Internal Resistance of a Source of EMF

John Paulo R. Tumala

BS Chemical Engineering-4
Xavier University, Ateneo de Cagayan
Corrales Avenue, Cagayan de Oro,
Philippines

Quinn De Luna Jara

BS Chemical Enginerring-4
Xavier University, Ateneo de Cagayan
Corrales Avenue, Cagayan de Oro,
Philippines

Shaira L. Betonio
BS Chemical Engineering-4
Xavier University, Ateneo de Cagayan
Corrales Avenue, Cagayan de Oro,
Philippine

Ternary Phase Diagram

Judemae B. Langomes

Felizer N. Caitor II
Carl Michael Jay S. Hallazgo
Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan Xavier University-Ateneo de CagayanXavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan
Corrales Avenue, Cagayan de Oro
Corrales Avenue, Cagayan de OroCorrales Avenue, Cagayan de Oro
Philippines
Philippines
Philippines

Abstract
The objectives of this experiment is to determine the
value of EMF, E0, of different source voltages, the constant value
of a voltage source by neglecting the internal resistance of it,
and the flow of the current in a resistor and its average
resistance by multiple readings using different resistors. Using
multimeters the internal resistance of a 9V battery and two AA
batteries has been obtained. In this experiment the internal
resistance of a 9V battery is 649.15 and for the two AA
batteries is 213.98 . The formula to obtain this was obtained
by manipulating the relationship between voltage and the
current.
Keywords- EMF, internal resistance

INTRODUCTION
Cells, batteries, function generators, you name it, and all have
loss in voltage supplied. The voltage rating of such batteries or
cells are not really the real thing being supplied. Internal
resistance as it is called it the cause of the voltage drop. There
are three ways in which we can get the equations relating the
EMF, terminal potential difference, cur-rent and internal
resistance. These equations are Kirchoffs voltage law,
conservation of energy, and ohms law. In figure 1, the
equivalent circuit of a battery supplying energy to the resistor R
is shown.

Figure 1. Equivalent circuit of a battery having internal

resistance and EMF supplying energy to resistor R.
The energy in the internal resistor r is released as heat
in the cell or battery. The internal resistance of the battery is
caused by the following reasons; material used making in
making up the battery, such as Lithium-Ion, Lithium-Polymer,
Cu-Zn plates, all of these have different resistance ratings. Also,
aging of the battery also affects the internal resistance, the
conductivity of materials become less active. In addition,
temperature contributes too because conductors has a positive
temperature coefficient. The separation of plates in batteries also
matter, energy losses happens in each gap of plates.
The internal resistance of batteries deals great factor in
performance, with the move from analog to digital, new
demands are placed on battery. One of the urgent requirements
of a battery for digital applications is low internal resistance.
Measured in milliohms, the internal resistance is the gatekeeper
that, to a large extent, determines the runtime. The lower the
resistance, the less restriction the battery encounters in
delivering the needed power spikes. A high mW reading can
trigger an early 'low battery' indication on a seemingly good
battery because the available energy cannot be delivered in the
required manner and remains in the battery.
EXPERIMENTAL SECTION
To start with, measure the E0 of a 9-volt dry cell and attach it
to the input terminals as shown in the diagram. To measure the
E0, attach the voltmeter directly to the dry cell but not yet the
ammeter so that the internal resistance r1 and the variable
resistance
R
will
not
affect
the
reading.
In the second procedure, attached the ammeter shown and add
a resistor while changing it form one after the after. Display this
data in tabular form with columns for V, I (E 0 V) and r1. Take
the average of the r1 column at the internal resistance of the
source of EMF.
Repeat the first and second procedure in two size AA penlight
batteries in series.

Ternary Phase Diagram

Judemae B. Langomes

Felizer N. Caitor II
Carl Michael Jay S. Hallazgo
Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan Xavier University-Ateneo de CagayanXavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan
Corrales Avenue, Cagayan de Oro
Corrales Avenue, Cagayan de OroCorrales Avenue, Cagayan de Oro
Philippines
Philippines
Philippines

Again, there are some factors that affects the resistance reading
and this factors had been mentioned in the first paragraph.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1. 9V Battery
V
7.18
7.55
7.92

I (mA)
E0 V
1.75
1.56
1.86
1.19
1.97
0.82
Value of E0 = 8.74 V
Average value of ri = 649.15

ri
891.43
639.78
416.24

ERROR ANALYSIS

Resistances from the wires and clips maybe a factor that

affects the accuracy of our data. Also, the voltage source
decreases as it is repeatedly being used in the experiment thus
there might be changes in E0 over time.
CONCLUSION

In table 1, we measured the value of E0 which is equal

to 8.74V. The voltage of the source decreases when the ammeter
is being attached in the circuit because there is a current flowing
through the variable resistor. Next, we measured the different
voltages V and the current I that flows in the circuit which varies
to the adjustment of the different resistor. The value of E 0 was
being decreased because this is due to the internal resistance of
the battery which voltage is equal to E0 V. To measure its
internal resistance we used the formula

r i=

(E oV )
I

[1].

formula

So, we got an average internal resistance of 649.15 . However,

there are some factors that affects the resistance reading such as
the room temperature, the internal resistance of the multimeter
and the clips that is being used to connect and the probes and the
calibration of the multimeters and the continuous discharging of
the voltage source which is the 9V battery.
Table 1. Two AA Batteries
V
I (mA)
E0 V
2.23
3.49
0.73
2.46
2.35
0.5
2.74
1
0.22
Value of E0 = 2.96 V
Average value of ri = 213.98

In summary, we determine the E0 of each of the source voltages.

Though there are two AA batteries and only one 9-volt battery, it
is clear to say that 9-volt battery has a higher voltage compared
two AA batteries because one AA batteries have only an
approximate voltage of 1.5V. So, the E0 of a 9V battery is much
higher compared to two AA battery. Since both battery are DC
sources, they dont have any inconsistencies compared to the
voltage produced by a function generator. By measuring the
internal resistance of each of the source voltages, we used the

ri
209.17
212.77
220

In table 2 we measured the value of E 0 which is equal to

2.96V. Again, the voltage of the source will be decreased when
the ammeter is being attached in the circuit. Due this, we
measured the different voltages V and the current I that flows in
the circuit which varies to the adjustment of the variable resistor.

r i=

(E oV )
. It is indeed evident that there are
I

internal resistances from an EMF source.

REFERENCES
[1]http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_does_internal_r
esistance_affect_performance
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_(electricity)
[3] https://tap.iop.org/electricity/emf/121/page_46054.html
APPENDICES
Sample calculations:
9V battery:

r i=

( E oV )
I

r i=

( 8.74 V 7.18 V )
1.78 x 103 A

Ternary Phase Diagram

Judemae B. Langomes

Felizer N. Caitor II
Carl Michael Jay S. Hallazgo
Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan Xavier University-Ateneo de CagayanXavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan
Corrales Avenue, Cagayan de Oro
Corrales Avenue, Cagayan de OroCorrales Avenue, Cagayan de Oro
Philippines
Philippines
Philippines

r i=891.43