Fiona Gauson 12.

3 Due: 09/02/18
Physics: CPAC 3

CPAC 3: Determining EMF and Internal Resistance of a cell.

Introduction
We were given the following equipment and built the following circuit in order to find the EMF and
Internal Resistance of the cell pack given.

Equipment
1. Voltmeter 4. Cell Pack
2. Ammeter 5. Wires to connect
3. Rheostat

Method
1. Build the circuit shown in the diagram below.
2. Take a reading of Voltage and Current.
3. Switch the circuit off and on again.
4. Repeat steps 3-4 twice more.
5. Move the Rheostat’s arm down the bar.
6. Repeat steps 2-5 through 9 times for 10 data points.

Circuit Diagram

A V

Variables
Independent Variable: Current
Dependent Variable: Voltage
Controlled Variable The need for it to be controlled How we controlled it
Temperature of If the temperature is increased, We made sure to switch the
surroundings current is increased and hence the circuit off in between readings
readings would be skewed.
Cell pack If the cell pack was changed, the EMF We kept the same circuit for all
would also change. the readings
Fiona Gauson 12.3 Due: 09/02/18
Physics: CPAC 3

Raw Data
Voltage (V) ±0.01V Current (A) ±0.01A
Run 1 Run 2 Run 3 Run 1 Run 2 Run 3
4.34 4.37 4.29 0.41 0.40 0.41
4.22 4.22 4.23 0.42 0.43 0.41
4.17 4.10 4.11 0.43 0.45 0.45
3.98 3.99 3.97 0.50 0.49 0.49
3.92 3.88 3.85 0.50 0.52 0.52
3.80 3.79 3.80 0.55 0.55 0.54
3.71 3.68 3.70 0.59 0.59 0.58
3.36 3.37 3.51 0.70 0.69 0.63
3.11 3.10 3.02 0.79 0.78 0.82
2.41 2.35 2.39 1.08 1.09 1.07

Processed Data
Average Voltage (V) Absolute Uncertainty Average Current (A) Absolute Uncertainty
4.333 0.04 0.407 0.01
4.223 0.01 0.420 0.01
4.127 0.04 0.443 0.01
3.980 0.01 0.493 0.01
3.883 0.04 0.513 0.01
3.797 0.01 0.547 0.01
3.697 0.02 0.587 0.01
3.413 0.08 0.673 0.04
3.077 0.05 0.797 0.02
2.383 0.03 1.080 0.01

For each Resistance, we worked out the average value for Voltage and Current using the following
formula.
𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒1 + 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒2 + 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒3
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 =
3
After plotting the graph, I was able to find the EMF by looking at the y-intercept. I then got this value
to be:
5.3𝑉
I was then able to find the Internal Resistance by finding the negative gradient. I found this value to
be:
2.8Ω

Uncertainties
The absolute uncertainty of our Voltmeter and our Ammeter was ±0.01V and ±0.01A respectively. I
then found the half range uncertainty of the repeated readings using the following formula.
𝑀𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 − 𝑀𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
𝐻𝑎𝑙𝑓𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑈𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑦 =
2
I then compared these two values and took the larger of the two to be the Absolute Uncertainty. I
plotted the minimum and maximum gradients and found the difference between the y intercepts to
give the uncertainty for the EMF.
±0.2𝑉
Fiona Gauson 12.3 Due: 09/02/18
Physics: CPAC 3

I found the difference between the negative gradients of the minimum and maximum lines to give
an uncertainty for the Internal Resistance.
±0.3Ω

Graph of Values

Conclusion
Our value for the EMF is as follows.
5.3𝑉 ± 0.2𝑉
Our value for the Internal Resistance is as follows.
2.8Ω ± 0.3Ω

Evaluation
Overall, I think that our values for the EMF and Internal Resistance are reliable but not as reliable as
they could be. The percentage uncertainty for EMF and Internal Resistance are approximately 3%
and 10% respectively, which is quite a large uncertainty. To make this value more reliable, next time
we could use a switch with a definitive off and on state, instead of a button. The value printed on the
cells was 6V, implying that the EMF would be greater than that. However, we only got EMF to be
5.3V. This may be due to the circuit itself having resistance or the cells not working to their full
capacity. To make our experiment more valid, we should do more repeats per run next time.