Final answer:
The energy storage rate in a battery is determined by calculating the potential difference across its terminals, the rate of thermal energy dissipation, and the rate at which electrical energy is converted into chemical energy, not including energy dissipated in the internal resistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chemical Energy Storage in a Battery
Considering a car battery with a 12-V electromotive force (emf) and an internal resistance of 0.050 ohms being charged with a current of 60 A, we can determine the following:
(a) The potential difference across its terminals is the emf minus the voltage drop across the internal resistance (Ir), where I is the current (60 A) and r is the internal resistance (0.050 ohms), resulting in a terminal voltage of 12 V - (60 A * 0.050 ohms).
(b) The rate at which thermal energy is dissipated in the battery is given by the power dissipated in the internal resistance, P = I2r, which equals (60 A)2 * 0.050 ohms.
(c) The rate at which electric energy is being converted to chemical energy is the power put into the battery minus the power dissipated in the internal resistor, which is the product of the current and emf (I * V) minus the power lost (I2r).
When the battery is used to supply power, these values change based on the fact that discharging a battery does not involve charging voltage, but instead the emf and current draw become important parameters.