6.

An external resistor with resistance R is connected to a battery that has emf E and
internal resistance r. Let P be the electrical power output of the source. By conservation
of energy, P is equal to the power consumed by R. What is the value of P in the limit that
R is
(a) very small; [7pts.]
2
𝑃 = 𝑉𝐼 = 𝐼 𝑅
𝐸
𝐼= (𝑅+𝑟)
2
𝐸𝑅
𝑃= 2
(𝑅+𝑟)
2
𝐸 (0) 0
lim 𝑃 = 2 = 2 = 0 𝑊
𝑅→0 (0+𝑟) 𝑟

𝑃 = 0𝑊
(b) very large? [3 pts.]
2
𝐸𝑅
lim 𝑃 = 2
𝑅 → +∞ (𝑅+𝑟)

lim 𝑅 + 𝑟 ≅ 𝑅
𝑅 → +∞
2 2
𝐸𝑅 𝐸
lim 𝑃 = 2 = 𝑅
𝑅 → +∞ (𝑅)
2
𝐸
𝑃= 𝑅
(c) Show that the power output of the battery is a maximum when R = r. What is this maximum
P in terms of E and r? [9 pts.]
2
𝐸𝑅
𝑃= 2
(𝑅+𝑟)
2
𝑑𝑃 𝐸𝑅 𝑑
𝑑𝑅
= 2 𝑑𝑟
(𝑅+𝑟)
2 2
𝑑𝑃 −2𝐸 𝑅 𝐸
𝑑𝑅
= 3 + 2
(𝑅+𝑟) (𝑅+𝑟)
𝑑𝑃
Let 𝑑𝑅
=0
2 2
2𝐸 𝑅 𝐸
3 = 2
(𝑅+𝑟) (𝑅+𝑟)
2 2
2𝐸 𝑅 = 𝐸 (𝑅 + 𝑟)
2𝑅 = 𝑅 + 𝑟
𝑅=𝑟
2 2
𝐸𝑅 𝐸𝑅
𝑃= 2 = 2
(𝑅+𝑅) (2𝑅)
2
𝐸
𝑃= 4𝑅

(d) A battery has E = 64.0 V and r = 4.00 Ω. What is the power output of this battery when
it is connected to a resistor R, for R = 2.00 Ω, R = 4.00 Ω, and R = 6.00 Ω? Are your results
consistent with the general result that you derived in part (b)? [6 pts.]
If 𝑅 = 2. 00 Ω
2 2
𝐸𝑅 64 (2)
𝑃= 2 = 2
(𝑅+𝑟) (2+4)
𝑃 = 227. 5 𝑊

If 𝑅 = 4. 00 Ω
2 2
𝐸𝑅 64 (4)
𝑃= 2 = 2
(𝑅+𝑟) (4+4)
𝑃 = 256 𝑊

If 𝑅 = 6. 00 Ω
2 2
𝐸𝑅 64 (6)
𝑃= 2 = 2
(𝑅+𝑟) (6+4)
𝑃 = 245. 8 𝑊

When compared to the derived equation from part (b), their results aren’t equal because the
given resistance values are not very large numbers
2
𝐸
𝑃= 𝑅
2
64
𝑃= 2
= 2048 𝑊
2
64
𝑃= 4
= 1024 𝑊
2
64
𝑃= 8
= 512 𝑊