TransWikia.com

What happens to the resistance, voltage and current when DC passes through saltwater?

Physics Asked on February 19, 2021

I have a circuit of a battery(1.5V or 9V) connected to a multimeter, a connected to 2 metal pieces in water(distilled)(see picture, in place of the LED is a multimeter).

With the addition of salt
1. Is the voltage going to remain constant?
2. Is the current supposed to increase?
3. Is the resistance supposed to decrease?

PS: thanks in advance.

2 Answers

Dissolving salt in the water creates sodium and chloride ions which in the presence of the potential of the battery provide a path for current flow, the movement of charge. Thus resistance is decreased and current is increased.

While an ideal voltage source would see no decrease in the voltage, a real world battery has its own internal resistance, and so you would see a slight decrease in the battery voltage if the battery was fully charged, and more of a drop if not fully charged.

Answered by docscience on February 19, 2021

Addition of salt will facilitate the conduction of electricity due to ionization. The extra ${Na^+}$ and ${Cl^-}$ ions will increase the conductivity of the medium.

1)Voltage will be slightly affected if you are considering internal resistance.

2) and 3)Current will increase due to the decrease in resistance in the conduction medium.

Answered by Sam on February 19, 2021

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question

Get help from others!

© 2024 TransWikia.com. All rights reserved. Sites we Love: PCI Database, UKBizDB, Menu Kuliner, Sharing RPP