NPS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL,

GUWAHATI

TO STUDY VARIOUS FACTORS

AFFECTING INTERNAL
RESISTANCE /EMF OF A CELL

SUBMITTED BY-

Inoka Achumi
XII (12) B1

SUMITTED TO-

Shailendra Pratap
 Certificate
This certificate is that Inoka Achumi has
been completed the investigatory project of
AISSCE (CBSE), New Delhi under the
guidance of Shailendra Pratap. During the
year 2023-2024.

……………………….
(Teacher In-charge)
……………………….
(Examiner)
Acknowledgement
I, Inoka Achumi of class XII B1 express my
gratitude to my school authorities for
allowing me to undertake the project
entitled

' Factors affecting internal

resistance of a cell '

I naturally could not have done justice to my

delicate assignment; had I not been
privileged to get the animate guidance from
-
Mr Shailendra Pratap, Physics teacher.
I also express sincere thanks to my family
who
extended helping hand in completing this
project.

-Inoka Achumi
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.
 Objective
To study the various factors on which the
internal resistance of a cell depends.
 Apparatus
A Potentiometer, a battery (battery
eliminator), two-way keys, a rheostat of low
resistance, a galvanometer, a high
resistance, an ammeter, a cell, a Jockey, a
set square, connecting wires, water bath,
thermometer(0-100°C), burner, tripod stand,
wire gauge.
 Theory
The internal resistance of a cell is the
resistance offered by its electrolyte to the
flow of ions. The internal resistance of a cell
 is directly proportional to the distance
between the electrodes.
 is inversely proportional to facing
surface area of the electrodes in
electrolyte.
 decreases with increase in temperature
of electrolyte.
 is inversely proportional to
concentration of electrolyte.
The internal resistance of a cell is given by

r = {(l1 – l2)/l1}R
where l1, l2 are the balancing lengths without
resistance and with resistance (shunt),
respectively and R is the shunt resistance in
parallel with the given cell.
 Procedure
Step 1
1. Draw the circuit diagram showing the
scheme of connections.
2. Clean the ends of the connecting wires
with sand paper and make tight connections
according to the circuit diagrams.
3. Tight the plugs of the resistance box.
4. Check the e.m.f. of the battery and cell
and see that e.m.f. and see that e.m.f. of the
battery is more than that of given cell,
otherwise null or balance point will not be
obtained (E' >E).
5. Take maximum current from the battery,
making rheostat resistance small.
6. To test the corrections of the connections
(insert the plug in the key K1 and note the
ammeter reading. Take out 2000-ohm
resistance plug from resistance box. Place
the jokey first at the end P of the wire and
then at the end Q. If the galvanometer
shows deflection in opposite direction in the
two cases the connections are correct).
7. Without inserting the plug in the key K2
adjust the rheostat so that a null point is
obtained on the 4th wire of potentiometer.
8. Insert the 2000 ohm plug back in the
position in resistance box and by slightly
adjusting the jockey near the previous
obtained position of null
point, obtain null point position accurately,
using a set square.
9. Measure the balancing length L1 between
the point and the end P of the
wire.
10. Take out the 2000 ohm plug again from
the resistance box R.B. introduce
plugs in the key K1, as well as in key K2. Take
out small resistance
(1-5 Ω) from the resistance box R connected
in parallel with the cell.
11. Slide the jockey along the potentiometer
wire and obtain null point.
12. Insert 2000 ohms plug back in its
position in R.B. and if necessary, make
further adjustment for sharp null point.
13. Measure the balancing length L2 from
end P.
14. Remove the plug keys at k1 and K2. Wait
for some time and for the same value of
current (as shown by ammeter) repeat the
steps 7 to 13.
15. Repeat the observations for different
values of R repeating each observation
twice.

16. Calculate the internal resistance of cell

by using the above relation for r.

Step 2
To see the effect of distance between the
electrodes on internal resistances keeping
the other factors constant, vary separation
between electrodes and measure internal
resistance in each case.

Step 3
To see the effect of the temperature of
electrolyte on internal resistance by keeping
other factors constant. Keep primary cells in
water bath to heat the electrolyte.
Determine the internal resistance at various
temperatures.
Step 4
To see the effect of concentration (nature) of
electrolyte on internal resistance by: -
Keeping the other factors constant,
decrease concentration of electrolyte by
adding the distilled water and determine
internal resistance of cell in each case.
 Result
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 in electrolyte.
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.
 Precautions
1. The connections should be neat, clean
and tight.
2. The plugs should be introduced in the
keys only when the observations are 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 wires.
4. The jockey key 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.
6. The e.m.f. of the battery should be
greater than the e.m.f.'s of the either of the
two cells.
7. Some high resistance plug should always
be taken out from resistance box before the
jockey is moved along the wire.
8. The e.m.f. of the battery should be
greater than that of the cell.
9. For one set of observation the ammeter
reading should remain constant.
10. Current should be passed for short time
only , while finding the null point.
11. Rheostat should be adjusted so that
initial null point lies on last wire of the
potentiometer.
12. Cell should not be disturbed during
experiment.
13. Jockey should not be rubbed against the
potentiometer wire.
 Sources of
error
1. The auxiliary battery may not be fully
charged.
2. The potentiometer wire may not be of
uniform cross-section and material density
throughout its length.
3. End resistances may not be zero.
Bibliograph
y
 [Link]
 [Link]
 [Link]
 Physics lab manual