PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY

PROJECT
To study various factors on which the internal resistance/EMF of a
cell depends

PREPARED BY- VINAYAK PUNJ

CLASS- 12-A
 Certificat
e
This is to certify that, tfinayak Punj of class 12 of Amity
International School, Pushp tfihar has successfully
completed the Physics Investigatory Project as prescribed by
the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), during
the academic year 2019-20, towards partial fulfilment of
credit for the physics practical evaluation of CBSE 2020
under my supervision.

Teacher

1
 Table of content
S.no. Topic Pg.
No.
1 Acknowledgment 3
2 Introduction 4
Practical-
Objective
Apparatu
s Theory
3 Circuit 5-14
Diagram
Procedure
Result
Precautions
Sources of
Error

4 Conclusion 15
5 Bibliography 16

2
 Acknowledgement

I would like to express my thanks of gratitude to

our Principal Mrs. Ameeta Mohan for giving me
the golden opportunity to do this wonderful
project on the topic “Factors on which internal
resistance of cell depends”.

I would extend my heartiest thanks to my physics

teacher Mr. Manash Kumar for providing me with
all the support I required at all times.

I would like to gratefully thank my parents for

providing me with all the facilities and a favourable
environment at home.

I would also thank my friends who have given me

support and helped me in finalizing the project in
given time frame.

3
 Introductio
n
There is a great need of batteries in electronic
appliances we use daily and this use is increasing
day by day. Thus, the need of the hour is to make
batteries powerful and increase their potential. This
project report is based on practical analysis of the
factors affecting the internal resistance and EMF 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.

4
 Practica
 Objective- l
To study various factors on the
which resistance and EMF of a cell internal
depends.
 Apparatus-
1.Potentiometer
2.Battery
3.Rheostat
4.Galvanometer
5.Resistance Box
6.Ammeter
7.Wires
8.Jockey
9.Meter Bridge
10.Leclanche Cell

5
 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
 Inversely proportional to facing surface
area of the electrodes in electrolyte
 Decreases with increase in temperature
of electrolyte
 Inversely proportional to concentration
of electrolyte
The internal resistance of a cell is given by-
𝑟=l1 −𝑙 2
𝑙
×𝑅
1 without resistance
Where l1- balancing length
l2- balancing length with shunt resistance
R- shunt resistance in parallel with given
cell

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 Circuit
Diagram-

The above circuit

includes-
 A power supply
 Two one-way keys
 Galvanometer
 Resistance Box
 Shunt Resistance

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 Procedure-
 Calculate the internal resistance of cell-
 Arrange apparatus as shown in circuit diagram.
 Clean the ends of connecting wires with sandpaper and make tight
connections according to the circuit diagram.
 Tighten the plugs of the resistance box.
 Check the e.m.f of the battery and cell and see that e.m.f of the
battery is more than the given cell otherwise null or the balance point
will not be obtained (E’>E)
 Take maximum current from the battery, making rheostat resistance
small.
 To test the contactless of the connections. (Insert the plug in the key
K1 and note the ammeter reading. Take out 2000 Ω resistance plug
from the 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 directions in the two cases, the connections are correct.)
 Without inserting the plug in the Key K2 adjust the rheostat so that a
null point is obtained on the fourth wire of potentiometer.
 Insert the 2000 ohm plug back in its position in resistance box and by
slightly adjusting the jockey near the previously obtained position of
null point, obtain the null point position accurately, using a set square
 Measure the balancing length l1 between this point and the end P of
the wire.
 Take out the 2000 ohm plug again from the resistance box R.B.
Introduce the plugs in key K1 as well as in Key K2. Take out a small
resistance (1-5 ohm) from the resistance box R connected in parallel
with the cell.
 Slide the jokey along the potentiometer wire and obtain null point
 Insert 2000 ohms plug back in its position in R.B. and if necessary,
make further adjustment for sharp null point.
 Measure the balancing length l2 from end P.
 Remove the plug keys at K1 and K2. Wait for some time and for same
value of current (as shown by the ammeter), repeat the steps 7 to 13.
 Repeat the observations for different values of R repeating each
observation twice.

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 To study the effect of distance between the electrodes on internal
resistance -
 To see the effect of distance between the electrodes on internal
resistance keeping the other factors constant, vary the separation
between the electrodes and measure the internal resistance in each
case
 Draw a graph between separation between the electrodes and
internal resistance of the cell.

 To study the effect of the area (size)of electrodes in electrolyte on internal

resistance-
 To see the effect of the area (size) of electrodes in electrolyte on
internal resistance keeping the other factors constant, increase the
area of electrodes in electrolyte by dipping them into electrolyte and
measure the internal resistance of cell in each case.
 Plot the graph between area of electrodes dipped in electrolytes and
the internal resistance of the cell.

 To study the effect of the temperature of electrolyte on the internal

resistance-
 To see the effect of the temperature of electrolyte on the internal
resistance by keeping other factors constant, keep the primary cell in
water bath to heat the electrolyte. Determine the internal resistance
at various temperatures.
 Plot the graph between temperature and internal resistance of the
cell.

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10
 Observations
 Internal Resistance of the
Cell-
S. Ammeter Position of Null Shunt Internal
No. Reading Point (cm) Resistan Resistan
With R Without ce (R) ce (r)
(l1) R (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
 Table for effect of separation
between electrodes-
S. Separation Balancing Balanci Resistance Internal
No. Between Point ng R (Ω) Resistance
Electrode L1 Point r (Ω)
s d (cm) (cm) L2
(cm)
1 1.2 326.6 276.9 3.0 0.45
2 2.5 320.7 219.1 3.0 0.95
 3
Table 3.7effect 660.5
for of 350.9 3.0 1.40

temperature-
S. Temp. L1 L2 Resistance Internal
No. T (°c) (cm) (cm) R (Ω) Resistance
r (Ω)
1 55 588.7 434.5 7.0 1.83
2 45 599.0 439.0 7.0 1.86
3 35 588.5 404.5 7.0 2.18

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 Table for effect of area of electrode dipped
into electrolyte-
S. Area of Balancing Balancing Resistan Internal
No Electrode Length Length e Resistance
. s A l1 l2 R (Ω) r (Ω)
(cm2) (cm) (cm)
1 19.6 588.7 434.5 2 0.52
2 13.3 599.0 439.0 2 0.54
3 Graph7.0between588.5 404.5
Internal Resistance 2and 0.61

Distance between Electrodes-

 Graph between Internal Resistance and

Temp.-

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 Results and Inferences-
 The Electromotive Force of the cell is constant
and is equal to E= 0.98
 The Internal Resistance of a
proportional cell is inversely
electrolytes to the temperature
 The internal resistanceof of athecell is inversely
proportional to the area of the electrodes dipped
in the electrolyte.
 The internal resistance of a directly
proportional cell is to
electrodes. the betwee
separation n
13
 Precaution
 The connections should be neat, clean and tight
 The plugs should be introduced in the keys
only when the observations are to be taken.
 The positive poles of the battery E and the
cells E1 and E2 should all be connected to the
terminals at the zero
of the wire.
 The jockey key
should not be
rubbed along the
wire. It should touch
the wire gently.
 The ammeter
reading
should remain constant for a set of observation.
If necessary, adjust the rheostat for this
purpose.
 The e.m.f of the battery should be greater
than the e.m.f of either of the two cells.
 Sources of Error
 The auxiliary should not be fully charged.
 The potentiometer wire may not be of uniform
cross-section and material density throughout 14
its length.
 Conclusio
n
Factors Distance between the Electrodes is
Affecting
Internal Directly Proportional

Resista Area of Electrodes is

n ce of
a Cell
Inversly Proportional

Temperature of Electrolytes is
Inversly Proportional

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 Bibliography

1)https://www.meritnation.com/ask-answer/question/on-what-factors-the-
internal-resistence-of-a-cell-depends/current-electricity/1616833
2) https://brainly.in/question/3347938
3)https://www.slideshare.net/factors-on-which-the-internal-resistanceemf-
of-a-cell-depends
4)https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-factors-on-which-the-internal-
resistance-of-a-cell-depend 5)
https://www.academia.edu/30253187/Factors_Affecting_Internal_Resistan
ce_of_a_Cell
6)
https://www.scribd.com/doc/237028345/Factors-Affecting-Internal-
Resistance

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