Charge and Current Exam Questions

1(a) Name the charge carriers responsible for electric current in a metal and in an electrolyte.
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[2]

(b)
l
A

The diagram above shows a copper rod of length l = 0.080m, having a cross-sectional area A
4
2
= 3.0 10 m .
The resistivity of copper is 1.7 10

m.

The copper rod is used to transmit large currents. A charge of 650 C passes along the rod
every 5.0 s. Calculate
1. the current in the rod
current = ................................ A
[2]

2. the total number of electrons passing any point in the rod per second.
number = .................................
[2]

2 A small radio receiver uses a battery that is capable of delivering a constant current of 40 mA for a
period of 5.0 hours.
(a)

Calculate the total charge delivered by the battery.

charge = ................................... unit ..............

[3]

(b)

Below is the graph of current against time for a different battery.

40
c u rre n t/ m A
20

6
tim e / h o u r s

Explain whether the charge delivered by this battery is the same as, greater than or less than
your answer to (a).
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[1]
[Total 4 marks]

3 State the SI unit for electrical charge.

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[Total 1 mark]

4 (a) A 12 V 36 W lamp is lit to normal brightness using a 12 V car battery of negligible internal
resistance. The lamp is switched on for one hour (3600 s). For the time of 1 hour, calculate
(i)

the energy supplied by the battery

energy = .................................. J
[2]

(ii)

the charge passing through the lamp

charge = ........................ unit ..........

[3]

(iii)

the total number of electrons passing through the lamp.

number of electrons = ..................................

[2]

(b)

The wires connecting the 36 W lamp to the 12 V battery are made of copper. They have a
7
2
cross-sectional area of 1.1 10 m . The current in the wire is 3.0 A. The number n of free
3
28
3
electrons per m for copper is 8.0 10 m .
(i)

Describe what is meant by the term mean drift velocity of the electrons in the wire
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................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................
[2]

(ii)

Calculate the mean drift velocity v of the electrons in this wire.

v = ................................... m s

[3]
[Total 12 marks]

5 State Kirchhoffs first law.

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[Total 2 marks

6 The figure below shows an electrical circuit.

d .c . s u p p ly

X
n e g a t iv e io n s

c o n d u c tin g
liq u id
p o s itiv e io n s
(i)

The directions of flow of ions in the liquid are shown. On the figure, draw an arrow at X to
show the direction of the electron flow in the wire
[1]

(ii)

State what is meant by conventional current.

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.........................................................................................................................
[1]

(iii)

A charge of 0.76 C flows past point X in a time of 5.0 minutes. Calculate the current in the
wire.

current = ...........................................A
[3]
[Total 5 marks]

7. A current of 0.75 A is carried in a copper wire of cross-sectional area 4.0 10

4
1
The drift velocity of free electrons in the wire is 1.4 10 m s .
(i)

m .

Calculate n, the number of free electrons per unit volume in copper.

n = ........................... m

[2]

(ii)

Calculate the new drift velocity when

1

the current is changed to 0.25 A in the same wire

drift velocity = ......................... m s

[1]

The diagram below shows a lightning strike between a storm cloud and the ground.

s t o r m c lo u d

lig h tn in g s t r ik e

g ro u n d
+

8 (a) State the direction of the magnetic field at point P due only to the lightning strike.
.........................................................................................................................
[1]

(b)

The current in the lightning strike is 7800 A. The strike lasts for a time of 230 ms.
Calculate
1.

the charge flowing between the cloud and the ground

9. The diagram below shows part of an electrical circuit.

X

31 m A

22 m A

I1

20 m A

I2
I3

(i)

Name the component marked X.

.........................................................................................................................
[1]

(ii)

Determine the magnitude of the currents I1, I2 and I3.

I1 = ................................ mA
I2 = ................................ mA
I3 = ................................ mA

[3]
[Total 4 marks]

10. (a)

Explain what is meant by electric current.

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[1]

(b)

The SI unit of electric charge is the coulomb. Define the coulomb.

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.........................................................................................................................
[1]

(c)

The diagram below shows two strips of aluminium foil connected to a d.c. supply.
S
A

+
d .c . s u p p ly

s tr ip s o f
a lu m in iu m f o il

The switch S is closed.

(i)

The charge flow past a particular point in one of the aluminium strips is
340 C in a time of 50 s. Calculate the current in this aluminium strip.

11. A thermistor made of semiconducting material is connected to a voltage source using copper wire.
The current in the circuit is 2.5 mA.
(i)

28

The free electron concentration in copper is 8.5 10 m . The cross-sectional area of the
7
2
wire is 1.1 10 m . Calculate the drift velocity of free electrons in the wire.

drift velocity = ....................... m s

[2]

(ii)

The cross-sectional areas of the thermistor and wire are similar. Suggest why the drift velocity
of free electrons in the thermistor is greater than the drift velocity in the wire.
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[1]
[Total 3 marks