What internal issue can cause an alkaline cell to experience a voltage drop?

An alkaline cell can experience a voltage drop primarily due to internal resistance. Internal resistance refers to the resistance to the flow of current within the battery itself, which can impede the effective delivery of voltage when the battery is under load. As the internal resistance increases, which can occur over time or due to factors like aging or degradation of the cell, the voltage drop becomes more pronounced when the battery is used to power a device.

Understanding internal resistance is vital because it affects the overall performance and efficiency of the battery. If the resistance is too high, the voltage output will drop significantly under load, leading to inadequate power for devices relying on that battery.

The other options, while they can affect battery performance, do not directly cause a consistent voltage drop in the same way internal resistance does. High temperature may lead to other forms of battery breakdown, overcharging typically relates to specific battery technologies rather than alkaline cells, and physical damage could potentially short the cell rather than systematically cause a voltage drop.