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A cell supplies a current of 0.9 A through a 2 Ω resistor and a current of 0.3 A through a 7 Ω resistor. What is the internal resistance of the cell?

Asked in GSEB Board July 2017 · Terminal voltage and internal resistance

Answer: (1) 0.5 Ω

Step-by-step solution

Given: I₁=0.9 A through R₁=2 Ω and I₂=0.3 A through R₂=7 Ω, from the same cell.

Idea: the emf ε and the internal resistance r are the same both times, so write ε=I(R+r) for each load and equate the two.

0.9 (2+r)=0.3 (7+r)

1.8+0.9 r=2.1+0.3 r

0.6 r=0.3, so r=0.5 Ω.

Check: ε=0.9×2.5=2.25 V and 0.3×7.5=2.25 V, the same emf from both readings.

Why the other options are wrong

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