Potential Difference Between 12V Battery Terminals

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When a 12-volt battery is short-circuited, the potential difference between its terminals quickly drops from 12 volts to zero as it discharges. The battery can be modeled as an infinite current source in series with its internal resistance, while the shorting wire also has some resistance. The voltage at the terminals can be calculated using the voltage divider principle based on these resistances. As the battery discharges, its ability to provide current diminishes, leading to a gradual voltage drop until it reaches zero. This scenario is relevant in automotive contexts, particularly regarding standard short circuit battery tests.
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A 12 volt battery is short circuited. what would be the potential difference between its terminals?
 
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The battery will discharge quickly and the voltage will drop quickly from 12 to 0. After that, the voltage will be zero.
 
In a little more detail...

You can model the battery as an infinite current source with 12v potential in series with a small resistance (this is the battery's "internal resistance"). The wire or whatever you use to short the battery terminals also has some small resistance -- unless you have invented a room temperature super-conductor. If you know those two resistances you can calculate the voltage divider drop at the battery terminals.

Then you need to realize that the "infinite current source" is actually finite and can only provide a fixed number of electrons...just like a tank of water. So, as timthereaper says, the voltage at the source will start to droop and eventually become zero when there's no more water in the tank.
 
Is this an automotive question and are you talking about the standard automotive 'short circuit' battery test?
 

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