Batteries and Internal resistance

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics homework problem involving a 6.0 V battery with internal resistance and its behavior when connected to external resistors. Participants explore concepts related to internal resistance, power dissipation, and circuit analysis using Kirchhoff's laws.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant calculates the internal resistance of the battery as 0.556 ohms and the external resistor as 32.78 ohms.
  • Another participant suggests using the formula for power dissipated inside the battery, I²r, to find the energy consumed over a specified time.
  • There is a request for clarification on how to apply Kirchhoff's laws for the second part of the problem involving a second identical battery in series.
  • Some participants discuss the need to understand Kirchhoff's voltage law to solve the problem effectively.
  • One participant questions whether the internal resistance remains the same when a second battery is added, and another confirms that it does, as it is a property of the battery.
  • A participant attempts to set up a Kirchhoff's equation but seeks confirmation on its correctness.
  • There are multiple links shared to resources for understanding Kirchhoff's laws and circuit analysis.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the application of Kirchhoff's laws but express uncertainty about the specific setup for the circuit with two batteries. There is no consensus on the best approach to solve part d of the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants have varying levels of understanding of circuit analysis, and some foundational concepts may be missing, particularly regarding Kirchhoff's voltage law and its application in series circuits.

Who May Find This Useful

Students studying circuit analysis, particularly those working on homework related to batteries and internal resistance in electrical circuits.

sabak22
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A 6.0 V battery has an internal resistance r. The measured voltage (emf of the battery) is 6.0 V. When connected to a resistor R the terminal voltage is 5.9 V and the current is 0.18 A.
I managed to get a) What is the internal resistance r of the battery?
0.556 ohm

as well as b) What is the value of the external resistor R?
32.78 ohm

but i can't figure out what to do when they ask me
c) What is the energy dissipated inside the battery in 4.4 minutes?

and d)When a second identical battery is added in series and the external resistor is R = 29 Ohms what is the resulting current?

Please help me. I have been trying this for an hour!
 
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c) Power dissipated inside the battery would be

I^2r

where r is the internal resistance. once you get power, find the energy consumed inside the battery...

for part d) , set up Kirchhoff's equation again...
 
Thank you very much isaacNewton. But I am not quite sure how to solve the d part. Could you please expand a little bit? I am having trouble setting up the second identical battery in the circut.
 
have you learned how to use Kirchhoff's rule ?
 
umm all we've learned this week was that Iin=Iout. Is that supposed to help me? I don't know what to with it.
 
you should get some understanding of the voltage law to solve the problem
 
  • #10
just a quick question. will the two internal resistances be the same now that another identical battery has beenhadded? If yes then will the r= 0.556 like it was in the first case?
 
  • #11
yes, the internal resistance is the same... its the property of the battery...
but now you have two similar batteries in series...

Edit: which book your teacher is following ?
 
  • #12
so what I am getting is something like this :

6-0.556-32.78i1-6-0,556-29i2 = 0

Does this make any sense? if not can you please boost me with a little help.
 
  • #13
see, the batteries and the external resistor are in SERIES, so there is only one current throughout.
 
  • #14
draw a circuit to help you
 
  • #15
Moderator's note: thread moved to Homework & Coursework Questions.
 

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