Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Part 1
Aim
To determine the internal resistance of a battery
Precautions
Do not leave the switch closed at all times. The battery will run flat. Close the switch only
for taking the readings on the voltmeter and Ammeter. Take your readings accurately. Do
not conduct the experiment with wet hands.
Instructions
Place 4 x 1,5V cells in a cell holder in a series connection. Connect a Switch, Ammeter and a
Rheostat in series to the battery. Connect the Voltmeter across the battery.
If a rheostat is not available, resistors or bulbs could be used in the place of a rheostat. The
resistors or bulbs must be connected in series. One resistor/bulb must be connected first and then
the resistors/bulbs be increased to two in series, three in series, etc.
Draw the electrical circuit diagram. Set the Rheostat at 10. Close the switch and reduce the
resistance in the Rheostat step by step, increasing the current at the same time. Take the
ammeter and voltmeter readings in each case/step. Open the switch while recording the readings
in order to spare the batteries’ life span.
Take and record a minimum of 5 readings. Interpret and analyse the data in order to determine the
internal resistance. Write a conclusion and prepare a report (write-up).
Part 2
Aim:
Instructions:
Place 4 x 1.5V cells in a cell in a cell holder in a series connection. Connect a voltmeter (V 1)
across the battery. Connect three resistors of different resistance. One resistor must be connected
in series with a voltmeter (V 2) across and the other two resistors must be connected in parallel with
a voltmeter across (V3). Connect a switch and an ammeter.
Draw the electrical circuit. Determine the equivalent resistance experimentally and compare the
readings to the calculated values of equivalent resistance. Submit a report (write up)
1
Part 1 Possible Marking Memorandum and Rubric
Internal resistance
Topic: Internal resistance and Series-parallel networks. (2)
Aim: To determine the internal resistance of a battery.
Apparatus: (7)
4 (Size RD) 1.5V cells
Voltmeter
Ammeter
10 Rheostat or Resistors or Bulbs
Connecting wires
Cell holder
Switch
Precautions:
Do not leave the switch closed at all times. The battery will run flat. Close the switch only for
taking the readings on the voltmeter and Ammeter. Take your readings accurately
Method:
STEP Procedure
1 4 cells, 1,5V each were placed in a cell holder and connected in series. (1)
2 A switch was connected to the positive terminal of the battery. (1)
3 The negative terminal of the ammeter was connected to the one end of the switch. (1)
4 A rheostat was set at 10 and its negative terminal was connected to the positive (2)
terminal of the ammeter. Its positive terminal was connected to the negative terminal
of the battery.
5 A voltmeter was connected in parallel across the battery (1)
6 Electrical circuit: Allocate one mark for each (5)
component of electrical the
V
circuit drawn and connected
correctly.
r
NB: Resistors/ bulbs connected in series could be used in the place of a rheostat,
starting with one bulb/resistor and increasing the resistance after taking and
recording the readings
2
7 The switch was closed. The ammeter and the volmeter readings were taken and (1)
recorded when the rheostat was set at 10.
8 The resistance in the rheostat was reduced five times and each case a volmeter and (2)
the ammeter readings were taken and recorded.
9 The switch was closed to take the readings and it was opened immediately after (1)
taking the readings.
3
Results:
(NB: the results below are hypothetical and illustrative. The learners must be assessed on
their recorded results accordint to the experiment conducted.)
(3)
I (A) VT(V) 1. Tabulating results
0 6 2. Labelling Columns (Quantity with units)
0.6 5.76 3. Correct Experimental values
1.2 5.52
1.8 5.28
2.4 5.04
Interpretation and analysis:
Graph
1. Suitable caption
(7)
2. Labelled axis
3. Calibration on the axis
4. Shape of the graph
Conclusion: (1)
The y-intercept of the graph is the EMF.
The x-intercept of the graph is the maximum electrical current (I).
The gradient or slope of the graph is the internal resistance (r) = 0,42
Grand total 35
4
Part 2 Possible Marking Memorandum and Rubric
Equivalent resistance
5
8 The switch was closed, the reading on the ammeter and the voltmeters were (1)
taken and recorded.
Results: NB: The values are hypothetical