ST PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOL

Hudkeshwar , Nagpur
Academic Year 2024-25

SUB: PHYSICS
INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

Name Arnav Gubre

Class
12th
Roll No.
 Certificate
This is to certify that Mr. Arnav Gubre a student of class XII,
has successfully completed the Physics Investigatory project
under guidance of MRS. SHILPA REWATKAR during the
academic year
2024-25.

Signature of Examiner Signature of Principal

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my special thanks of
gratitude of my Physics teacher “Mrs. Shilpa Rewatkar ”
for their able guidance and support in completing my
project.
I would like to extend my gratitude to our principal
mam “Mrs. Dewangana Punde” for providing me with all
the facility that was required.

(Arnav Gubre)
Date:
12th Science
 INDEX
Sr no Content Page no

1. Cover page 1

2. Certificate 2

3. Acknowledgment 3

4. Index 4

5. Introduction 5

6. Objective 7

7. Apparatus 7

8. Circuit Diagram 8

9. Theory 9

10. Procedure 10

11. Observation 13

12. Conclusion 14

13. Precautions 15

14. Source of error 16

15. Bibliography 17
 INTRODUCTION

ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
An electrochemical cell is a device by which electric
energy is generated at the cost of chemical energy
due to chemical action taking place in the cell. They
are of two types:
[Link] Cells
[Link]
Cells

PRIMARY CELL: It is the cell in which electrical

energy is produced due to chemical energy. The
chemical reaction in the cell is irreversible.
E.g. Daniel cell, Leclanche cell.

SECONDARY CELL: It is that cell in which the electrical

energy is first stored up as chemical energy and when
the outside circuit is closed to draw the current from
the cell the stored chemical energy is reconverted into
electrical energy. The chemical reactions in this case
are
reversible.
Eg. Lead
acid
 5DANIEL CELL

The Daniel cell was invented by a British chemist, John

Frederic Daniel. In the Daniel cell, copper and zinc
electrodes are immersed in a solution of copper (II) sulphate
(CuSO
4 (aq)) and zinc (II) sulphate (ZnSO4 (aq)) respectively. The two half cells are
connected through a salt bridge. Here zinc acts as anode
and copper acts as cathode.

At the anode, zinc undergoes oxidation to form zinc ions

and electrons. The zinc ions pass into the solution. If the
two electrodes are connected using an external wire, the
electrons produced by the oxidation of zinc travel through
the wire and enter into the copper cathode, where they
reduce the copper ions present in the solution and form
copper atoms that are deposited on the cathode.

The anodic reaction is represented as:

The cathodic reaction is represented as:

The difference of excess electrons on the anode and deficit

of electrons on the cathode creates an electrical potential
between the two electrodes.
 6

OBJECTIVE
To study the various factors on which the internal resistance/emf
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 .
7

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
8 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
i. Is directly proportional to the distance between the electrodes.

ii. Is inversely proportional to facing surface area of the

electrodes in electrolyte.
iii. Decrease with increase in temperature of electrolyte.
iv. Is inversely proportional to concentration of
electrolyte. The internal resistance of a cell is given by

l1 l2
Where , 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

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 K 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
galvanometer shows deflection in opposite direction in the two cases the
connections are correct).

7. Without inserting the plug in the key adjust the rheostat so that a
null point is obtained on the 4Kt h
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 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
well as in key . 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
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 from end P.

14. Remove the plug keys at [Link] 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 .
 12OBSERVATIONS

(A) Internal resistance of cell

A.1. Table for internal resistance:-

[Link]. Ammeter Pos. of null point ( cm ) Shunt

Reading Resistance (l1−l2)/l1 Ω
R(Ω) r=( )R
(A)
With R (l ) Without R
1 ( l2 )

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 2.51

(B) To study the effect of separation between the electrodes

2. Table for effect of separation between electrodes:-

Balancing (l1−l2)/l1
[Link]. Separation between Balancing r=( r/d
length
Electrodes-d (cm) (cm) (l ) )R
2
(cm) ( l ) (Ω)
1

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

(c) Effect of temperature of electrolyte on the internal resistance

 3. Table for effect of temperature:-

[Link]. Temperature l l Resistance R (Ω) Tr

1 2
(T) °C (ΩK)
(cm) (cm)
l1−

l2

l1

)
R

(
Ω
)
1. 40 325 12 1 0.96 301.44
2. 32 552 23.6 1 0.95 291.96
3. 27 660.5 35.5 1 0.94 283.87

CONCLUSIONS

[Link] Electromotive Force of the cell is constant and is equal to E = 0.98

Volt
[Link] internal resistance of a cell is directly proportional to the separation
between the electrodes.
[Link] internal resistance of a cell is inversely proportional to the area of the
electrodes dipped in electrolyte.
[Link] internal resistance of a cell is inversely proportional to the
temperature of electrolytes.
[Link] internal resistance of a cell is inversely proportional to the
concentration of the electrolyte.
PRECAUTIONS
[Link] connections should be neat , clean and tight.
[Link] plugs should be introduced in the keys only when the
observations are to be taken.
[Link] positive polls of the battery E and cells E1 and E2 should, all
be connected to the terminal at zero of the wires.

[Link] jockey key should not be rubbed along the wire. It should touch
the wire gently.
[Link] ammeter reading should remain constant for a particular set
of observation. If necessary, adjust the rheostat for this purpose

[Link] e.m.f. of the battery should be greater than the e.m.f.'s of the
either of the two cells.
[Link] high resistance plug should always be taken out from
resistance box before the jockey is moved along the wire.

[Link] e.m.f. of the battery should be greater than that of the cell.
[Link] 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.

12
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

I. Physics NCERT class X!!

II. Comprehensive Physics Practical class X!
III. [Link]
IV. [Link]