Flashlight battery - internal resistance?

[ll1111]

Homework Statement

does a flashlight battery have an internal resistance? explain.

this problem is for my lab, and we are farther ahead in lab than in lecture. so i haven't actually learned this material yet.

Homework Equations

i'm not really sure.

R=∆V/I
also,
-VB + VR + VM + VInt = 0
but i don't think that's relevant here at all.
it's more of a conceptual question i assume.

The Attempt at a Solution

well... as i said, we haven't actually learned this material. all i know is that our TAs told us that our battery in the lab had an internal resistance affecting its voltage. i don't really understand what being a flashlight would have to do with the workings of the battery.

if anyone could help me to understand how i should go about finding my answer, that'd be wonderful. thank you!

 

[anathema]

Dear fellow student,

Yes, a flashlight battery does have an internal resistance. This internal resistance is a result of the chemical reactions happening inside the battery, which cause the battery to have a finite amount of resistance to the flow of current.

To understand this concept further, let's look at Ohm's Law, which states that the current (I) in a circuit is equal to the voltage (V) divided by the resistance (R). In the case of a flashlight battery, the voltage and resistance values are not fixed, as they are affected by the internal resistance of the battery.

When a circuit is connected to a battery, the voltage measured across the battery terminals will be less than the actual voltage of the battery due to the voltage drop across the internal resistance. This can be seen in the second equation you mentioned, where the voltage drop across the battery (VB) is equal to the sum of the voltage drops across the external resistance (VR), the measuring device (VM), and the internal resistance (VInt).

So, in short, the internal resistance of a flashlight battery affects its voltage and can be calculated using the above equation. I hope this helps you understand the concept better and good luck with your lab!