Potential Difference between two points in battery

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
2 replies · 7K views
mb85
Messages
44
Reaction score
0
more so help with the concept than anything else.

A battery has an EMP of 12v and an internal resistance of 2 ohms. Is the terminal-to-terminal potential difference greater than, less than, or equal to 12v if the current in the battery is from a) from the neg to pos. terminal b) from pos to neg terminal c) zero?

I realize that you loose potential in going from a neg. to pos. terminal.
so for:
a) +E -iR = 0
b) -E + iR = 0
c) they are equal.

im just a little foggy on why b is greater than 12V.
thanks in advance!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
mb85 said:
more so help with the concept than anything else.

A battery has an EMP of 12v and an internal resistance of 2 ohms. Is the terminal-to-terminal potential difference greater than, less than, or equal to 12v if the current in the battery is from a) from the neg to pos. terminal b) from pos to neg terminal c) zero?

I realize that you loose potential in going from a neg. to pos. terminal.
so for:
a) +E -iR = 0
b) -E + iR = 0
c) they are equal.

im just a little foggy on why b is greater than 12V.
thanks in advance!
If E and i are positive, b) should be E + iR and neither a) nor b) should be set = 0. These are the terminal voltages. They are not zero.

In b), something out there (perhaps a higher voltage battery, or a battery charger) is forcing current "backwards" through the battery
 
Last edited:
oh i was doing the loop rule by accident. that's why i was setting them equal to zero.