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Internal Resistance
Allcellsaremadeofmaterialsthathave
resistance,thisiscalledInternal
Resistance(r)
IfthecellisconnectedtoanExternal
Resistor(R) thensomeoftheenergyis
convertedfromelectricalenergytoheat
energy insidethecell.
ThePD availableforthecircuitis
thereforelessthantheEMF ofthe
cell.
Thispictureshowsthatsomeof
theEMFislostbeforethecharges
evenleavethebattery.
EMF(E)
PD(V)
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Internal Resistance (cont)
I
I Anotherwayofthinkingaboutitisthat
thePD availableforthecircuitislessthan
theoriginalEMF becauseofthemissing
voltsusedupbytheInternalResistance
V=EIr
I =
I
R +r
ForthemainResistance
inthecircuit:
v=IR
E=Ir+IR
UsingOhmsLaw:
Missingvolts:
Ii
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InternalResistance
Theconcept
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InternalResistance
Equations
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More Internal Resistance
I
I
Ifyouconnectedawiredirectlyfromoneendofthe
batterytotheotherthentheResistance(R) would
beverysmall.
TheCurrent (I) thatflowswouldbeenormous.
Thiswouldcauseloadsofheat tobewastedbythe
current asitmovesthroughtheInternalResistance
ofthebattery.
Thebatterywouldgetveryhotandrunoutof
energyveryfast.Thisiscalledashortcircuit.
TryitwiththePhETCircuitConstructionKit:
http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit
constructionkitdc orclickonthepicture
OR connectsomesteelwoolacrossa battery.
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Electrical Power (P)
Power means the energy per second (Watts or Js
-1
)
Remember some definitions:
Bysubstitution:
I =
L

or 1I =
1]
C
I =

t
or 1A =
1C
s
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ShortCircuitinga
battery
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PowerEquation
Whereitcomesfrom
(thederivation)
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More Electrical Power Equations (P)
BysubstitutingfromOhmsLaw:V=RI ORI=V/R
2
2
WecanfindthePowerDISSIPATED (convertedtoheat)by
aresistor.
Using: andOhms
Law:
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Combining Resistors
1.SeriesCircuits
1 1 2
Puttingtworesistorstogetherislikeputtingtwoseparateflightsof
stairsoneaftertheother.Thestairsarehardertoclimb
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Powerdissipatedbyresistors
Equations
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CombiningResistors
inSeries
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Combining Resistors
2.ParallelCircuits
Becausetherearemorewaysofgettingroundthecircuitthisislike
makingthestairswider.TheResistanceisless.
1
R
1
=
1
R
1
+
1
R
2
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CombiningResistorsinParallel