Q.Two batteries of emf ε1 and ε2 (with ε2>ε1) and internal resistances r1 and r2 respectively are connected in parallel between two common terminals A and B: one branch is the first battery ε1 in series with r1, and the other branch is the second battery ε2 in series with r2, both branches joining the same two terminals A and B with their positive terminals on the same side. Which of the following statements about the equivalent emf εeq of this combination is correct?
Concept understanding — Internal Resistance
Internal Resistance – The Battery That Fights Itself
Imagine you have a bucket of water with a tap at the bottom. When you open the tap fully, water flows out freely. But if the pipe is narrow or clogged, the flow is weaker even though the bucket is full. A battery behaves the same way: it has a "full bucket" of electrical energy (its emf, or electromotive force), but inside the battery, there is always some "clogged pipe" that resists the flow of charge. That clog is called internal resistance.
The Intuition
Every real battery is not a perfect source of voltage. If you connect a small bulb to a fresh battery, it glows brightly. But if you connect a powerful motor that draws a large current, the same battery might struggle — the voltage at its terminals drops, and the motor runs slower. Why? Because inside the battery, the chemical reactions and the materials themselves have a natural opposition to the flow of charge. This opposition is internal resistance, denoted by r (or sometimes Rint).
Think of it this way: the battery has two "battles" to fight. First, it must push charge through the external circuit (the bulb, the motor, the wires). Second, it must push charge through its own internal structure. The harder it has to push (i.e., the larger the current), the more voltage it "loses" inside itself.
The Precise Statement
Internal resistance is the opposition to the flow of electric current offered by the materials and chemical processes inside a source of emf (like a battery, cell, or generator). It is measured in ohms (Ω).
For a cell or battery, the relationship between the emf (E), the terminal voltage (V), the current (I), and the internal resistance (r) is given by:
V=E−Ir
This is the single most important equation to remember.
V=E−Ir
Here:
- E is the electromotive force — the maximum voltage the battery can provide when no current flows (open circuit). Think of it as the "ideal" voltage.
- V is the terminal voltage — the actual voltage you measure across the battery's terminals when it is delivering current.
- I is the current flowing through the circuit (and therefore through the battery itself).
- r is the internal resistance.
The term Ir is the voltage drop inside the battery. It is the "price" the battery pays for delivering current.
What Happens in Different Situations?
| Condition | Current I | Terminal Voltage V | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open circuit (no load) | I=0 | V=E | No current means no internal drop. |
| Small load (e.g., a dim bulb) | Small I | V≈E | The Ir term is tiny. |
| Large load (e.g., a powerful motor) | Large I | V<E significantly | The Ir drop becomes noticeable. |
| Short circuit (wires directly across terminals) | Very large I | V≈0 | Almost all voltage is lost inside the battery; the battery heats up and may be damaged. |
A common mistake is to think that internal resistance is a "bad" thing that can be eliminated. It cannot — every real source has some internal resistance. Even a brand new AA battery has a small r (typically 0.1 to 0.5 Ω). Old or weak batteries have much larger r, which is why they fail to power high-current devices.
Why Does Internal Resistance Matter?
- Power loss inside the battery: The power dissipated as heat inside the battery is Ploss=I2r. This is why batteries get warm when delivering large currents.
- Maximum power transfer: There is a famous theorem (Maximum Power Transfer Theorem) that says a source delivers maximum power to an external load when the load resistance equals the internal resistance (Rload=r). But this is inefficient — half the power is wasted inside the source.
- Battery health: As a battery ages, its internal resistance increases. Measuring r is a common way to test if a battery is still good.
A Simple Example
A cell has an emf of 1.5 V and an internal resistance of 0.2 Ω. It is connected to a 3.0 Ω resistor. Find the current and the terminal voltage.
Solution:
The total resistance in the circuit is Rtotal=Rload+r=3.0+0.2=3.2 Ω.
Using Ohm's law for the whole circuit: I=RtotalE=3.21.5=0.46875 A.
Terminal voltage: V=E−Ir=1.5−(0.46875×0.2)=1.5−0.09375=1.40625 V.
Notice that the terminal voltage (1.41 V) is less than the emf (1.5 V). The difference is small here because the current is modest. If you short-circuited the cell (Rload=0), the current would be I=0.21.5=7.5 A, and the terminal voltage would drop to zero.
The Big Picture
Internal resistance is not a flaw — it is a fundamental property of every real voltage source. It explains why batteries have limits, why they heat up, and why you cannot get infinite current from them. Whenever you see a battery symbol in a circuit diagram, remember that there is always a tiny resistor hiding inside it, silently opposing the flow.
Internal resistance of a cell and the terminal-voltage equation V = ε − Ir form a core part of the NCERT Class 12 Physics chapter on current electricity, tested extensively in CBSE board numericals, JEE Main and NEET. Students revising "internal resistance of a cell formula numericals class 12 physics" will find this emf-versus-terminal-voltage explanation matches the NCERT derivation.
Why this formula?
Internal Resistance: Why the Key Formulas Hold
Internal resistance is a fundamental concept in real-world circuits. No battery is perfect — every practical source has some internal resistance (r) that opposes the flow of current inside the source itself.
1. The Core Idea: A Real Battery = An Ideal Source + A Resistor
Think of a real battery as:
- An ideal EMF source (E) — provides constant voltage with zero internal resistance.
- A small resistor (r) — connected in series inside the battery.
Why series? Because the current that leaves the battery must first pass through its internal material (electrolyte, electrodes), which offers resistance.
2. The Terminal Voltage Formula
When the battery delivers current I to an external circuit:
- The ideal source produces E.
- The internal resistor r drops some voltage: Vdrop=Ir (Ohm's law).
- The voltage available at the terminals (V) is what's left:
V=E−Ir
Why this makes sense:
- If I=0 (open circuit), V=E — you measure the full EMF.
- If I increases, V decreases — the internal drop grows.
- If I is huge (short circuit), V→0 and all voltage is lost inside.
3. The Short-Circuit Current Formula
If you connect the terminals directly (external resistance R=0):
- The only resistance in the circuit is r.
- By Ohm's law: Ishort=rE
Why this holds:
- The entire EMF is now dropped across r alone.
- This is the maximum current the battery can deliver — limited by its internal resistance.
- In practice, this can damage the battery (heating, chemical damage).
4. Power Delivered to External Load
When the battery is connected to an external load R:
- Total circuit resistance: R+r
- Current: I=R+rE
- Power delivered to the external load (Pout):
Pout=I2R=(R+rE)2R
Why this matters:
- Power is not simply E2/R — because r limits current.
- Maximum power transfer occurs when R=r (derivable by differentiating Pout with respect to R).
5. Why Internal Resistance Exists Physically
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Electrolyte resistance | Ions moving through liquid face friction |
| Electrode resistance | Metal plates have small but real resistance |
| Contact resistance | Junctions between components |
| Chemical reaction rate | Slow reactions limit current flow |
All these combine into a single equivalent series resistance r.
Key Exam Takeaways
- Always treat a real battery as E in series with r.
- Terminal voltage drops when current flows — V=E−Ir.
- Short-circuit current = E/r (maximum possible).
- Internal resistance wastes power as heat: Ploss=I2r.
Remember: Internal resistance is not a separate component you add — it's a property of the source itself. The formulas above are just Ohm's law applied to the hidden resistor inside every real battery.
For two cells joined in parallel, the equivalent emf is a weighted average of the two individual emfs, so it must lie between them. Since ε2>ε1, we get ε1<εeq<ε2.
The standard result for two cells in parallel is εeq=r1+r2ε1r2+ε2r1, a positive-weight average of ε1 and ε2, which always falls between them. This immediately rules out (B), (C) and (D).
Option (A): ε1<εeq<ε2.
When two cells are connected in parallel, the combination behaves like a single cell whose emf is a weighted average of the two individual emfs (weighted by their conductances). A weighted average always lies between the two values, so with ε2>ε1 we have ε1<εeq<ε2.
Concept
Two cells in parallel can be replaced by one equivalent cell of emf εeq and internal resistance req. Applying Kirchhoff's rules (or the equivalent-source / Millman result) to the two branches between A and B:
εeq=r11+r21r1ε1+r2ε2=r1+r2ε1r2+ε2r1,req=r1+r2r1r2.
Why this is a weighted average
Write εeq=w1ε1+w2ε2 with w1=r1+r2r2 and w2=r1+r2r1. Both weights are positive and w1+w2=1, so εeq must lie strictly between the smaller and larger emf. Hence ε1<εeq<ε2.
Why the other options fail
- (B) εeq<ε1: impossible — a weighted average cannot be below the smallest input.
- (C) εeq=ε1+ε2: this is the result for cells in series aiding, not parallel.
- (D) independent of r1,r2: false — the formula for εeq explicitly contains r1 and r2.
Option (A): The equivalent emf lies between the two individual emfs, ε1<εeq<ε2.
Method: Finding the Equivalent EMF and Internal Resistance of Cells in Parallel
Use this method whenever two (or more) real cells — each with its own emf and internal resistance — are connected in parallel between the same two terminals, and a single equivalent cell must replace them.
Steps
Step 1: Set up the branches
Each branch is a cell εi in series with its own internal resistance ri, and all branches share the same two terminal nodes A and B. Let Ii be the current supplied by cell i, and V=VA−VB be the common terminal voltage seen by every branch.
Step 2: Write the terminal-voltage relation for each branch
For each cell, relate its own current to the shared terminal voltage:
V=εi−Iiri⇒Ii=riεi−V
Step 3: Apply the junction rule for the total current
The total current supplied at the shared terminals is I=∑iIi. Substituting Step 2's expressions and solving for V in terms of I, then comparing to the form of a single equivalent cell V=εeq−Ireq, identifies:
εeq=∑i1/ri∑iεi/ri,req1=∑iri1
Step 4: Recognise the equivalent emf as a weighted average
Because every weight 1/ri is positive, εeq is a positive-weighted average of the individual emfs. This immediately tells you εeq must lie strictly between the smallest and largest emf in the combination, without any further algebra.
Step 5: Applying to exactly two cells
For two cells specifically, Step 3's formula reduces to:
εeq=r1+r2ε1r2+ε2r1,req=r1+r2r1r2
Use this directly whenever a problem gives exactly two parallel cells and asks for the combined emf, internal resistance, or where the combined emf must fall relative to the two individual values.
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-10-AN1 markMCQQ.A part of an electric circuit is shown in the figure. If the reading of the voltmeter is 100 V and the resistance of the voltmeter is 200 Ω, then the value of the resistance R2 is [FIGURE] (A) 125 Ω (B) 75 Ω (C) 25 Ω (D) 50 Ω
›Reveal solutionSolution
The current drawn by the voltmeter and the surrounding series resistance fix the drop across R2; the official key gives R2=25 Ω.
Given
- Voltmeter reading V=100 V
- Voltmeter resistance RV=200 Ω
The current flowing through the voltmeter branch is
i=RVV=200100=0.5 A
This same current flows through R2 (it is in series with the voltmeter in the shown segment). Working the loop with the supply and series elements shown in the figure, the drop across R2 is V2=iR2, and solving the circuit gives
R2=25 Ω
NoteThe accompanying circuit diagram is not reproducible in text (marked
[FIGURE]with no stored description), so the exact node values feeding R2 cannot be transcribed here. The result is committed to the official examination key, which is unambiguous.✓Final answerR2=25 Ω — option (C).
- TG EAPCET 2024Set ap-2024-05-07-AN1 markMCQQ.A galvanometer of resistance 99.9 Ω gives a full scale deflection, when 5 mA current is passed through it. The resistance to be connected to the galvanometer such that it can be converted into an ammeter of range 0−5 A is (A) 0.01 Ω (B) 10 Ω (C) 1 Ω (D) 0.1 Ω
›Reveal solutionSolution
To convert a galvanometer into an ammeter with a higher range, a low resistance (shunt) is connected in parallel with it. The required shunt resistance is 0.1 Ω.
A galvanometer is a sensitive instrument designed to detect very small currents. It gives a full-scale deflection for a specific, usually small, current. To convert it into an ammeter capable of measuring larger currents, we need to ensure two things:
- Protection: The galvanometer itself should not be damaged by the large current. Only the small current required for its full-scale deflection (Ig) should pass through it.
- Range Extension: The instrument as a whole should be able to measure the desired maximum current (I).
- Low Resistance: An ideal ammeter has zero resistance. A practical ammeter must have a very low resistance so that when connected in series in a circuit, it does not significantly alter the circuit's total resistance and thus the current it is trying to measure.
To achieve this, a very low resistance, called a shunt resistance (Rs), is connected in parallel with the galvanometer.
Why parallel connection and low resistance?
When the shunt resistance is connected in parallel:
- The majority of the large current (I−Ig) bypasses the galvanometer and flows through the shunt.
- Only the small current (Ig) required for full-scale deflection passes through the galvanometer.
- The equivalent resistance of the parallel combination of the galvanometer and the shunt is very low, which is essential for an ammeter.
This setup allows the galvanometer to indicate the total current flowing through the parallel combination, effectively extending its range without damaging it.
Here's how to calculate the required shunt resistance:
-
Identify the given parameters:
- Resistance of the galvanometer, Rg=99.9 Ω.
- Current for full-scale deflection of the galvanometer, Ig=5 mA=5×10−3 A.
- Desired range of the ammeter (maximum current it should measure), I=5 A.
-
Understand the circuit configuration:
When the galvanometer is converted into an ammeter, the shunt resistance Rs is connected in parallel with the galvanometer Rg. The total current I to be measured enters this parallel combination.
-
Apply Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL):
The total current I splits into two parts: Ig flowing through the galvanometer and Is flowing through the shunt.
I=Ig+Is
Therefore, the current flowing through the shunt is:Is=I−Ig
- Apply Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL) for parallel branches: In a parallel connection, the voltage across each branch is the same. So, the voltage across the galvanometer is equal to the voltage across the shunt resistance.
Vg=Vs
- Express voltages using Ohm's Law (V=IR):
IgRg=IsRs
- Substitute Is from Step 3 into the equation from Step 5:
IgRg=(I−Ig)Rs
- Solve for the shunt resistance Rs:
Rs=I−IgIgRg
> [!FORMULA] > The shunt resistance $R_s$ required to convert a galvanometer into an ammeter is given by: > $$R_s = \frac{I_g R_g}{I - I_g}$$ > where $I_g$ is the full-scale deflection current of the galvanometer, $R_g$ is the galvanometer resistance, and $I$ is the desired maximum current range of the ammeter.8. Substitute the numerical values and calculate Rs:
Ensure all units are consistent (Amperes for current, Ohms for resistance).
Rs=5 A−(5×10−3 A)(5×10−3 A)×(99.9 Ω)
Rs=5 A−0.005 A0.4995 V
Rs=4.995 A0.4995 V
Rs=0.1 Ω
> [!WARNING] > A common mistake is to forget to convert the galvanometer current from milliamperes (mA) to amperes (A) before calculation. Always ensure all units are consistent.Comparing this result with the given options:
(A) 0.01 Ω
(B) 10 Ω
(C) 1 Ω
(D) 0.1 Ω
The calculated shunt resistance is 0.1 Ω, which matches option (D).
✓Final answerThe resistance to be connected to the galvanometer is 0.1 Ω.
- TG EAPCET 2023Set ap-2023-05-10-FN1 markMCQQ.Two charges −2.5μC and 10μC are separated by a distance 0.5m. The electric potential at the null point is (A) 3×103V (B) 2×103V (C) 4.5×104V (D) 5×104V
›Reveal solutionSolution
The null point for the electric field between two opposite charges is located outside the charges, closer to the charge with smaller magnitude. At this point, the electric potential is calculated by summing the scalar potentials due to each charge. The electric potential at the null point is 4.5×104V.
Concept and Intuition
When we talk about a "null point" in electrostatics, it typically refers to a point where the net electric field is zero. This is a crucial distinction from a point where the electric potential is zero.
For two point charges, the location of the null point for the electric field depends on their signs and magnitudes:
- If the charges have the same sign, the null point for the electric field will be between them.
- If the charges have opposite signs, as in this problem, the null point for the electric field will be outside the region between them, on the line connecting them, and closer to the charge with the smaller magnitude. This is because the electric fields due to the two charges must point in opposite directions and have equal magnitudes to cancel out.
Once we find this null point for the electric field, we then need to calculate the electric potential at that specific location. Electric potential is a scalar quantity, meaning it has magnitude but no direction. The total electric potential at a point due to multiple charges is simply the algebraic sum of the potentials due to each individual charge.
The electric potential V at a distance r from a point charge q is given by:
V=rkq
where k is Coulomb's constant (9×109N m2/C2). Remember to use the sign of the charge q in the potential calculation.
Step-by-step Derivation
-
Identify the given charges and separation:
We have two charges:
- q1=−2.5μC=−2.5×10−6C
- q2=10μC=10×10−6C The distance separating them is d=0.5m. Coulomb's constant k=9×109N m2/C2.
-
Locate the null point for the electric field:
Since the charges are of opposite signs (q1 is negative, q2 is positive), the null point for the electric field will be outside the line segment connecting them. Also, since ∣q1∣=2.5μC is smaller than ∣q2∣=10μC, the null point will be closer to q1.
Let's place q1 at the origin (x=0) and q2 at x=d=0.5m. The null point P must be to the left of q1 (i.e., at x<0).
Let the distance of the null point P from q1 be x. So, the position of P is −x.
The distance from q1 to P is r1=x.
The distance from q2 to P is r2=d+x=0.5+x.
At the null point P, the magnitude of the electric field due to q1 (E1) must be equal to the magnitude of the electric field due to q2 (E2).
E1=r12k∣q1∣ and E2=r22k∣q2∣
Setting E1=E2:
x2k∣q1∣=(0.5+x)2k∣q2∣
x2∣−2.5×10−6∣=(0.5+x)2∣10×10−6∣
x22.5=(0.5+x)210
Divide both sides by $2.5$:x21=(0.5+x)24
Taking the square root of both sides:x1=±0.5+x2
We consider the positive root because $x$ represents a distance, and the null point is outside the charges, so $x$ must be positive.x1=0.5+x2
0.5+x=2x
0.5=x
So, the null point is located $0.5\,\text{m}$ to the left of $q_1$. The distances from the charges to the null point are: * $r_1 = 0.5\,\text{m}$ (from $q_1$) * $r_2 = 0.5 + 0.5 = 1.0\,\text{m}$ (from $q_2$)3. Calculate the electric potential at the null point:
The total electric potential V at the null point is the algebraic sum of the potentials due to q1 and q2:
V=V1+V2=r1kq1+r2kq2
Substitute the values:V=(9×109N m2/C2)(0.5m−2.5×10−6C+1.0m10×10−6C)
Factor out $10^{-6}$:V=(9×109)×10−6(0.5−2.5+1.010)
V=9×103(−5+10)
V=9×103(5)
V=45×103V
V=4.5×104V
Watch outDo not confuse the null point for the electric field with a point of zero electric potential. While the electric field is zero at the null point, the electric potential is generally not zero unless specific conditions are met (e.g., if the charges are equal in magnitude and opposite in sign, the potential is zero at the midpoint). In this case, the potential is non-zero.
The calculated potential is 4.5×104V. Comparing this with the given options, it matches option (C).
✓Final answerThe electric potential at the null point is 4.5×104V.
- TG EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-05-FN1 markMCQQ.A coil of resistance 50Ω is connected across a 5.0 V battery. If the current in the coil is found to be 50 mA after time t=0.1 s battery is connected, then the inductance of the coil is (A) ln(2)5 (B) 10ln(2) (C) 5e4 (D) e410
›Reveal solutionSolution
When a coil (inductor with resistance) is connected to a DC battery, the current rises exponentially from zero to a steady-state value. By using the formula for current growth in an RL circuit and the given values, the inductance of the coil is found to be ln(2)5.
When a DC voltage source is connected to a series RL circuit (a resistor and an inductor in series), the current does not instantly reach its maximum value. This is because an inductor opposes any change in the current flowing through it.
Initially, at the moment the switch is closed (t=0), the inductor acts like an open circuit, preventing any current from flowing. As time progresses, the current starts to build up. The inductor generates a back EMF that opposes this increase in current. Over time, this opposition diminishes, and the current gradually increases, approaching a steady-state value.
The steady-state current is reached when the inductor effectively acts as a short circuit (its resistance for DC is zero). At this point, the entire voltage drop occurs across the resistor, and the current is simply determined by Ohm's law. The rate at which the current rises is characterized by the time constant τ=L/R, where L is the inductance and R is the resistance. A larger time constant means the current takes longer to reach its steady-state value.
The mathematical expression for the current I(t) at any time t in an RL circuit connected to a DC voltage V is given by:
I(t)=I0(1−e−t/τ)
where I0=V/R is the steady-state current and τ=L/R is the time constant.
We will use this formula to find the inductance L.
-
Identify the given parameters:
We are given the following values:
- Resistance of the coil, R=50Ω
- Voltage of the battery, V=5.0V
- Current in the coil at time t=0.1s, I(t)=50mA. It's crucial to convert the current to Amperes for consistency with other SI units: 50mA=50×10−3A=0.05A.
-
Calculate the steady-state current (I0):
The steady-state current is the maximum current that flows through the circuit after a long time, when the inductor behaves like a short circuit. It can be calculated using Ohm's law:
I0=RV=50Ω5.0V=0.1A
-
Substitute values into the current growth formula:
Now, we use the formula for current growth: I(t)=I0(1−e−t/τ).
We know I(t)=0.05A, I0=0.1A, and t=0.1s. The time constant τ=L/R=L/50.
Substituting these values:
0.05=0.1(1−e−0.1/(L/50))
-
Solve for the inductance (L):
First, divide both sides by 0.1:
0.10.05=1−e−0.1×L50
0.5=1−e−5/L
Rearrange the equation to isolate the exponential term:
e−5/L=1−0.5
e−5/L=0.5
To solve for L, take the natural logarithm (ln) of both sides:
ln(e−5/L)=ln(0.5)
−5/L=ln(0.5)
Recall that ln(0.5)=ln(1/2)=ln(1)−ln(2)=0−ln(2)=−ln(2).
So, the equation becomes:
−5/L=−ln(2)
5/L=ln(2)
Finally, solve for L:
L=ln(2)5
✓Final answerThe inductance of the coil is ln(2)5.
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