You are provided with a battery of e.m.f. E, a key K, a voltmeter, a standard resistor R0 = \(2\Omega\), a resistance box R, and some connecting wires. i. M...

Assessment: WAEC SSCE - Physics - 2019 (Practical) Subject: Physics

Question 1 Report

You are provided with a battery of e.m.f. E, a key K, a voltmeter, a standard resistor R0 = \(2\Omega\), a resistance box R, and some connecting wires.

i. Measure and record the e.m.f. E of the battery.

i. Set up a circuit as shown in the diagram above with the key open.

iii. Set the resistance on the resistance box to R 22.

iv. Close the key, read and record the potential difference V on the voltmeter.

v. Evaluate \(V^{-1}\)

vi. Repeat the procedures for five other values of R = \(5\Omega\) \(10\Omega\), \(12\Omega\), \(15\Omega\) and \(20\Omega\). In each case, record V and evaluate V\(^{-1}\)

vii. Tabulate the results.

viii. Plot a graph with R on the vertical axis and \(V^{-1}\) l on the horizontal axis, starting both axes from the origin (0,0).

ix. Determine the slope, s, of the graph and the intercept c on the vertical axis.

x. Calculate \(\propto\) and \(\beta\) from the equations s = R0 \(\propto\) and c= - (R0+B).

xi. State two precautions taken to obtain accurate results.

Answer Details

Determination of the e.m.f. and internal resistance of a battery

The e.m.f. of the battery, measured with the key open, is:

\(E=2.00\ \text{V}\)

With \(R_0=2\ \Omega\), the resistance box was set successively to \(2, 5, 10, 12, 15\) and \(20\ \Omega\). The voltmeter was connected across the standard resistor \(R_0\).

Table of readings

S/N\(R\ (\Omega)\)\(V\ (\text{V})\)\(V^{-1}\ (\text{V}^{-1})\)
120.8001.250
250.5002.000
3100.3083.250
4120.2673.750
5150.2224.500
6200.1745.750

Graph of \(R\) against \(V^{-1}\)

graph
Plot of \(R\) against \(V^{-1}\), with both axes beginning at the origin. The best-fit line has gradient \(4.0\ \Omega\,\text{V}\); its extrapolated vertical-axis intercept is \(-3.0\ \Omega\).

The graph is a straight line. Using two well-separated points on the line, \((V^{-1}=1.25\ \text{V}^{-1},\ R=2.0\ \Omega)\) and \((V^{-1}=5.75\ \text{V}^{-1},\ R=20.0\ \Omega)\):

\[s=\frac{\Delta R}{\Delta(V^{-1})}=\frac{20.0-2.0}{5.75-1.25}=\frac{18.0}{4.50}=4.0\ \Omega\,\text{V}.\]

From \(R=sV^{-1}+c\),

\[c=R-sV^{-1}=2.0-(4.0\times1.25)=-3.0\ \Omega.\]

Hence,

\[\alpha=\frac{s}{R_0}=\frac{4.0}{2.0}=2.0\ \text{V},\]

\[\beta=-c-R_0=-(-3.0)-2.0=1.0\ \Omega.\]

Therefore, \(\alpha\), the e.m.f. of the battery, is \(2.0\ \text{V}\), while \(\beta\), the internal resistance of the battery, is \(1.0\ \Omega\).

Precautions

  1. The key was closed only while taking a reading, to prevent heating and polarization of the battery.
  2. All connections were clean and tight, and the voltmeter was read at eye level to avoid parallax error.

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