Solutions to DC Circuits

Level 1

1. A
The p.d. across the voltmeter = [50/ (400 + 50)] 1000 V = 111 V

2. D
Brightness is determined by power. The bulbs are connected in parallel. The voltage across each
bulb is the same whether there are two or three bulbs in parallel. The current through each bulb is
the same. The ammeter reading for the two bulbs will decrease to 2/3 of the original value and the
brightness for the bulbs should be the same as the voltage across each bulb or the current through
each bulb is the same in both cases.

3. A
Current flowing through each 1000 resistor is I/2.
P I 2R
2 2
Ratio of P across AB : P across BC = I (250) : (I/2) (1000) x 2 = 1: 2

4. D
Let all 3 resistors be R. Let I be current flowing through A, so B and C have I/2.
Since resistor B has Pdiss= 3 W, resistor C also has Pdiss= 3 W (same I/2 and R as B)
2 2
For Resistor B, Pdiss= (I/2) R = I R/4
2
For Resistor A, Pdiss= I R = 4(3) = 12 W
Total Pdiss= 3 + 3 + 12 =18 W

5. C
When switch S is closed, the effective resistance of the circuit is decreased larger current drawn
from the battery larger current through L1 and the resistor it is in parallel with.

6. B
Arbitrarily assign potential at X to be 12 V and potential at Y to be 0 V.
Consider the top branch:
Potential difference across 1000 = 8 V. Therefore potential at S = 4 V.
Consider the bottom branch:
Potential difference across 1000 = 4 V. Therefore potential at T = 8 V.

7. B
X
R R
A B

Y
4V 6V
Arbitrarily assign potential at Y to be zero, i.e. V Y = 0 (note that you could assign any other value to
VY and carry out the same analysis)
Therefore VA = -4 V, VB = -6 V and VAB = 2 V
Note that current flows clockwise.
VA > VX > VB and pd across each R = 1 V
Therefore VX = -5 V and VXY = 5 V

1
8. A

9. C
Let current I be total current that enter the parallel branches.
By current divider rule, A1 = (I) = 6.0 A
A2 = (I) = 6.0/(3/4) x = 4.0 A

10. D
VXY = [R/(R + 2r)]E
e.m.f of cell = 1/3 VXY = ER/3(R + 2r)

11. D
VLJ = (LLJ / LLM) VLM
To increase LLJ, VLM will have to correspondingly decrease.
Since VLM = (RLM / RLM + R) E, increasing R will cause VLM to decrease.

12. D
VPJ = 6.00 mV = 0.6 VPQ VPQ = 10 mV = 0.010 V
VPQ = (5/(5+R))(2) = 0.010
R = 995

13(i) For an LDR, R increases when light intensity drops.

R var iable
VA 6
R var iable RLDR
When light is on, RLDR is low as compared to Rvar iable , thus V A is high.
When light is off, RLDR is high as compared to Rvar iable , thus V A is low.

(ii) Having a variable resistor allows the potential at A to be adjusted accordingly so that a circuit can be
effectively designed to switch on lights when light intensity is low.

14(a)(i) From graph, R can be determined from the ratio of V to I.

As current increases, R increases.

(ii) A straight line passing through the origin with gradient = 3.

E.g. passing through points (2.0, 6) and (3.0, 9)

(b)(i) From graph, V X = 5.0 V when I = 2.0 A

(ii) 1. V R =6.0 V when I = 2.0 A
2. e.m.f = 5.0 + 6.0 = 11.0 V

(c) p.d across R and p.d across X is the same, i.e. 11.0 V.
From graph, I = 2.9 A through X when V= 11.0 V.
I through R = 11.0/3.0 = 3.67 A
I drawn from battery = 2.9 + 3.67 = 6.57 A

2
15(e)(i) I = V/R = 9/180 = 0.05 A
(ii) current through thermistor = 90 mA 50 mA = 40 mA
p.d across thermistor = 6.0 V (as read from graph)
(iii) p.d across R = 9.0 6.0 = 3.0 V
Resistance of R = V/I = 3.0 / 0.04 = 75

(f) The characteristic graph has been obtained by allowing the thermistor to come to a steady
temperature (which reflects its new resistance value) at every value of I and V. This steady
temperature will not be room temperature, but the temperature at which the rate of electrical energy
supplied = rate of heat loss to the surroundings. If the thermistor is forced to be at 0 C always, the
ratio of V against I will certainly not be on Fig. 25.

16(c)(i) I=P/V=72/12=6 A
(i) Q=It=6(20x60)= 7200 C
(iii) E=Pt=72(20x60)=86.4 kJ
(iv) R=V/I = 12/6 = 2

(d)(i)1. I= 6 + 6 = 12 A
2. Voltage across R = 15-12=3 V
R=V/I = 3/12 = 0.25
(ii) When both lamps switched off, generator and battery are in series so net voltage supplied by
generator = 15-12 = 3 V.
I= V/R = 3/0.25 = 12 A
(d) The lamps can still be lighted up by the battery even if the car is not moving and the generator is not
working. As the car moves and the generator works, the variable resistor can be adjusted such that
the depleted battery can be charged up.

17(a) I = 2.0/(1.0 + 5.0) = 0.33 A

(b) (i) VXY = (5.0/5.0 + 1.0)(2.0) = 1.67 V
XP = 1.5/1.67 1.00 = 0.90 m
(ii) V10 = (10/10+r)(1.5) = 15 / 10+r
VXY / V10 = 1.0 / 0.75
..
r = 1.97 = 2.0

18(a)(i) When both the switches are at A, current flows to both the left-side and right-side grills and both set
of grills are in parallel.

Total power output from 12 rods, PT = 12 x power output of one rod

= 12 x 190 W = 2280 W

PT 190 x 12
(ii) Total current drawn from cell = 9.50 A
V 240
(iii) Thus the total resistance of the grills is ( 1 1 ) 1 = 3R
6R 6R

2 2
But PT = V 240
RT 3R

190 x 12
240 2 R = 8.42
3R

3
 (iv) Using E = I r + V

= (9.50 x 2.60) + 240 = 264.7 V = 264 V

bi) When the switches are at B, current flows through the right side grill only.
2
Total power output = 252 /6(8.42) = 1257 W = 1260 W

bii) Since the heating power can be varied with this arrangement, we are able to conserve energy as we
have the flexibility to utilise half of the total power to cook a small amount of food.

Level 2 Questions

19. A
Circuit can be redrawn as below,

X Y

X Y

Effective Resistance = (8+8) = 8

20. C
Whether K is opened or closed, the balance length will not be affected by the condition of the swich.
When R1 is increased, the p.d across AB will be decreased, thus balance length will increase. Option A
is a correct statement .
Changing R2 will not affect the balance length at all. So Option B is also a correct statement.
When the switch K is closed, it is like removing R2 so the balance length will not change even if R2 is
increased. This Option C is a false statement.
At balance point no current will be flowing through cell E2, so changing the internal resistance of cell will
not alter the balance length. Thus Option D is a correct statement.

21. A
Let the resistance of wire be r.
Potential difference across AX of length 72.0 cm = 0.90 V
Thus p.d. acorss AB = (100/72) 0.90 = 1.25 V
p.d. across AB is also given by [r/ (R + r)] 2.5
[r/ (R + r)] 2.5 = 1.25
On solving R/r = 1

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22. (i)
A
V
Ammeter in series with lamp and voltmeter
parallel to lamp.
Correct connection of lamp with
potentiometer and 12 V supply.

(ii) When lamp A operate normally, p.d. across lamp, VA = 12 V

From graph, when VA = 12 V, I = 3 A.
Resistance of A = V / I = 12 / 3 = 4

(iii) (1) From graph, when I = 1.5 A,

VA = 4.4 V (or 4.3 V) and VB = 5.8 V (or 5.7 V)
Terminal p.d. of supply = 4.4 + 5.8 = 10.2 V (acceptable range 10.0 V to 10.2 V)
(2) Vt = 24 Ir
10.2 = 24 (1.5)r
r = 9.2

2
23 (a) Using P = I R,
since current through the 25 and 50 resistors is the same,
2
0.50 I (50)
I 0.10 A

10
V AB Eo
10 100
10
(b)(i) (12)V
110
1.09V
1.1V (2 sig fig)

(ii) VAJ E
0.240
VAJ VAB
1.000
E 0.26V (2sig fig)

(iii) Possible answers

Use a smaller emf for the standard cell (but with the condition that E0 > E).
Use resistance wire of smaller resistance.
Use a longer resistance wire.
Use resistor of bigger resistance for R.

2
24 (a) P = V / R
2
R = 120 / 30 = 480
(b) V = [50000 / (50000 + 480)] (120) = 119 V
-1
(c) Reff = [(1/480) + (1/2)] = 1.99
I = 100 / 1.99 = 50.2 A
E = V Ir 120 = 100 50.2(r)
r = 0.398
(d) Let the number of batteries needed be N.
[480/(480 + 1.2N)] x 1.5N = 120
N = 100

5
25. (a) (i) Before and after the bulb blew, both the ammeter and voltmeter show
readings. Hence, Bulb A and C cannot blow. If bulb A had blown, the
ammeter would not read anything. If bulb C had blown, there would be no
current through bulb B and the voltmeter would read zero.
So, the answer is Bulb B.

(ii) When Bulb B blows, there will be no current flowing through Bulb C.
Therefore, RA = V/I = 3.2/0.8 = 4.0

Method 1:
Before Bulb B blows, the current, I flowing through Bulb B and Bulb C is:

I = [(0.75 X 4.0) 2.0]/4.0 = 0.25 A

RB = V/I = 2.0/0.25 = 8.0

Method 2:
RB
(0.75 4.0) 2.0
RB 4
RB 8.0