ELECTRICITY REVISION

1. The graph shows how the current in a 9 V filament lamp varies during one second after it has
been turned on.
3
2
1
0
0 0 . 2 0 . 4 0 . 6 0 . 1 . 0
t i m e ! s
c u r r e n t ! "
#a$ " student wishes to carr% out an e&periment to verif% these results. '&plain wh% using a
sensor and computer is a sensible option and suggest a suitable sampling rate.
#b$ '&plain the shape of the graph and wh% the filament is more li(el% to fail when being
switched on rather than at other times.
2. " group of students is discussing wh% the resistance of the metal filament of a lamp and the
resistance of an )T* thermistor respond differentl% to changes in temperature.
+ne student sa%s that the increased vibrations of the atoms affect the conduction process.
"nother student sa%s that as the temperature increases more electrons can brea( free of the
atoms and ta(e part in conduction.
,oth students are correct. '&plain how these two effects appl% to the lamp and the thermistor.
3. The current-potential difference characteristics of an electrical component are shown below.
1
* u r r e n t ! m "
2 . 0
2 0 0
1 . 0
1 0 0
. 0
/ o t e n t i a l d i f f e r e n c e ! V
- 0 . - 0 . 4 0 0 . 4 0 .

#a$ )ame the component.
#b$ #i$ *alculate the resistance of this component when the potential difference is 00.60 V.
#ii$ 1tate its resistance when the potential difference is -0.0 V.
#c$ 1tate a practical use for this component.
4. #a$ 2efine resistivit%.
#b$ #i$ The heating element used in a hairdr%er consists of a long nichrome wire coiled
around an insulator. The hairdr%er operates at 230 V and has a power of 1.0 (3.
*alculate the resistance of the heating element.
#ii$ The wire has a cross4sectional area of 1.3 5 10
-6
m
2
. The resistivit% of nichrome is
1.1 5 10
-6
7 m. *alculate the length of the nichrome wire.
#iii$ The nichrome wire in this heating element has a diameter of 0.41 mm.
" manufacturer wishes to ma(e a hairdr%er of the same resistance but using half
the length of nichrome wire. 3hat diameter wire must be used8
5. #a$ 2efine the term electromotive force #e.m.f.$.
#b$ " batter% of e.m.f. 3.0 V is connected to a ..0 7 resistor with a ver% high resistance
voltmeter placed across the resistor.
2
3 . 0 V
. . 0 7
V

#i$ The ver% high resistance voltmeter gives a reading of 2. V. 1how that the internal
resistance of the batter% is about 0.4 7.
#ii$ " voltmeter with a resistance of 10 7 is used instead of the original one. *alculate
the combined resistance of this voltmeter and the ..0 7 resistor.
#iii$ *alculate the reading on this voltmeter.
#c$ 1tate and e&plain what the resistance of an ideal voltmeter should be.
6. "n e&periment is set up to investigate how the current I in a filament lamp varies with the
potential difference V across it. The components used are shown below.
" V
#a$ 9eadings are ta(en over the full range from 0 V to the cell:s ma&imum potential
difference. ;n the space below< draw a circuit diagram for this e&periment.
#b$ #i$ 1(etch on the a&es below the shape of the graph %ou would e&pect the results to
give.
(2)
3

#ii$ '&plain the shape of %our graph. =ou ma% be awarded a mar( for the clarit% of
%our answer.
7. " portable games console has the option of using a rechargeable batter% unit which is recharged
b% connecting it to a mains adaptor. The adaptor has an input power of 2..3 at a voltage of 230
V.
#a$ *alculate the adaptor:s input current when it is in use.
#b$ The adaptor:s output is mar(ed as> 3 V 0.2 " 0.6 V"
#i$ '&plain wh% V " is a unit of power.
#ii$ *alculate the efficienc% of the adaptor.
#iii$ 1uggest and e&plain a reason for the efficienc% being less than 100?.
#c$ #i$ The batter% unit ta(es a time of 6 hours to charge full%. "ssuming the adaptor:s
output current remains constant< calculate the amount of charge which flows from
the adaptor.
#ii$ *alculate the wor( done b% the adaptor.
8. The current I in a conductor of cross4sectional area A is given b% the formula
I @ n A Q v
where Q is the charge on the charge carrier.
#a$ 1tate the meanings of n and v.
#b$ 1how that the eAuation is homogeneous with respect to units.
#c$ Two pieces of wire " and , are made of the same material but have different diameters.
The% are connected in series with each other and a power suppl%.
#i$ 3hich terms from the above eAuation will be the same for both wires8
#ii$ The diameter of " is twice that of ,. *alculate the ratio v
"
> v
,
.
9. " and , are two lamps.
#a$ Bamp " is rated at 12 V< 243. *alculate the current in the lamp when it operates at its
rated voltage.
#b$ Bamp , is rated at 6.0 V. 3hen it operates at its rated voltage< the current in it is 3.0 ".
Bamps " and , are connected in a circuit as shown below. The values of 9
1
and 9
2
are
chosen so that both lamps operate at their rated voltage.
4
1 . V
9
"
9
,
V
1
2
#i$ 1tate the reading on the voltmeter.
#ii$ *alculate the resistance of 9
2
.
#iii$ *alculate the current in 9
1
.
#iv$ *alculate the potential difference across 9
1
.
#v$ *alculate the resistance of 9
1
.
10. " cell of e.m.f. and internal resistance r is connected in a circuit with a resistor of resistance R.
The current in the circuit is I.

r
R
I

#a$ Csing the s%mbols in the diagram< write down a formula for
#i$ the rate of conversion of chemical energ% in the cell<
#ii$ the power dissipated in the resistor of resistance R<
#iii$ the power dissipated in r.
#b$ Cse these formulae to write an eAuation based on conservation of energ% in the circuit.
#c$ The current I in the above circuit is given b% the formula I @ !#R 0 r$. " laborator%
'.D.T. suppl% is designed to produce a ma&imum potential difference of . (V. Eive a
t%pical value for the internal resistance of this suppl% and e&plain wh% it has this value.
11. Bisted below are five ph%sical Auantities.
charge current potential difference resistance resistivit%
.
1elect from this list the Auantit% that fits each description below. =ou ma% use each Auantit%
once< more than once or not at all.
#i$ " Auantit% which can be measured in Foules per coulomb.
#ii$ " Auantit% which eAuals the product of two other Auantities in the list.
#iii$ " Auantit% which eAuals the rate of change of another Auantit% in the list.
#iv$ " base Auantit% in the 1; s%stem.
12. #a$ " thermistor has a negative temperature coefficient. '&plain with reference to the
eAuation I @ nAQv what happens to its resistance when its temperature increases.
#b$ This thermistor is connected as shown in the diagram. "ssume the batter% has negligible
internal resistance.
V
"
This circuit can be used as an electrical thermometer to monitor the temperature of a
water bath.
#i$ 1tate how each meter responds when the temperature of the water is decreased.
"mmeter> ..........................................................................................................
Voltmeter> .........................................................................................................
#ii$ 3hich meter is used to indicate temperature8
13. The graph shows the IV characteristics for two conductors. +ne is a length of nichrome wire
and the other is the tungsten filament of a lamp.
6
* u r r e n t
! "
/ o t e n t i a l d i f f e r e n c e ! V
t u n g s t e n
f i l a m e n t
n i c h r o m e
w i r e
2 . 0
1 . .
1 . 0
0 . .
0 2 4 6 1 0
#a$ Ga(ing reference to +hm:s law< e&plain the shape of the tungsten filament graph.
=ou ma% be awarded a mar( for the clarit% of %our answer.
#b$ #i$ *alculate the resistance of the tungsten filament when the potential difference
across it is .0 V.
#ii$ ,oth conductors are connected in parallel with an .0 V suppl%. *alculate the
current that will be drawn from the suppl%.
14. " heater used on the rear window of a car consists of five strips of a resistive material Foined as
shown in the diagram.
3hen it is in use< the potential difference applied to the heater is 12 V and the heater generates
32 H of energ% each second.
#a$ #i$ *alculate the total resistance of the heater.
#ii$ *alculate the resistance of a single strip.
#b$ 'ach strip has a cross4sectional area of 4.0 5 10
-
m
2
and is made from a material of
resistivit% 1.1 5 10
-6
7 m. *alculate the length of each strip.
#c$ The car manufacturer wants the rear window heater to be more powerful. '&plain how
this could be achieved without altering the dimensions of the individual strips or the
potential difference across them.
15. " student sets up the following circuit using a cell of e.m.f. and internal resistance r.
6
"
r
R
#a$ *omplete the eAuation for the total e.m.f. in terms of the other Auantities given in the
diagram.
@
#b$ De measures the current I for different values of resistance R. De then plots a graph of R
against 1!I.
R !
"
4 1
1 I
I
!
4 0
3 0
2 0
1 0
0
4 1 0
4 1 2 1 6 2 0
The eAuation for this graph is
R @
I

- r
#i$ 1how how this eAuation is derived from the one %ou have stated above.
#ii$ Cse the graph to determine the value for the e.m.f. of the cell. 1how all %our
wor(ing.
#iii$ 1how that when the e&ternal resistance is . J the power dissipated in that
resistance is about 0.3 3.
#c$ The student repeats the e&periment adding an identical cell in series. 2raw on the graph
the result of this e&periment.
16. " variable resistor consisting of a wire and sliding contact has three terminals labelled K< B and

G.
Fig!" 1
1 l i d i n g c o n t a c t
G
B
9 e s i s t a n c e w i r e
K
The variable resistor is connected in series with a 6.0 V suppl% of negligible internal resistance<
an ammeter and a 20 fi&ed resistor.
Fig!" 2
"
6 . 0 V
2 0 8
. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .

#a$ Babel the terminals K< B and G on Ligure 2.
#b$ #i$ The variable resistor has a ma&imum resistance of 10 J. The resistance of the fi&ed
resistor is 20 J. 2etermine the potential difference across the resistor when the
sliding contact is at the mid4point of the variable resistor.
#ii$ 3hat assumption have %ou made about the ammeter8
#c$ The same components can be used in a second circuit to var% the potential difference
across the fi&ed resistor full% from 0 V to 6.0 V. 2raw the circuit diagram for this
potential divider arrangement.
17. The circuit shows a batter% of negligible internal resistance connected to three resistors.
9
6 . 0 V
4 . 0
1 .
0 . 2 4 "
I
R
1
I
2
#a$ *alculate the potential difference across the 1. resistor.
#b$ *alculate the current I
1
in the 4.0 resistor.
#c$ *alculate the current I
2
and the resistance R.
18. Two filament lamps are designed to wor( from a 9.0 V suppl% but the% have different
characteristics. The graph shows the current4potential difference relationship for each lamp.
1 . 2
1 . 0
0 .
0 . 6
0 . 4
0 . 2
0
0 1 2 3 4 . 6 6 9
/ o t e n t i a l d i f f e r e n c e ! V
B a m p "
B a m p ,
* u r r e n t ! "
#a$ The lamps are connected in parallel with a 9.0 V suppl% as shown.
9 . 0 V
B a m p "
B a m p ,
#i$ 3hich lamp is brighter8 Eive a reason for %our answer.
#ii$ 2etermine the current in the suppl%.
#iii$ *alculate the total resistance of the two lamps when the% are connected in parallel.
#b$ The lamps are now connected in #"!i"# to a variable suppl% which is adFusted until the
current is 0. ".
10
B a m p " B a m p ,
0 . "
*ompare and comment on the brightness of the lamps in this circuit.
19. " batter% of e.m.f. 6.0 V is connected to a 10 resistor as shown in the circuit diagram.
6 . 0 V
1 0
V
#a$ 2efine the e.m.f. of the batter%.
#b$ 3hen the switch is open the voltmeter reading is 6.0 V. The internal resistance of the
batter% is 0.40 . *alculate the reading on the voltmeter when the switch is closed.
20. ;o is one of Hupiter:s moons. 1ome of the electrons released from the volcanic surface of ;o have
an average velocit% of 2.9 5 10
6
m s
-1
towards Hupiter. The distance between Hupiter and ;o is
4.2 5 10
.
(m.
#a$ 1how that the time ta(en for these electrons to reach Hupiter is about 14 s.
#b$ ;n this wa% a current of 3.0 5 10
6
" is created between ;o and Hupiter. *alculate the
number of electrons that arrive at Hupiter ever% second.
#c$ 1tate the direction of the current.
21. The circuit diagram shows a 12 V d.c. suppl% of negligible internal resistance connected to an
arrangement of resistors. The current at three places in the circuit and the resistance of two of
the resistors are given on the diagram.
1 2 V
2 . 0
4 . 0
2 . 0 " 2 . 0 "
1 . . "
9
9
1
2
11
#a$ *alculate the potential difference across the 4.0 J resistor.
#b$ *alculate the resistance of resistor 9
2
.
#c$ *alculate the resistance of resistor 9
1
.
22. #a$ " student sets up a circuit and accidentall% uses two voltmeters V
1
and V
2
instead of an
ammeter and a voltmeter. The circuit is shown below.
9 . 0 V
1 0 0
V
V
1
2
#i$ *ircle the voltmeter which should be an ammeter.
#ii$ ,oth voltmeters have a resistance of 10 GJ. The student sees that the reading on
V
2
is 0 V. '&plain wh% the potential difference across the 100 J resistor is
effectivel% Mero.
#b$ The student replaces the 100 J resistor with another resistor of resistance R. The reading
on V
2
then becomes 3.0 V.
#i$ *omplete the circuit diagram below to show the eAuivalent resistor networ(
following this change.
Babel the resistor R.
9 . 0 V
#ii$ *alculate the value of R.
23. " student is as(ed to carr% out an e&periment to find the resistivit% of the material of a length of
resistance wire. 2raw an appropriate circuit diagram.
12
Bist all the measurements the student should ta(e to find the resistivit%.
Dow should these measurements be used to find the resistivit%8
1uggest two precautions the student should ta(e to ensure an accurate result.
24. " light4emitting diode #B'2$ is a diode that emits light when it conducts. ;ts circuit s%mbol is
" student connects the circuit shown below.
B ' 2
1 l i d i n g c o n t a c t
0 . . 0 V
"
0 V
,
1 (
V
1he notices that the reading on the high resistance voltmeter remains at 0 V as she slides the
contact between terminals " and ,.
'&plain this observation as full% as %ou can.
The student then disconnects the B'2 and reconnects the circuit as shown below. 1he intends to
var% the intensit% of the light emitted b% the B'2 b% sliding the contact between terminals "
and ,.
1 l i d i n g c o n t a c t
0 . . 0 V
"
0 V
,
1 (
V
B ' 2
The student cannot detect an% light emitted b% the B'2. ,riefl% e&plain wh% the B'2 is so dim.
2raw the circuit that the student should have connected using this apparatus in order to var% the
brightness of the B'2 and measure the potential difference across it.
25. " solar cell is a device that generates a potential difference when certain wavelengths of the
electromagnetic spectrum are incident on it.
The circuit s%mbol for a solar cell is
13
The solar cell is used in a circuit with a variable resistor< an ammeter and a voltmeter. 9eadings
of current I in the circuit and the terminal potential difference V across the solar cell are used to
plot a graph of I against V. 2raw a suitable circuit diagram.
The graph shows a set of results obtained in this wa%. The intensit% of the light incident on the
cell remained constant while the readings were obtained.
0 .
0 . 6
0 . 4
I ! "
V ! V
0 . 2
0
0 0 . 1 0 . 2 0 . 3 0 . 4 0 . . 0 . 6
N
*alculate the power output of the cell at the point mar(ed N on the graph.
2escribe the variation of the power output of the cell as the current increases from Mero to its
ma&imum value.
1tate the e.m.f. of the cell.
*alculate the internal resistance of the cell when it is operating under the conditions represented
b% point N.
26. Tic( whether the following statements are true or false. ;n each case e&plain %our reasoning.
3hen a batter% is connected across a thic( wire in series with a thin wire of the same material<
the electrons move faster through the thic( wire.
T r u e
L a l s e
'&planation
3hen a batter% is connected across a high resistance in parallel with a low resistance< more
14
power is dissipated in the low resistance.
T r u e
L a l s e
'&planation
27. Lour 10 resistors are connected as shown in the diagram.
1 0
1 0
1 0
1 0
*alculate the total resistance of the combination.
*omment on %our answer and suggest wh% such a combination of resistors might be used.
28. " 40 mm strip of light4sensitive material is used in a camera with automatic focus.
4 0 m m
B i g h t 4 s e n s i t i v e
m a t e r i a l
The lens is moved automaticall% until light is sharpl% focused onto a ver% short length of this
strip. The graph shows how the resistance R of the total length of the strip varies with light
intensit%.
1.
4
3
2
1
0
0 2 4 6 1 0
; n t e n s i t % ! a r b i t r a r % u n i t s
R / (
*alculate the resistance per mm of the strip when it is in complete dar(ness.
,right light of intensit% 10 units is focused on an mm length of the strip.
1how that the resistance of the mm length is 40 .
The remainder of the strip is in the dar(.
*alculate its resistance.
" cell of e.m.f. 1.2 V and negligible internal resistance is connected across the ends of the strip.
*alculate
#i$ the current in the strip<
#ii$ the p.d. across the mm length.
'&plain wh% this current decreases as the bright light is more sharpl% focused onto a smaller
length of the strip.
29. "n electric room heater consists of three heating elements connected in parallel across a power
suppl%.
/ o w e r
s u p p l %
N =
'ach element is made from a metal wire of resistivit% ... 5 10
-.
m at room temperature. The
wire has a cross4sectional area .0 5 10
-6
m
2
and length 0.6. m.
16
The heater is controlled b% two switches< N and =.
1how that the resistance of one heating element at room temperature is appro&imatel% 4. .
*alculate the total resistance of the heater for the following combinations of switches at the
moment the switches are closed.
Swit$% & Swit$% Y R"#i#t'($" o) %"'t"! *
+pen *losed
*losed +pen
*losed *losed
*alculate the ma&imum power output from the heater immediatel% it is connected to a 230 V
suppl%.
"fter being connected to the suppl% for a few minutes the power output falls to a lower stead%
value. '&plain wh% this happens.
30. *lassif% each of the terms in the left4hand column b% placing a tic( in the relevant bo&.
,ase unit 2erived unit ,ase Auantit% 2erived Auantit%
Gass
*harge
Houle
"mpere
Volt
16