Electromotive Force (EMF) and Internal Resistance

Grade 12 · Physics

Semester 1 | Period 2 | Week 10

Download the Lessonotes Mobile Liberia app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.

Subject: Physics

Semester: 1

Period: 2

Week: 10


School Name:

Teacher’s Name:

Subject: Physics

Grade Level: Grade 12

Week & Period: Week 10, Period II

Date:

Topic: Electromotive Force (EMF) and Internal Resistance
Sub-topics:

  • Electromotive Force (EMF)
  • Internal Resistance of a cell
  • Terminal potential difference
  • Calculations involving EMF and internal resistance

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the lesson, learners should be able to:

  1. Define electromotive force (EMF) and internal resistance.
  2. Distinguish between terminal potential difference and EMF.
  3. State the relationship between EMF, internal resistance, and terminal voltage.
  4. Solve circuit problems involving EMF and internal resistance.
  5. Perform an experiment to determine internal resistance of a cell.

Instructional Materials:

  • Dry cell or battery
  • Ammeter
  • Voltmeter
  • Variable resistor (rheostat)
  • Key/switch
  • Connecting wires
  • Multimeter
  • Calculator
  • Load resistor

 

Anticipation (Warm-Up):

Ask: “Why does the brightness of a bulb decrease when the battery gets old?”
Guide learners to understand energy losses inside a battery due to internal resistance.

 

Building Knowledge (Main Lesson):

     

  1. Internal Resistance (r):
  • The resistance offered by the materials inside the battery or cell.
  • Causes a drop in voltage when current flows.
  • Represented as a small resistor inside the battery in circuit diagrams.

 

  1. Terminal Potential Difference (V):
  • The voltage measured across the terminals of a battery when current is flowing.
  • Relationship:

      

Experiment: Determining Internal Resistance of a Cell

Materials: Cell, Ammeter, Voltmeter, Variable resistor, Switch, Connecting wires

Procedure:

  1. Connect the circuit with a cell, ammeter, and variable resistor in series.
  2. Place the voltmeter across the terminals of the cell.
  3. Vary the resistance and record different values of current and corresponding terminal voltage.
  4. Plot a graph of terminal voltage (V) vs current (I).
  5. The y-intercept gives EMF, and the negative slope gives internal resistance.

Observation:
As current increases, terminal voltage drops.

Conclusion:
Internal resistance opposes current flow inside the battery, reducing output voltage.

Sample Calculations:

Q1: A battery of EMF 12V has internal resistance of 2Ω. It is connected to an external resistance of 4Ω. Calculate:
i. Total current
ii. Terminal voltage

Assessment Questions:

  1. Objective Questions
  • Internal resistance of a battery causes:
    A. Increase in EMF
    B. Decrease in voltage under load
    C. Increase in current
    D. Constant terminal voltage
  • EMF of a battery is:
    A. Measured only during charging
    B. The voltage across its terminals when current flows
    C. The energy per unit charge
    D. Equal to resistance × voltage
  1. Short Answer Questions
  • Define EMF and state its unit.
  • Why is terminal voltage less than EMF when a battery is connected in a circuit?
  1. Problem Solving
    A cell has EMF 9V and internal resistance 1Ω. It is connected to a lamp of resistance 5Ω.
    i. Find the total current
    ii. Find the terminal voltage
    iii. How much voltage is lost inside the cell?

 

Homework:

  • Draw and label a circuit diagram showing EMF, internal resistance, and external resistor.
  • Solve: A 1.5V cell has internal resistance 0.5Ω. What current flows if connected to a 2Ω resistor?

 

Expanded Notes:

  • Internal resistance increases as batteries age.
  • High internal resistance causes devices to perform poorly.
  • Terminal voltage can be measured using a multimeter under load.

 

Differentiation:

  • Step-by-step graph plotting for visual learners
  • Circuit assembly for hands-on practice
  • Group work and discussion for collaborative learners

 

Teacher’s Reflection:

  • Did learners correctly interpret the relationship between EMF and terminal voltage?
  • Were graphs drawn accurately and internal resistance identified from slope?
  • Did all learners successfully complete the calculation and experimental steps?