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Question
A battery of 4 cell, each of e.m.f. 1.5 volt and internal resistance 0.5 Ω is connected to three resistances as shown in the figure. Calculate:
(i) The total resistance of the circuit.
(ii) The current through the cell.
(iii) The current through each resistance.
(iv) The p.d. across each resistance.
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Solution
Let total e.m.f. of 4 cells = nE (n = number of cells)

E = 4 × 1.5
E = 6 volts ....(i)
Total internal resistance = nr (n = 4, r = 0.5 Ω)
Total internal resistance = 4 × 0.5 (in series)
= 2 Ω ....(ii)
Let total external resistance = X Ω
`1/"R" = 1/"R"_1 + 1/"R"_2` (R1 and R2 are in parallel)
`1/"R" = 1/4 + 1/12 = (3 + 1)/12 = 4/12`
R = `12/4 = 3 Ω`
Total external resistance = X = (R + R3)Ω (in series)
X = 3Ω + 7 Ω = 10Ω .....(iii)
Total resistance of the circuit = X + r = 10 + 2 = 12 Ω
Total current through the cell = `"E"/("X" + "r")` ...(as E = I (R + r))
I = `6/(10 + 2) = 0.5` A ....from (i), (ii) and (iii)
Current through resistor 4 Ω =
I1 = `("I" xx "R"_2)/("R"_1 + "R"_2)`
I1 = `(0.5 xx 12)/(4 + 12) = (0.5 xx 12)/16 = (0.5 xx 3)/4`
I1 = `1.5 xx 1/4 = 0.375`A
Similarly current through resistor 12 Ω = I2
I2 = `"I" xx "R"_1/("R"_1 + "R"_2)`
I2 = `0.5 xx 4/16 = 0.5 xx 1/4 = 1/8`
I2 = 0.125 A.
P.D. across resistance 7 Ω = V = I × R = 0.5 × 7 = 3.5 V
P.D. across resistance 4 Ω = V1 = V1 × R1 = 0.375 × 4 = 1.5 V
P.D. across resistance 12 Ω = V2 = I2 × R2 = 0.125 × 12 = 1.5 V.
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