Simultaneous Determinations for the Internal Resistance of Three Batteries. Three Analytical Methods Involved

Surprisingly or not, batteries were the primary source of electricity before the development of electric generators and electrical grids. Perhaps Voltaic pile was the first electrical battery that could continuously provide an electric current to a circuit, even if the electrochemical behavior of zinc and copper in a bimetallic arch, in contact with the electrolytes of muscle tissue were observed before. Ordinary batteries consist of one or more electrochemical cells. A cell is created by placing electrodes in an electrolyte where a chemical reaction either generates (at battery use) or uses (at battery recharging) an electric current. Here a very simple circuit has been used to provide raw data for estimating the electromotive force of a power source. The circuit has been used to measure pairs of potential versus intensity for three commercial batteries. From measured data three methods were employed to provide estimates of the internal resistance and electromotive force. The estimating of the internal resistances is discussed.