4.7: Electromotive Force and Internal Resistance
The potential difference across the poles of a cell when no current is being taken from it is called the electromotive force (EMF) of the cell. I shall use the symbol E for EMF. Question. A 4 (Omega) resistance is connected across a cell of EMF 2 V. What current flows? The immediate answer is 0.5 A – but this is likely to be wrong.