12.1 Basic Concepts and Formulae 537
Mixed Grouping of Cells
Let there be m rows of cells, with each row containing n cells in series. The emf for
each row of cells would be nξ and the equivalent internal resistance nr. The effective
emf for m rows would again be nξ, but since the rows are in parallel, the effective
internal resistance would be nr/m. The total resistance then becomes R + (nr /m)
(Fig. 12.1):
i =
nξ
R +
nr
m
=
mnξ
mR +nr
=
Nξ
mR +nr
(12.13)
where N = m × n = total number of cells.
Instruments
Potentiometer may be used to measure the internal resistance of a cell: B =
battery, E =cell of internal resistance r,S=resistor, R =resistor, G = galvanome-
ter, AC =potentiometer, AX =l =balancing length.
If l
1
= balancing length with K
1
open and K
2
closed and l
2
with K
1
closed,
r = R
(l
1
−l
2
)
l
2
(12.14)
Fig. 12.1
Wheatstone bridge consists of a network of four resistors P, Q, R and S, battery
E and galvanometer G, Fig. 12.2. Of the four resistors P, R and S are known whose
values are adjustable while Q is unknown. When the bridge is balanced, i.e. the
galvanometer shows null deflection:
P
Q
=
R
S
or Q =
PS
R
(12.15)