th

Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 17
 

Chapter 17 Current Electricity

Test Yourself 17.1 (page 325)

1. Q
I=
t
where I = electric current;
Q = amount of electric charge flowing through the given cross-section;
t = time taken.

2. Ampere

3. An open circuit is a circuit in which there is a break that stops the current from flowing.

Test Yourself 17.2 (page 330)

m
er as
1. Electromotive force is the work done by a source in driving a unit charge around a complete
circuit, while potential difference is the work done in driving a unit charge through a component.

co
eH w
2. (a) Q
Using I = ,
t

o.
Q=I×t
rs e
= 0.40 A × (2 × 60 s)
ou urc
= 48 C
(b) W
Using V = ,
Q
o

W=V×Q
= 3.0 V × 48 C
aC s

= 144 J
vi y re

3. Resultant e.m.f. = 2 V + 2 V + 2 V = 6 V
ed d

Quick Check (page 333)

ar stu

If I/A were plotted against V/V, the resistance of an ohmic conductor can be found by calculating the
–1
reciprocal of the gradient (i.e. (gradient) ).
is

Test Yourself 17.3 (page 335)

Th

(a) As the temperature increases, the resistance of the filament increases.

(b) No. The current flowing through the filament of the lamp is not directly proportional to the potential
difference across it. Thus, Ohm’s law does not apply to a filament lamp.
sh

© 2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited

https://www.coursehero.com/file/45174999/PM-TB-solutions-C17pdf/ 17.1
 th
Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 17
 

Test Yourself 17.4 (page 338)

1. RA
ρ=
l
where ρ = resistivity;
R = resistance;
A = cross-sectional area;
l = length

2. • The resistance of a wire is directly proportional to its length i.e. the longer the wire, the greater
the resistance.
• The resistance of a wire is inversely proportional to its cross-sectional area i.e. the larger the
cross-sectional area, the lower the resistance.

Get It Right (page 338)

(a) True

m
(b) True

er as
(c) False
The e.m.f. and p.d. are both measured in volts. However, while e.m.f. is defined as the work done

co
eH w
to drive a unit charge around a complete circuit, p.d. is defined as the work done to drive a unit
charge through a component.

o.
(d) False rs e
The e.m.f. is the work done by an electrical source to drive a unit charge around a complete
circuit.
ou urc
(e) True
(f) True
(g) False
o

The resistance of metallic conductors remains constant under steady physical conditions. This is
in accordance with Ohm’s Law.
aC s

(h) True
vi y re

(i) False
Heating a metallic conductor causes the resistance of the conductor to increase.
(j) True
(k) False
ed d

A thicker wire has a lower resistance than a thinner wire of equal length and identical material.
ar stu

Let’s Review (page 339)

Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions

is

1. B
Th

W
Using V = ,
Q
350 J
7V=
Q
sh

Q = 50 C

2. B
In order to measure the p.d. across the resistor R and the current flowing through it, the voltmeter
must be connected in parallel to R and the ammeter must be connected in series with R. Option
(B) cannot be used to measure the resistance of R because the voltmeter is connected in series
with R.

© 2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited

https://www.coursehero.com/file/45174999/PM-TB-solutions-C17pdf/ 17.2
 th
Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 17
 

3. C
Using V = IR,
V=1A×R
V
=1A
R
V
Therefore, the ratio of must be 1. Only option (C) gives this ratio.
R

4. B
RA l
Using ρ = , resistance R ∝ .
l A
Therefore, for half the resistance,
R 1 l
∝ ×
2 2 A
R 1 1.0
∝ ×
2 2 0.5
∝1
l

m
The ratio of must be 1 for half the resistance. Only option (B) gives this ratio.
A

er as
co
Section B: Structured Questions

eH w
1. (a) Q = It

o.
where Q = amount of electric charge flowing through the given cross-section;
rs e
I = electric current;
ou urc
t = time taken.
The SI units of current and charge are the ampere and the coulomb respectively.
(b) (i) Q = It
−3
0.4 × 10 C = I × 0.2 s
o

–3
I = 2 × 10 A
aC s

(ii)
positively-charged
vi y re

sphere
+   +  
conventional
+   +   current flow
+   +  +   +  +  
ed d

+   +   flow of
ar stu

+  
+   +  
electrons
is

2. (a) Current is the rate of flow of electric charge. Potential difference is the work done to drive a
unit charge through a component.
Th

20 −19
(b) (i) Q = 2.0 × 10 electrons × 1.6 × 10 C per electron
= 32 C
(ii) Q
I=
t
sh

32 C
=
60 s
= 0.53 A
(iii) V
R=
I
12 V
=
32
( )A
60
= 22.5 Ω

© 2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited

https://www.coursehero.com/file/45174999/PM-TB-solutions-C17pdf/ 17.3
 th
Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 17
 

3. (a)
V/V

5.0 X

4.0 X

3.0 X
2.5 V

m
er as
co
eH w
2.0 X

o.
rs e
ou urc
1.0 0.6 V
X
o
aC s

0.32 mA 1.35 mA
vi y re

X I/mA
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5

(b) From the graph, when the p.d. V across the bulb = 2.5 V,
ed d

−3
the current I flowing through the bulb = 1.35 mA = 1.35 × 10 A
V
ar stu

Using R = where R is the resistance of the bulb,

I
2.5 V
R= −3
1.35 × 10 A
= 1852 Ω
is

≈ 1.9 kΩ
(c) (i) From the graph, when I = 0.32 mA, V = 0.6 V.
Th

*(ii) A resistor could be connected in the circuit to increase the overall resistance. This
would reduce the size of the current.

For a 10.0 V e.m.f. supply to produce a current of 0.32 mA, the total resistance of the
sh

circuit has to be
V
R=
I
10.0 V
= −3
0.32 × 10 A
= 31 250 Ω
≈ 31.3 kΩ
Therefore, the resistor added to the circuit has to be 31.3 kΩ − 1.9 kΩ
= 29.4 kΩ, and in series with the light bulb. (You will learn more about effective
resistance in Chapter 18: D.C. Circuits.)

© 2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited

https://www.coursehero.com/file/45174999/PM-TB-solutions-C17pdf/ 17.4
 th
Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 17
 

Section C: Free-Response Questions

1. (a) V
Resistance of conductor A =
I
(3.0 – 0.0) V
=
(0.2 – 0.0) A
= 15.0 Ω
V
Resistance of conductor B =
I
(2.0 – 0.0) V
=
(0.6 – 0.0) A
= 3.3 Ω
(b) (i) The thicker conductor will have a bigger cross-sectional area and thus a smaller
resistance. Hence, conductor B must be thicker.
(ii) Resistance of conductor A : Resistance of conductor B = 15.0 : 3.3
ρ Al A ρ Bl B
∴ : = 15.0 : 3.3
AA AB

m
Since both conductors are made from the same material and have the same length,

er as
1 1

co
: = 15.0 : 3.3
AA AB

eH w
1 1
AA : AB = :
15.0 3.3

o.
AA : AB = 1 : 4.5
rs e
AA : AB = 2 : 9
ou urc
(c) Yes. The graphs for conductors A and B are straight lines that pass through the origin. This
means that the gradient, which is also the resistance, is constant and that the current
passing through each conductor is directly proportional to the p.d. across it. Since the
temperature is steady, both conductors obey Ohm’s Law.
o

(d) (i)
aC s

I/A  
vi y re

 
ed d
ar stu

V/V  
is

I–V graph of a filament lamp

Th

(ii)
I/A  
sh

V/V  

I–V graph of a semiconductor diode

© 2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited

https://www.coursehero.com/file/45174999/PM-TB-solutions-C17pdf/ 17.5
 th
Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 17
 

*2. (a) Q=I×t

–3
= 0.75 A × 5 × 10 s
–3
= 3.75 × 10 C
(b) (i) Minimum number of electrocytes that the adult eel had
2200 V
=
0.15 V
4
= 1.47 × 10
(ii) V
I=
R
2200 V
=
2000 Ω
= 1.1 A
(iii) Q=I×t
–3
= 1.1 A × 5.0 × 10 s
–3
= 5.5 × 10 C
W=V×Q
–3
= 2200 V × 5.5 × 10 C

m
= 12.1 J

er as
(c) The electrocytes are arranged in series. This results in a higher combined e.m.f.

co
eH w
 

o.
rs e
ou urc
o
aC s
vi y re
ed d
ar stu
is
Th
sh

© 2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited

https://www.coursehero.com/file/45174999/PM-TB-solutions-C17pdf/ 17.6

Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)