Chapter 18: Problem 55
\(n\) identical cells, each of emf \(E\) and internal resistance \(r\), are connected in series a cell \(A\) is joined with reverse polarity. The potential difference across each cell, except \(A\) is (a) \(\frac{2 n E}{n-2}\) (b) \(\frac{(n-2) E}{n}\) (c) \(\frac{(n-1) E}{n}\) (d) \(\frac{2 E}{n}\)
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Understand the Problem Setup
Calculate the Total EMF
Calculate the Total Internal Resistance
Apply Ohm's Law to Calculate the Total Current
Determine Potential Difference Across Each Cell Except A
Simplify to Find the Final Potential Difference
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Internal Resistance
Unlike an ideal battery, which delivers its entire electromotive force (EMF) without any energy loss, real batteries have some internal resistance that causes a voltage drop when delivering current.
This internal resistance is typically denoted by the symbol \( r \), and in a practical scenario, it influences the cell's output voltage.
- The higher the internal resistance, the greater the voltage drop within the battery, reducing the effective voltage available to the external circuit.
- In series connections, like in our exercise, the total internal resistance is the sum of the internal resistances of each cell.
- This total internal resistance plays a crucial role in determining the current flowing through the circuit as it opposes the external load.
Series Circuit
In the context of our exercise, we have \( n \) identical cells connected in series. This setup affects the way EMF and internal resistance are calculated for the circuit.
- In a series circuit, the total EMF is the sum of the EMFs of each individual component.
- Similarly, the total internal resistance is the sum of the internal resistances of all components in the series.
- This means that the series circuit is simple to calculate in terms of total voltage and resistance, making it a straightforward model for understanding basic circuit principles.
Ohm's Law
The law is commonly expressed with the equation \( V = IR \), where \( V \) is the voltage across the circuit, \( I \) is the current flowing through the circuit, and \( R \) is the resistance.
Ohm's Law is vital in circuits with series connections because it helps to determine how the total voltage and resistance affect the current.
- When dealing with a series circuit, the total current in the circuit can be calculated by applying Ohm's Law, taking into account the total EMF and total internal resistance.
- In our exercise, the formula rearranges to find \( I \), or the current, using \( I = \frac{(n-2)E}{nr} \), after considering the reversed cell's effect on the total EMF.
- By knowing the current, we can determine the potential drop across each component, as shown in the step-by-step solution.