A field team faces an unresolved physical question: How can a mostly full cell brown out during one handshake? They must answer it before changing internal resistance on the real device. Predict the direction first.
See the relationship before changing it
The figure reads from left to right. The blue card is internal resistance. The middle card applies this page's relationship. The green card is pulse sag. Walk the arrows once: set the input, apply the rule, then read the result with its unit.
The retained audit below checks several chapter fixtures. This added model holds every other chapter fixture fixed, so the numeric fixture does not switch without explanation.
Derive the baseline in four named moves
- 1
Name the input. The chapter baseline for internal resistance is 5.
- 2
Name the relationship. connection=25.2/3600=0.00700 mAh=0.0210 mWh fresh sag=0.080(0.150)=0.0120 V aged sag=0.080(5.00)=0.400 V loaded=3.00-0.400=2.60 V cutoff margin=2.60-2.70=-0.100 V
- 3
Substitute the chapter fixture. Set internal resistance to 5. The page ledger gives pulse sag as 400.0 mV.
- 4
Read the result. Keep mV beside the value. Use it only inside the technical boundary on this page.
Predict, then change internal resistance
Try Predict the direction of pulse sag. Move one control, calculate, then check your prediction.
Observe Temperature and depletion can raise internal resistance, so remaining charge does not guarantee pulse delivery. Reset the control to 5 and compare pulse sag.
Explain Only internal resistance moves here. The other chapter fixtures remain fixed.
Check yourself
What should you do before trusting a moved-control result?
What does this small model leave out?
1. Start with the physical story
Milliamp-hours count charge over time. A radio pulse asks a different question: can the cell hold enough voltage right now while current flows through its internal resistance?
2. Name every algebra move
Convert connection chargeDivide mA·s by 3600 to get mAh.
Convert charge to energyMultiply mAh by the 3.0 V supply.
Find pulse sagMultiply pulse current by internal resistance.
Find loaded voltageSubtract sag from open-circuit voltage.
Test cutoffSubtract the radio cutoff; a negative margin predicts failure.
3. Reproduce the chapter case
fresh sag=0.080(0.150)=0.0120 V
aged sag=0.080(5.00)=0.400 V
loaded=3.00−0.400=2.60 V
cutoff margin=2.60−2.70=−0.100 V
The arithmetic stays visible so that units and assumptions can be checked before the result is used.
4. Try one real input
TryMove internal resistance from a fresh 0.15 ohm toward 5.00 ohm. Watch the cutoff margin cross zero.
ObserveCharge per connection stays fixed, but sag grows from 12 mV to 400 mV and the 3.0 V rail falls below 2.70 V.
ExplainTemperature and depletion can raise internal resistance, so remaining charge does not guarantee pulse delivery.
This transparent ledger reproduces the named chapter case.
- Cell
- The resistance slider is an illustrative lumped value, not a chemistry or discharge-curve model.
- Rail
- Regulator dropout, wiring, capacitor ESR, and transient response are outside it.
- Protocol
- The daily HTTP and MQTT ranges are chapter examples, not universal protocol guarantees.
Correct, not complete: this ledger does not qualify a cell, power rail, capacitor, radio, or protocol deployment.
5. Use the result in the design
Budget daily charge and pulse voltage separately; validate the worst cell, temperature, state of charge, wiring, regulator, and capacitor with measured bursts.
6. Record the evidence state
Record cell chemistry, temperature, state of charge, pulse waveform, internal resistance, wiring drop, rail minimum, cutoff, reset log, and retry count.
7. Check yourself
Why does the mAh ledger miss this failure?
Would a large capacitor always solve the brownout?
Does MQTT always use less energy than HTTP?
This transparent ledger reproduces the named chapter case.
- Cell
- The resistance slider is an illustrative lumped value, not a chemistry or discharge-curve model.
- Rail
- Regulator dropout, wiring, capacitor ESR, and transient response are outside it.
- Protocol
- The daily HTTP and MQTT ranges are chapter examples, not universal protocol guarantees.
Correct, not complete: this ledger does not qualify a cell, power rail, capacitor, radio, or protocol deployment.
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