Answer:
The current is reduced to half of its original value.
Explanation:
- Assuming we can apply Ohm's Law to the circuit, as the internal resistance and the load resistor are in series, we can find the current I₁ as follows:
- where Rint = r and RL = r
- Replacing these values in I₁, we have:
- When the battery ages, if the internal resistance triples, the new current can be found using Ohm's Law again:
- We can find the relationship between I₂, and I₁, dividing both sides, as follows:
- The current when the internal resistance triples, is half of the original value, when the internal resistance was r, equal to the resistance of the load.