Measuring Internal Resistance

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Nguyen Bao Tuan School Name: Abbey College Cambridge Candidate Number: * Introduction The following case study explains how the applications of different types of cells are influenced by their respective internal resistances. Although there is a variety of kinds of cells, I will only discuss the two most well-known and commonly employed ones: dry cells and wet cells I) Dry cells 1) Definition Dry cells is a type of chemical cells that are commonly used nowadays in the form of batteries. Line art drawing of a dry cell: 1. brass cap, 2. plastic seal, 3. expansion space, 4. porous cardboard, 5. zinc can, 6. carbon rod, 7. chemical mixture. 2) History The invention of dry cells began with experimenters’ attempts to immobilize the electrolyte of an electrochemical cell to make it more convenient to use. The Zamboni pile of 1812 was a high-voltage dry cell but capable of delivering only minute currents. In 1886, Carl Gassner obtained a German patent on a variant of the Leclanché cell, which was known as the dry cell because it did not have a free liquid electrolyte. Unlike previous wet cells, Gassner's dry cell was more solid as it neither required maintenance nor spilled, and could be used in any orientation. His model was later improved by the National Carbon Company and turned into zinc-carbon cell which is still manufactured today [1] Nguyen Bao Tuan School Name: Abbey College Cambridge Candidate Number: 3) Internal Resistance and Applications The primary characteristic of dry cells in general is high internal resistance. This means that the current flowing through the circuit, given a fixed voltage, would be low which makes them extremely safe to use. Therefore, their practical uses, for the most part, involve household appliances: a) Alkaline cells Designed for long-lasting performance, alkaline cells can be

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