Internal Resistance of an electric cell.

Posted by Mr Mallon on December 14, 2013

InternalResistance

In the simulation below it can be seen that when electric current is taken from an electric cell the potential difference between the terminals decreases.

When no current is taken the tpd is at its maximum. This is the EMF of the electric cell.

The EMF of an electric cell is the maximum energy given to each Coulomb of electric charge.

This lost energy per coulomb, usually called "lost volts" is lost in the internal resistance of the electric cell.

You can download a poster for your notebook below.

InternalResistance

14Dec
Comments Off on Internal Resistance of an electric cell.

Internal Resistance of an electric cell.

Posted by Mr Mallon on December 7, 2013

Hi physics lovers. Check these two videos below on internal resistance.

How to calculate the internal resistance of a cell.

Investigating the internal resistance of a cell.

You can download the physics simulation from the here:

PhET Electrical Circuit Simulation

7Dec
Comments Off on Internal Resistance of an electric cell.

Moving Charges in an Electric Field.

Posted by Mr Mallon on November 28, 2013

Roll mouse over the V, W and Q for definition of these terms.

28Nov
Comments Off on Moving Charges in an Electric Field.

Electric Fields

Posted by Mr Mallon on November 28, 2013

When a physicist talks about a field they are not talking about the green ones with
cows in it.

Rather they mean regions of space where objects experience a force without being touched.

To picture these regions in space physicists use arrowed lines.

The direction of the arrows show the direction where the objects experience the force.

28Nov
Comments Off on Electric Fields

Higher Starter Questions Set 3

Posted by Mr Mallon on November 18, 2013

18Nov
Comments Off on Higher Starter Questions Set 3

Starter Questions Set 02

Posted by Mr Mallon on November 10, 2013

Categories: Higher Physics
10Nov
Comments Off on Starter Questions Set 02

Newton`s Cannon

Posted by Mr Mallon on November 9, 2013

Isaac Newton thought this experiment up about firing a cannon ball from a cannon.

Check out this movie. Roll your mouse over Isaac`s picture to get more info.

9Nov
Comments Off on Newton`s Cannon

Satellite Research

Posted by Mr Mallon on November 7, 2013

Here is a presentation on satellites.

7Nov
Comments Off on Satellite Research

Higher Starter Questions of the Week.

Posted by Mr Mallon on October 31, 2013

Here are the Higher physics starter questions of the week.
You can make the questions full screen by pressing the appropriate controls on the slide.
Clicking the slide will reveal the answers

Categories: Higher Physics
31Oct
Comments Off on Higher Starter Questions of the Week.

Impulse and change of momentum

Posted by Mr Mallon on October 30, 2013

When a car is in collision with a wall which brings it to a stop its momentum must be reduced to zero.

The change of momentum of the car is equal to the impulse it receives.

Impulse = change of momentum.
Ft = change of momentum

Now this change of momentum can come about with a LARGE FORCE acting over a small time or a small force acting over a LONG TIME.

The above movie shows the force time graph of two collisions of a car with a wall and then a collapsible wall.

Assuming the car is travelling at the same speed before each collision the change of momentum will be the same in each case.
You can calculate the change of momentum from the area of the force time graph. Note each graph has the same area but the time to change the momentum is different.

You will notice that in the collision with the collapsible barrier the time for the change in momentum is longer. This means that to keep the same area the peak force will be lower.

So to survive collisions it is important to increase the time you take to come to a stop. That is why car safety needs airbags, seat belts and crushable car fronts.

30Oct
Comments Off on Impulse and change of momentum