Current electricity and terminals of a cell

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of current electricity when connecting the terminals of a cell with a conducting wire, particularly focusing on current flow, terminal potential difference, and the effects of internal resistance in batteries.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the implications of connecting a cell directly with a wire, questioning the resulting current flow and the conditions under which a battery may become exhausted or produce a spark. Some participants inquire about the terminal potential difference and the effects of internal resistance.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants sharing insights about the behavior of batteries under short-circuit conditions and raising questions about specific electrical parameters. There is an emphasis on experimental observation and personal experience, though no consensus has been reached on all points raised.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the practical implications of conducting experiments with batteries, including safety concerns and the nature of current flow in short circuits. There is a reference to the internal resistance of batteries and its impact on terminal potential difference.

jyothsna pb
Messages
42
Reaction score
0
when the terminals of a single cell are connected by means of a conducting wire with no resistor component is there a current flow through the wire ?

jus started with current electricity have a lot of doubts thanks for any help
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yes, a very big current will flow, limited only by the own resistance of the cell. If you do it with a simple battery, you even get a spark, and the battery gets flat very soon. But it is worth trying and see with your own eyes if there is current or not :)

ehild
 
u mean to say if we keep such a system undisturbed 4 a long time the battery will get exhasted soon?
 
is the current through this loop
I=(E1+E2)/(r1+r2)
n terminal p.d across cell 1 &2

E1-Ir1 & E2-Ir2 respectively
 

Attachments

Last edited:
You can not keep it undisturbed for a long time, as either the battery gets exhausted and no more current will flow, or it starts to burn and smell and everything. Why don't you try? It is better to see things than constructing theories about them, and this experiment is not very dangerous, unless you hold the wire with bare hand... If you do, your fingers will burn. But you get experiences about the nature of battery, current and its heating effect so it is worth trying... Well, a good boy or girl never does such things, but a future physicist does. :)

(To tell the truth I started my lectures on practical electricity by giving my pupils a little electric shock)

ehild
 
thanku so much y is d spark produced?
 
what is the terminal pd across the cell in that case?
 
It is practically zero if the resistance of that short piece of wire is much less than the internal resistance of the battery (this internal resistance is about 1 ohm in case a common 4.5 V battery) The potential will drop across the internal resistance, inside the battery.

ehild
 
thanku so much
 
  • #10
hey can someone please help me with the other question too?
 
  • #11
How to find i1 and i2?
 

Attachments

  • #12
Write the problem in words. I do not understand your drawing.


ehild
 

Similar threads

Replies
9
Views
1K
Replies
20
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
1K
Replies
7
Views
1K
Replies
44
Views
5K
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K