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7.4

When the switch is is closed,

the circuit is complete.
The bulb lights up showing that
Idea of a current flows in the circuit.
Electro- The flow of current is the flow
motive of charge. What causes the
force charge to flow in the circuit?
 The cell is the source of
energy and the light bulb is
the energy consuming device.
 The light bulb converts electrical energy into heat and light energy.
 The electric charges that flow round the circuit transfer energy from the
source to the device.
 In a cell, chemical reaction converts chemical energy into electrical
energy. This energy pushes the free electrons to move them from the
negative terminal to the positive terminal of the cell.
 Work is done by the source in driving the charges around a complete
circuit

The electromotive force, E (e.m.f.) is defined as the work done by a

Define source in driving one coulomb of charge around a complete circuit.
electro-
motive Total energy needed to move one coulomb of charge around a
force complete circuit (souce of electrical energy)
(e.m.f),
E Unit of e.m.f. is the volt, V = J/C or J C-1

What The voltage label on a battery or cell indicates its e.m.f

does the The label 1.5 V on a dry cell indicates the e.m.f. of the cell is 1.5 V.
label A cell has an e.m.f. of 1.5 V if a flow of 1 C of charge produces 1.5 J of
1.5 V on electrical energy to the whole circuit.
the
battery
mean?  Open circuit  Closed circuit

Open circuit Closed circuit

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Voltmeter reading, Voltmeter reading,

Open e.m.f. potential difference, V < e.m.f.,
circuit & E
Closed
circuit

E,r

No current flow Current flowing

 Current flows through the circuit

 No current flows through the
 The reading of the voltmeter will
circuit
drop a little if a lamp is connected
 The voltmeter reading is 1.5 V.
in series to the cell.
 The e.m.f. = the reading of the
 If the voltmeter reading is 1.2 V,
voltmeter which is connected
then the potential difference
directly across the terminals of
across the lamp = 1.2 V.
the cells.
 e.m.f. = 1.5 V

Electromotive Force, E Potential Difference, V

Compare
e.m.f. and Indicates the electrical energy given Indicates the electrical energy that
potential to 1 C of charge flowing through is transformed to other forms of
difference the cell or source. energy when 1 C of charge passes
through a component in a closed
circuit.
Used in reference to source of Used in reference to electrical
electrical energy component in a circuit.

Represented by the voltmeter Represented by the voltmeter

reading in an open circuit (when reading in a closed circuit (when
switch is opened) switch is closed)

Measured in JC-1 or Volts,V Measured in JC-1 or Volts,V

Activity 1: To distinguish between e.m.f. and potential difference

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 Switch S is let in the open

position. What happens to the Position of Open Closed
bulb is observed. The readings of switch
the ammeter and the voltmeter are State of the
recorded. bulb
 Switch S is closed and what Ammeter
happens to the bulb is observed. reading/A
The readings of the ammeter and Voltmeter
the voltmeter are recorded. reading/V

Conclusion
1. What is the voltmeter reading
when switch S is closed?
2. What is the e.m.f. of the cell?
Discussion The reading of the ammeter when switch S is open is zero
1. Why does the ammeter
because there is no flow of _______ in an open circuit,
reading is zero when
switch S is open and Current flow is ___________
have a reading when
When switch S is closed, there is an ammeter reading due to
switch S is closed.
the flow of _________ in the closed circuit produce flow of
___________
2. Compare the difference The reading of the voltmeter when switch S is open is
in the two voltmeter
___________ than when switch S is closed.
readings measured.
3. What is the work done in The reading of the voltmeter when the circuit is open is the
moving 1 C of charge
________ value of the cell.
around the complete
circuit? The voltmeter reading = ____________
So _____ J of electrical energy is required to move 1 C of
charge around the complete circuit.
4. What is the work done in The reading of the voltmeter when the circuit is closed is the
moving 1 C of charge
__________ _________across the bulb.
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across the light bulb? The voltmeter reading = __________

Therefore, ________J of electrical energy is dissipated by 1 C
of charge across the light bulb. The electrical energy is
transformed to _________ and __________ energy.
5. Why there is a There is a _________ in potential difference across the cell.
difference in the two
voltmeter readings Drop in potential = e.m.f - potential
measured? Difference difference
(bulb)

This is caused by the ________ __________ of the cell.

 In an open circuit when there is no current flow, the potential

difference, V across the cell is the electromotive force, E of the cell.
Why there  In a closed circuit when there is a current flow, the potential
is drop in difference, V across the cell is smaller than the e.m.f. of the cell.
potential  This drop in potential difference across the cell is caused by the
difference internal resistance of the cell.
?
 e.m.f. = 1.5 V means the cell gives 1.5 J of electrical energy to each
coulomb that passes through it. The energy dissipated in the
resistor or bulb is less than 1.5 J per coulomb. The current that flows
through the circuit also flows through the battery.
 Internal resistance in the battery causes this loss of energy or drop in
potential difference across the battery.
 Some of the energy per charge the battery provides will be used to
overcome the internal resistance of the battery and change to heat
energy.
 In practice, the potential difference a battery provides to an external
circuit will always be less than its e.m.f.

The internal resistance, r of a source or battery is the resistance against

Explain the moving charge due to the electrolyte in the source or cell.
Internal Work is needed to drive a charge against the internal resistance.
Resistanc This causes a drop in potential difference across the cell as the charge
e, r flows through it and loss of heat energy in the cell.
r
E.m.f of the cell =E
P.d to the external circuit = V
Explain Drop in P.d. inside the cell = Ir
equation
relates, E, Ir = E – V
V, I, and r
Or E = V + Ir

Or E = IR + Ir

Exercise 1: Solve problems involving e.m.f and internal resistance

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1. A cell with e.m.f. 2 V and internal

resistance 1 Ω is connected to a
resistor of 4 Ω. What is the reading on
the voltmeter when it is connected
across the 4 Ω resistor?

2. A bulb M is connected to a battery by

means of a switch. A voltmeter is also
connected across the battery. When
the switch is open, the voltmeter reads
6.0 V. When the switch is closed, the
voltmeter reads 4.8 V.
(a) What is the e.m.f. of the battery?
(b) If the resistance of the bulb M is 8 Ω,
what is the current passing through
M when the switch is closed?
(c) Find the value of the internal
resistance, r, of the battery.

3. When switch S is opened, the voltmeter Calculate:

reading is 1.5 V. When the switch is (a) e.m.f
closed, the voltmeter reading is 1.35 V (b) internal resistance
and the ammeter reading is 0.3 A. (c) resistance of R

Activity 2: Determine e.m.f. and internal resistance, r

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Apparatus Dry cell, rheostat, ammeter, voltmeter, switch, connecting wires

Diagram

Procedure  Turn on the switch, adjust the rheostat until the ammeter reading is I =
0.2 A
 Record the voltmeter reading as V
 Repeat the experiment with current, I = 0.3 A, 0.4 A, 0.5 A and 0.6 A.

Results
I /A

V/V

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Plot graph of V
against I on a
graph paper.

Sketch the shape

of the graph.

1. From the graph of V against I plotted, state the relationship between the potential
difference across the cell and the current flow.

2. By using the equation E = V + Ir,

(a) write down V in terms of E, I and r.

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(b) explain how you can determine the values of E and r from the graph plotted in this
experiment. (compare eq, in (a) with y = mx + c)

(c) Determine the value of E and r from the graph.

3. Why the potential difference across the cell decreases when the current increases?
 When the switch is opened, the voltmeter = ______ , current, I = ______
 When the switch is closed, ________ flows through the circuit and there is a drop in
__________ ________ due to the ___________ resistance, r in the cell (V = Ir)
 The readings of the voltmeter decreases as V = ____________
 The bigger the current, the ___________ the drop in potential difference (Ir) and the
___________ the reading of the voltmeter, V.

Determine:
(a) the e.m.f of the cell

(b) the internal resistance of the cell

Comparison between total e.m.f and total internal resistance in a series and parallel circuit .
each cell has E = 1.5 V and r = 0.5 Ω

Total e.m.f = 2 x 1.5 = 3.0 V Total e.m.f = 1.5 V

Total r = 2 x 0.5 = 1.0 Ω Total r = ½ x 0.5 = 0.25 Ω

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TUTORIAL 7.4 4. Three resistors with the resistance

shown are connected to a battery. The
1. Which of the following describe the e.m.f. electromotive force and the internal
of a cell? resistance of the battery are E and r
A. The difference in the energy needed respectively.
to drive a unit charge through the
load resistors and the energy needed
to drive a unit charge through the
cell.
B. The difference in energy to drive a
unit charge across each resistor.
C. The energy supplied to a unit charge
within the cell.
D. The total energy used to drive a unit
charge round the complete circuit. Which of the following statements is
true?
2. Voltmeter V has infinite resistance and A. E = Reading of voltmeters V1 + V2
ammeter A has negligible resistance. B. Readings A1 = A2
Which circuit can be used to measure the C. Readings V1 > V2
electromotive force (e.m.f) of a battery? D. Effective resistance of the circuit =
(2005) 3R

5. The electromotive force and internal

resistance of the dry cell in the circuit
below is 1.5 V and 0.5 Ω respectively.

What are the reading of the voltmeter

when the switch is closed? (2004)
A. 0 V
3. Which of the following graphs relates the B. 1.5 V
reading of ammeter and the voltmeter in C. Less than 1.5 V
figure above? D. More than 1.5 V

6. Diagram below shows an electric circuit.

Calculate the internal resistance of the

battery in this circuit. (2007)
A. 0.06 Ω
B. 0.07 Ω
C. 0.25 Ω
D. 3.75 Ω

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7. The graph V against I below shows the

results of the experiment to determine (c)(i) From the graph , state the value of
the electromotive force ,E, and the V, when I = 0.80 A.
internal resistance, r , of a dry cell. Show on the graph how you
determine the value V.

_____________________________

(ii)The resistance R is given by

R=V
I
Calculate R when I = 0.80 A

(d) State one precaution that

should be taken during this
experiment.

____________________________

(a) Based on the graph in the figure

above,
(i) what happen when I increases?

____________________________

(ii) determine the value of the

potential difference , V, when
the current ,
I = 0.0 A.
Show on the graph , how you
determine V.

____________________________

(iii) name the physical quantity that

represents the value in (a)(ii).

____________________________

(b) The internal resistance, r, of the dry

cell is given by
r = -m
where m is the gradient of the
graph. Calculate the value r.

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Figure 10.1 (a) and Figure 10.2 (a) show two

circuits used to investigate the relationship
between potential difference and electric
current.
Figure 10.1(b) and Figure 10.2(b) show the
potential difference against electric current
graph respectively for Figure 10.1(a) and
Figure 10.2(b).

0
I
V 0
Figure Figure
10.1(a) 10.1(b)
[Rajah V Rajah
V
10.1(a)] 10.1 (b)

0
I
0
Figure Figure
10.2(a) 10.2(b)
[Rajah [Rajah
10.2(a)]
(a)
10.2(b)]
What is meant by electric current?
[ 1 mark ]

(b) Compare the placement of the

voltmeter in Figure 10.1(a) and Figure
10.2(a). Then compare the
relationship between potential
difference and current for both
graphs. Explain the results shown in
both graphs. Hence state the related
physics law and concepts applicable
in each situation.

[ 5 markah ]

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