MES INDIAN SCHOOL

DOHA,QATAR
PHYSICS PROJECT
(2022-23)
TOPIC : FACTORS ON WHICH THE INTERNAL
RESISTANCE OF A CELL DEPENDS

Done by: Teacher Guide:

EDWIN SIBY Mrs. Simi Liju
XII-B Department of Physics
 Bonafide Certificate
This is to certify that Master Edwin Siby of class XII B has
completed his Physics Project during the academic year 2022-
23 at M.E.S Indian School Doha, Qatar and his project report is
certified and bonafied.

Signature of Teacher In charge: …………………………………………..

Name:………………………………………..
Date:………………………………………….

School Stamp:

Roll Number / Registration Number

Submitted for all Indian senior school certificate practical

examination(Class XII) held at M.E.S Indian School, Doha-Qatar
on ……………………….

Internal Examiner External Examiner

Signature…………………………… Signature………………………………
Name………………………………… Name……………………………………
Designation……………………….. Designation…………………………..
School………………………………….
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Following the successful completion of this project, I am

obliged to give gratitude to many who have helped me
throughout to do so.

To thank, I should start with the Almighty, who gave me

the ability, strength and proper health, to complete this
investigatory project. I am thankful to my teacher, Mrs.
Simi Liju, who motivated us to do this project. I would also
like to the Head of Department of Physics, Mr. Shaji Kumar
and the Physics Department along with my classmates for
the help and guidance given to me throughout this
project.

I also take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to our

principal Mrs. Hameeda Khadar and Head Of Section Mr.
Iliyas, as well as the School Governing Board who give the
students excellent service in terms of education.

Last, but not the least I thank my parents without whose

support I would have not been able to complete this
project.
 INDEX
1. Cover page 1

2. Bonafide Certificate 2

3. Acknowledgement 3

4. Index 4

5.Introduction 5

6. Experiment 9

7. Observations 15

8. Conclusion 17

9. Bibliography 18
 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:
1. Primary Cells
2. Secondary 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.
E.g. lead acid accumulator, Edison cell.
DANIEL 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 CuSO4 (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:

Zn(s) Zn2+(aq) + 2e-
The cathodic reaction is represented as:
Cu2+(aq) + 2e- Cu(s)
The difference of excess electrons on the anode and
deficit of electrons on the cathode creates an electrical
potential between the two electrodes.
The ions pass through the salt bridge to maintain charge
balance until such a time as the anode and cathode
reach electrical equilibrium of zero volts as chemical
equilibrium is reached in the cell.
The so-called "salt bridge" is not made of salt but could
be made of material able to wick the cations and anions
(salts) in the solutions, where the flow of positively
charged cations along the "bridge" amounts to the same
number of negative charges flowing inthe opposite
direction.

ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE
Electromotive force, also called emf (denoted and
measured in volt), is the voltage developed by any
source of electrical energy such as a battery or dynamo.
It is generally defined as the electrical potential for a
source in a circuit.
 Experiment
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 .
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

Figure: Circuit diagram for internal resistance of a

cell
THEORY
The internal resistance of a cell is the resistance ofered
by its electrolyte to the low 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

r = ( l1 l l2 ) . 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
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 irst
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 keyK2 . 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 diferent 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 .
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
inding the null point.
11. Rheostat should be adjusted so that initial null
point lies on last wire of thepotentiometer.
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
 OBSERVATIONS
A)Internal resistance of cell
1. Table for internal resistance:-

SL Ammeter Reading Pos. of null point ( cm ) Shunt r = (l1−l2). R

NO (A) Resistance l1
With R (l1) Without R R(Ω) (Ω)
( 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:-

SL Separation between Balancing Balancing r = (l1−l2). R r/d
NO Electrodes d (cm) Length Length l1
(cm) ( l1 ) (cm) (l2) (Ω)

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) Efect of temperature of electrolyte on the internal
resistance
3. Table for efect of temperature:-

SL Temperature l1 L2 Resistance r = (l1−l2). R T.r

NO (T) °C (cm) (cm) R (Ω) l1 (ΩK)
(Ω)

1. 40 325 12 1 0.96 301.44

2. 32 552 23.5 1 0.95 291.96
3. 27 660.5 35.5 1 0.94 283.87
 CONCLUSION
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.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
I. Physics NCERT class XII
II. Comprehensive Physics Practical class X!!
III. www.google.com
IV. en.wikipedia.org
V. academia.edu