VELAMMAL VIDHYASHRAM

SURAPET

PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

ON
STUDY OF VARIOUS FACTOR ON WHICH THE INTERNAL
RESISTANCE/EMF OF A CELL DEPENDS

NAME: IMESH KARTHICK.P.R

CLASS: 12A
ROLL NUMBER:

SSCE -2024 -2025

 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that, IMESH KARTHICK.P.R of class XII A has successfully completed the
project on the topic STUDY OF VARIOUS FACTOR ON WHICH THE INTERNAL
RESISTANCE/EMF OF A CELL DEPENDS under the guidance of Mr. in
partial fulfilment of physics practical examination conducted by SSCE, CBSE, New Delhi
for the academic year 2024 – 2025.

Signature of teacher in charge Signature of Internal Examiner

Signature of Principal Signature of External Examiner

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In the accomplishment of this project successfully, many people have bestowed upon me their
blessings and the heart pledged support. So I am utilizing this opportunity to thank all the people
who have been concerned with my project.

Primarily I would like to thank God Almighty for giving me the strength, knowledge and
good health to complete this project successfully.

Then I would like to thank the Principal of Velammal Vidhyashram for the continuous support
and our Physics teacher whose whole hearted guidance helped me to complete the project. The
suggestions and instructions given by them served as the major contribution in the completion
of this project.

Then I would like to thank my parents and friends who have given me their valuable
suggestions and guidance, that have been instrumental in the completion of this project.

Signature of the Student

 TABLE OF CONTENT

S NO. TOPICS PAGE NO.

1 Introduction 04

2 Aim 05

3 Materials required 05

4 Theory 06

5 Procedure 07

6 Observation 09

7 Precautions 10

8 Sources of error 11

9 Conclusion 12

10 Bibliography 13
 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.
 AIM

To study the various factors on which the internal resistance of a cell depends.

MATERIALS REQUIRED

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=(𝑙𝛤𝑙2) 𝑅
𝑙1

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:
• Draw the circuit diagram showing the scheme of connections.
• Clean the ends of the connecting wires with sand paper and make tight connections
according to the circuit diagrams.
• Tight the plugs of the resistance box.
• 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).
• Take maximum current from the battery, making rheostat resistance small.
• 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).
• Without inserting the plug in the key 𝐾2 adjust the rheostat so that a null point is
obtained on the 4th wire of potentiometer.
• 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.
• Measure the balancing length 𝑙1 between the point and the end P of the wire.
• 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.
• Slide the jockey 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 the same value of
current (as shown by ammeter) repeat the steps 7 to 13.
• Repeat the observations for different values of R repeating each observation twice.
• 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.
 OBSERVATIONS

• Variation of Internal Resistance with Distance of Separation

• Variations of Internal Resistance With Area of Electrodes

• Variation of Internal Resistance with Concentration of Electrolyte

 PRECAUTION

1. The connections should be neat, clean and tight.

2. The plugs should be introduced in the keys only when observations are to be taken.
3. The positive poles of the battery E and the Leclanche cell (carbon rod) should both be
connected to the terminal at the zero of the potentiometer.
4. The jockey 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 observations. If
necessary, adjust the rheostat for this purpose.
6. The emf of the battery should be greater than that of the cell.
7. Some high resistance plug should always be taken out from the resistance box before the
jockey is moved along the wire.
8. Current should be passed for a short time only, while finding the null point.
9. Rheostat should be adjusted so that the first null point lies on the last wire of the
potentiometer.

10. The cell should not be disturbed during the experiment.

 Source of Error

1. The instrument screws may be loose.

2. Thick connecting wires may not be available.
3. Rheostat may have high resistance.
4. The auxiliary battery may not be fully charged.
5. The potentiometer wire may not be of uniform cross-section section and material density
throughout its length.
6. End resistances may not be zero.
 CONCLUSION

This project has examined the various factors that affect the internal resistance of a cell; the
separation between its electrodes, their surface area and the concentration of its electrolyte.
Internal resistance is the property responsible for decreasing the terminal voltage of a cell
below its emf. As such, it is generally advantageous to reduce the internal resistance of cell.
Hence, the study of factors affecting internal resistance is of economic relevance.
 BIBILIOGRAPHY

• www.wikipedia.org
• www.wikibooks.org
• www.hyperphysics.com
• www.batteryuniversity.com
• www.physics.stackexchange.com