KE SIKSHA NIKET
LA
LT A
SA
N
SESSION: 2025-2026
PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT
To study various factors on which the internal
resistance/EMF of a cell depends.
SUBMITTED BY:
NAME : AADITRI PATRA
CLASS : XII
SEC : A
ROLL NO : 01
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CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that I, Ms. Aaditri Patra, a student of Class XII
(Science), have successfully completed my project work under the
guidance of Mr. Lal Jha, subject teacher, during the academic year
2025–26 at Saltlake Shiksha Niketan School, in partial
fulfillment of the Physics Practical Examination conducted by the
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
__________________ ___________________
Signature of Signature of
Internal Examiner External Examiner
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my immense gratitude to my physics teacher
Mr. Lal Jha for the help and guidance she provided for completing
this project. I also thank my parents who gave their ideas and inputs
in making this project. Most of all I thank our school management,
for providing us the facilities and opportunity to do this project.
Lastly, I would like to thank my parents and friends for their
constant motivation, assistance, and moral support during this
project.
- Aaditri Patra
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INDEX
CONTENT PAGE NO.
Certificate 02
Acknowledgement 03
Aim 05
Introduction 06
Theory 07
Material Required 08
Procedure 09
Observation 11
Result and References 12
Conclusion 13
Precautions 14
Bibliography 15
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AIM
To study various factors on which the internal resistance/EMF of a
cell depends.
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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.
INTERNAL RESISTANCE
International resistance is defined as the resistance offered by the
electrolyte of the cell to the flow of ions.
• It’s S.I. unit is Ohm (Ω)
For a cell of e.m.f. (E) and internal resistance (r), connected to an
external resistance (R) such that (I) is the current flowing through the
circuit.
Internal Resistance (r) = [E-V]/I
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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 electrolytes.
• Decreases with increase in temperature of electrolyte.
• Is inversely proportional to concentration of electrolyte.
The internal resistance of a cell is given by:
r= [E-V]/I
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MATERIALS REQUIRED
Apparatus
• Potentiometer
• Battery (or Battery Eliminator)
• Two One-Way Keys
• Rheostat
• Galvanometer
• Resistance Box
• Ammeter
• Leclanché Cell (or any cell)
• Jockey
• Set Square
• Connecting Wires
• Sandpaper
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PROCEDURES
• Clean the ends of the connecting wires with sand paper 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 of the cell and make sure that
e.m.f. of the battery is more than that of the cell, otherwise null
or balance point will not be obtained.
To study variation of internal resistance with distance of separation
• Keep both the electrodes at a distance of 16 cm.
• Take maximum current from the battery, making rheostat
resistance small.
• Without inserting a plug-in key , adjust the rheostat so that a null
point is obtained on the last wire of the potentiometer.
• Determine the position of the null point accurately using a set
square and measure the balancing length (1) between the null
point and the end P.
• Next introduce plugs in both keys and . At the same time, take
out a small resistance (1-5 W) from the shunt resistance box
connected in parallel with the cell.
• Slide the jockey along a potentiometer wire and obtain the null
point.
• Measure the balancing length ( L) from end P. Record these
• Now keep the electrodes 12 cm apart.
• Then remove the plugs of keys K, and K2. Wait for some time
and repeat steps 7 to 10.
• Next, keep the electrodes 9 cm apart to obtain another set of
observations.
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To study variation of internal resistance with area of electrodes
• Keeping all other factors constant, increase the area of electrodes
in the electrolyte by dipping them into the electrolyte at different
depths for each observation.
• Obtain three such observations by repeating steps 7 to 10. Record
your readings.
To study variation of internal resistance with concentration of
electrolyte
• Keeping all other factors constant, decrease the concentration of
electrolyte by adding distilled water for different observations.
• Obtain three such observations by repeating step 7 to 10. Record
your readings.
To study variation of international resistance with Temperature
• Keeping all other factors constant, increase the temperature of
electrolyte
• Obtain three such observations by repeating step 7 to 10. Record
your readings.
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OBSERVATIONS
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RESULTS AND REFERENCES
• The Electromotive Force of the cell is constant and is equal to
E = 0.98 Volt.
• The internal resistance of a cell is directly proportional to the
separation between the electrodes.
• The internal resistance of a cell is inversely proportional to
the area of the electrodes dipped in electrolyte.
• The internal resistance of a cell is inversely proportional to
the temperature of electrolytes.
• The internal resistance of a cell is inversely proportional to
the concentration of the electrolyte
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CONCLUSION
From the experiment, the emf (E) and internal resistance (r) of
the given Leclanché cell were successfully determined using the
potentiometer method.
The observed EMF of the cell remained nearly constant, while the
terminal potential difference decreased when the cell supplied
current through an external resistance. This verified the relation:
𝑉 = 𝐸 − 𝐼𝑟
The internal resistance of the cell was found to have a finite value
due to the opposition offered by the electrolyte to the flow of
current. It was also observed that the internal resistance of a cell
increases with discharge and decreases with rise in temperature or
concentration of the electrolyte. Hence, the experiment confirms
that:
• E (EMF) is an inherent property of the cell and remains
constant for a given cell under standard conditions.
• r (internal resistance) depends on factors such as the nature
and concentration of electrolyte, temperature, and
condition of the cell (new or used).
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PREACUTIONS
• All connections should be tight and clean — use sandpaper to
remove oxidation from wire ends and cell terminals.
• The positive terminal of the battery must be connected to the
zero end of the potentiometer wire.
• The jockey should be tapped lightly on the wire to avoid
damaging it.
• The current through the potentiometer should be adjusted so
that the null point lies approximately in the middle of the wire.
• The keys (K₁ and K₂) should never be kept pressed
simultaneously to prevent the cell from discharging
unnecessarily.
• The galvanometer should be sensitive and should show a clear,
sharp null deflection.
• The rheostat should be adjusted properly to maintain a uniform
potential gradient along the potentiometer wire.
• Avoid touching the potentiometer wire directly with fingers to
prevent changes in resistance due to body heat or moisture.
• Take multiple readings and use the mean value for better
accuracy.
• Perform the experiment at room temperature and avoid
external disturbances or heating effects.
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BIBILOGRAPHY
➢ YouTube – [Link]
➢ Google Search – [Link]
➢ Wikipedia – [Link]
➢ StudyLib – [Link]
➢ Practical Chemistry, Laxmi Publications
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