IB-1 Practice - Electrical Current, Resistance, and Circuits – Answer Key

Multiple Choice
1. D Voltmeters should be connected in parallel to electrical components and never in series.

2. B Current equals the total charge (nq) passing a point per unit time. Therefore, I = nq/t

3. D R X = 3R/2; R Y = 2R/3; R Z = R/3

4. B P 1 = V2/R 1 , P 2 = V2/R 2 , and P 2 = 3P 1 . Solve for R 2 in terms of R 1 to yield R 2 = R 1 /3

5. B emf is equal to the change in potential (∆V) due to the chemical reactions occurring in the
battery and ∆V is equal to the change in potential energy ∆E per unit charge Q. Therefore, emf
= E B /Q

6. B R P = 1.33R; R Q = 1.0R; R S = 2.5R

7. C Components in parallel have the same potential difference across them.

8. A Equivalent resistance of two 10 Ω resistors in parallel is 5Ω. Total resistance = 5 + 10 = 15 Ω.

Total current I = V/R = 0.4 A. Potential difference across 5Ω resistance = IR = 2.0V

9. A Resistance = 1/slope on graph of I vs. V. Only component P has constant value of slope.

10. B R = V/I = 0.6 V / 1.5E-3 A = 400 Ω

Free Response

p.d. across resistor

1. (a) ; (ratio must be clear)
current in resistor
(b) (i) combined resistance = 4.0Ω;
(ii) use of parallel resistors formula to give 2.4Ω;
combined resistance = 2.4 + 6.0;
= 8.4Ω
(iii) one of the (vertical) resistors on either side of terminals AB is circled;
resistor has shorted / became zero resistance;

2. (a) (i) correct substitution into power = p.d. × current

to give power = 12 × 0.5 = 6 W;
(ii) correct substitution into V = I × R
12
to give R = = 24Ω; 12 V battery
0.5
(b) correct positioning of ammeter;
correct positioning of voltmeter;
eg
A

V
1
(c) (i) the battery (or the ammeter or the wires) must have some resistance;
some p.d. is “used up” so less “available” / Or Words To That Effect;
(ii) low voltage requires low current and thus large resistance;
max resistance of variable resistor not infinite / OWTTE;
(d) (i) any circuit involving potentiometer or equivalent;
that correctly controls the p.d. across the bulb;
with meters still correctly connected;

(ii) [1] for each relevant point eg

the 12 V is “shared” by the two halves of the resistor;
if the LH half is zero resistance, the p.d. will be zero / OWTTE;
(e) (i) appropriate statement of Ohm’s law;
eg p.d. proportional to current of constant temperature.
temperature is not constant as current varies / OWTTE;
(ii) lamp B must have greater power dissipation;
since it has a greater current for the same p.d. / OWTTE;
so power dissipation (= V × I) is greater;
(f) (i) current lamp A equals the current in lamp B / OWTTE;
(ii) any answer that is less than 0.5 A but above 0.3 A;
realization (seen or implied) that each lamp does not have the same p.d.;
explanation (or evidence from the graph) of trying to find the
current when the individual p.d.s sum to 12 V;
to give 0.4 A (± 0.1);
(iii) lamp A will have greater power dissipation;
since current the same, but it takes greater share of p.d.;