internal resistance of battery

A project report for the partial fulfillment of the examination

of grade XII, 2081 of National Examination Board

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Submitted to
The Department Head of Physics
Mount View English Boarding School
Ghorahi-18, Rajhena of Dang, Lumbini province, Nepal

Submitted by
Registration No :
Symbol No:
Name : Astha Adhikari
School: Mount View English Boarding School
Batch:2080
 Certificate Of Approval

This project work entitled " A study to determine internal

resistance of battery " Submitted by

Astha Adhikari
Mount View English Boarding School
Ghorahi-18, Rajhena of Dang, Lumbini province, Nepal

prepared under the supervision of Mr.Srijan Adhikari

submitted for the partial fulfillment of prerequisite of physics
of class 12 has been accepted for National Examination Board
of grade XI, 2081

External Examiner
Physics Teacher
National Examination Board

Mr.Srijan Adhikari
The Department Head of Physics
Mount View English Boarding School
Ghorahi-18, Rajhena of Dang, Nepal
 RECOMMENDATION LETTER
This is to certify that the project work entitled "A Study to Determine Internal Resistance of Battery" has been
conducted by Astha Adhikari as a partial fulfillment of Grade 12 in Physics under my supervision. As the Department
Head of Physics at Mount View English Boarding School, I have closely supervised Astha throughout the duration of
this project.

I can confidently attest to the authenticity and originality of Astha's work. The project demonstrates her commitment
to academic excellence and her ability to conduct independent research in the field of physics. Astha has exhibited a
high level of dedication, curiosity, and analytical thinking throughout the research process.

Based on the quality of her work and her exemplary conduct throughout the project, I highly recommend Astha's
project work report for appraisal. I believe that her findings and contributions to the study of internal resistance of
batteries merit recognition and commendation.

Supervisor:
Mr. Srijan Adhikari
Designation:
Department Head of Physics
Mount View English Boarding School
Date: 2080/06
 DECLARATION
Astha Adhikari, a student currently enrolled in Grade 12 at Mount View English Boarding School, Nepal, hereby declare
that the project work titled "A Study to Determine Internal Resistance of Battery," conducted under the guidance and
supervision of Mr. Srijan Adhikari, is a testament to my original and genuine efforts. This project has been undertaken
as part of my academic curriculum and is presented in fulfillment of the requirements for this academic year.

Throughout the duration of this project, I have diligently worked to investigate and analyze the internal resistance of
batteries, aiming to contribute to the understanding of this crucial aspect. The research, experimentation, and analysis
presented in this project are the result of my independent effort and dedication to the subject matter.

I affirm that this project work has not been previously published or submitted elsewhere for the fulfillment of any
degree program, academic requirement, or competition. The findings, conclusions, and insights presented herein are
the product of my own intellectual exploration and academic pursuit.

I take full responsibility for the content, accuracy, and originality of this project work. It is my sincere belief that this
study contributes meaningfully to the existing body of knowledge in the field of battery technology and internal
resistance measurement.

Should there be any questions, clarifications, or inquiries regarding this project work, I am readily available to provide
further information or engage in academic discourse on the subject matter.

Name: Astha Adhikari

Grade: 12
Email Address: asthaadhikari081@proton.me
Date: 2080/12/
 Abstract
This project explores the history, principles, and applications of the
potentiometer in determining the internal resistance of a circuit. The
potentiometer is a versatile instrument that has been used for over a
century to measure voltage and resistance. In this project, we will discuss
the limitations of using a potentiometer and provide numerical examples
to demonstrate its use in determining internal resistance. Through this
work, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the
potentiometer and its role in electrical measurements.
 Table of content .

i) Introduction……………………………………………………………..1
ii) Component…………………………………………………………….2
iii) Principle………………………………………………………………..3
iv) Application to measure internal resistance of cell…………………….4
v) Numerical………………………………………………………………5
vi) Conclusion………………………………………………………………6
vii) Reference………………………………………………………………...
Introduction
A potentiometer is an instrument for measuring the
potential (voltage) in a circuit. Before the introduction
of the moving coil and digital voltmeters,
potentiometers were used in measuring voltage, hence
the '-meter' part of their name .
The potentiometer was invented by Johann Christian
Poggendorff, a German physicist and mathematician, in
1841. Poggendorff's original design consisted of a long
long wire made of a resistive material, such as graphite, J.C Poggendorff
wound around a cylindrical insulator. He discovered that
by sliding a contact along the wire, he could measure the voltage at any point
along its length. This principle became the basis for the modern
potentiometer.
The first practical application of the potentiometer was in telegraphy,
where it was used to measure the voltage of electrical signals transmitted
over long distances. It was also used in early telegraphy and telephony
systems for signal conditioning and amplification.

Figure : potentiometer

1
Component

Ammeter

Switch

Rheostat

Variable Resistance box

i. potentiometer

b. Cell

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 2. Principle

It is based on the principle that when constant current is passed through a wire of uniform cross-sectional area, the
p.d. across any segment of the wire is directly proportional to its length.i.e.
V ∝l
V = kl where k is constant called potential gradient

Some points regarding potentiometer to be noted:

(i) The principle of potentiometer requires uniform cross-sectional area of the wire and the current through it
constant.
(ii) To obtain the null deflection, the emf of driving cell must be greater than the emf of experimental cell.
(iii) A long wire is used to obtain small potential gradient so that accuracy increases.
(iv) The sensitivity of a potentiometer can be increased by decreasing its potential gradient, by increasing the
length of its wire.
(v) The positive terminals of driving cell and the cell whose emf is to be determined must be connected to the
zero end of the potentiometer wire otherwise null point is never obtained.

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 3
Application to measure internal resistance of cell

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Numerical
1. The balancing length of a potentiometer is at 120 cm. On shunting the cell with a resistance of 4
ohms, the balancing point shifts to a length of 60 cm. Then, find the internal resistance of the cell.
➢
l1 = 120 cm
l2 = 60 cm
R = 4 ohms
We know that ,
Internal resistance (r) = [(l2–l1)I2] × R
= [(120–60)60] × 4
= 6060 × 4
= 4 ohms
Therefore, the internal resistance is 4 ohms.

2. Figure shows a 2.0 V potentiometer used for the determination of internal resistance of a
1.5 V cell. The balance point of the cell in open circuit is 76.3 cm. When a resistor of 9.5
is used in the external circuit of the cell, the balance point shifts to 64.8 cm length of the
potentiometer wire. Determine the internal resistance of the cell.

Internal resistance of the cell=

Balance point of the cell in open circuit,
An external resistance is connected to the circuit with
New balance point of the circuit,
Current flowing through the circuit=
The relation connecting resistance and emf is,

Therefore, the internal resistance of the cell is.

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Conclusion
In conclusion, our project work on using a potentiometer to find the internal resistance of a
cell was a successful and informative endeavor. Our team worked collaboratively and
diligently to design and conduct experiments, collect and analyze data, and draw
meaningful conclusions.

Through our project, we gained a deep understanding of the concept of internal resistance
in cells and its importance in determining the efficiency and performance of a cell. We
learned how to properly use a potentiometer as a precision instrument to measure voltage
and current, and how to manipulate the data to calculate the internal resistance of the cell.

Our findings showed that the internal resistance of the cell varied with different
conditions, such as temperature, load resistance, and type of cell. We also identified
sources of error and took steps to minimize them, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of
our results.

Furthermore, our project work allowed us to develop important skills such as teamwork,
communication, data analysis, and problem-solving. We learned the significance of careful
experimental design and accurate data collection to obtain meaningful results.

In conclusion, our project work on determining the internal resistance of a cell using a
potentiometer was a valuable learning experience that provided us with a deeper
understanding of the topic and enhanced our skills as budding scientists. We are proud of
our accomplishments and are grateful for the opportunity to work as a team and contribute
to the field of science.

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Reference
1) The Hearth of physics -KEC Publication & Distribution Pvt.Ltd.
2) Principle of physics -Ayam Publication & Distribution Pvt.Ltd.
3) https://chat.openai.com/chat
4) https://coolgyan.org/
5) https://learn.adafruit.com/
6) https://library.si.edu/image-gallery/