How much work a battery does connected to a resistor

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving a battery with an EMF of 12.0 volts and an internal resistance of 3 ohms connected to a 21.0 ohm resistor. The original poster seeks to determine the work performed by the battery over one minute, given the current flow of 0.5 Amps and the potential difference across the resistor.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between current, voltage, and work, with some suggesting the use of terminal voltage versus EMF in calculations. There are attempts to clarify the definitions of voltage and work in the context of the problem.

Discussion Status

Multiple interpretations of the problem are being explored, particularly regarding the correct voltage to use for calculating work. Some participants provide alternative equations and reasoning, while others express uncertainty about the original poster's calculations and the implications of internal resistance.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the wording of the question may be contributing to confusion, particularly regarding the distinction between work done on the external resistor and the effects of internal resistance in the battery.

Marina1234567
Messages
1
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



A battery has an EMF of 12.0 volts and internal resistance of 3 ohms
A 21.0 ohm resistance is connected to the battery.
0.5 Amps flow through the battery, hence 0.5 Amps flows through the 21.0 ohm resistor
The potential difference across the 21 ohm resistor is 10.5 Volts, hence the terminal voltage of the battery is 10.5 Volts.

The question is How much work does the battery connected to the 21.0 ohm resisitor perform in one minute?

Homework Equations



Voltage = Joule/coloumb
1 amp = coloumb/ second = (6.258 *10^18 electrons) second
1 electron has a charge -1.60*10^-19 coloumbs

The Attempt at a Solution



current = 0.5 Amps = 3.125*10^18 electron/ second = 30 coloumbs pass wire per minute

usisng the definition of EMF (voltage): 30 coloumbs/ minute * 10.5 volts = 315 Joules

however it keeps on telling me that answer is wrong i know its simple i just can't see it right now thanx
 
Physics news on Phys.org
1 amp x 1 volt = 1 coul/sec x 1 joule/coul = 1 joule/sec = 1 watt
 
Marina1234567 said:
usisng the definition of EMF (voltage): 30 coloumbs/ minute * 10.5 volts[/B] = 315 Joules

Using the EMF definition, shouldn't you use EMF and not Terminal voltage?
 
My thought on your problem is as follows.
You have a terminal Voltage of 10.5 V, EMF of 12V, Flow of 1/2 A..so pretty much everything you need.

Use the equation for Work on a Resistance : [itex]W=I^2 R t[/itex] where R=r the resistance of the battery. That gives you 45 Joules produced in 60s = 1minute.

I don't take it for granted that I am correct!
 
karkas said:
My thought on your problem is as follows.
You have a terminal Voltage of 10.5 V, EMF of 12V, Flow of 1/2 A..so pretty much everything you need.

Use the equation for Work on a Resistance : [itex]W=I^2 R t[/itex] where R=r the resistance of the battery. That gives you 45 Joules produced in 60s = 1minute.

I don't take it for granted that I am correct!

Lets try not to mislead him. He had it mostly correct. Since Volt = Joules/Coulomb he already had the current in C/min...

30 C/min * 12 (J/C) = ___J/min
 
Marina1234567 said:

Homework Statement



A battery has an EMF of 12.0 volts and internal resistance of 3 ohms
A 21.0 ohm resistance is connected to the battery.
0.5 Amps flow through the battery, hence 0.5 Amps flows through the 21.0 ohm resistor
The potential difference across the 21 ohm resistor is 10.5 Volts, hence the terminal voltage of the battery is 10.5 Volts.

The question is How much work does the battery connected to the 21.0 ohm resisitor perform in one minute?

Homework Equations



Voltage = Joule/coloumb
1 amp = coloumb/ second = (6.258 *10^18 electrons) second
1 electron has a charge -1.60*10^-19 coloumbs

The Attempt at a Solution



current = 0.5 Amps = 3.125*10^18 electron/ second = 30 coloumbs pass wire per minute

usisng the definition of EMF (voltage): 30 coloumbs/ minute * 10.5 volts = 315 Joules

however it keeps on telling me that answer is wrong i know its simple i just can't see it right now thanx

Actually I think the only error is due to the question being a little tricky in wording. You calculated the work done by the battery on the external resistance. The battery also heats up due to the current flowing through its internal resistance...
 

Similar threads

Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K