MBS3211_Engineering Science for BS Electricity_Tutorials

Further Problems on Electricity

1. Calculate the resistance of the metal bar shown in Fig. Q1. Given that the metal bar has a resistivity
(𝜌) of 5.5 𝑥 10−8 Ω𝑚 and the values of other parameters are L = 80m, a = b = 1cm. [44mΩ]

Fig. Q1

2. A 15 resistor is connected in parallel with a 25 resistor and the combination is connected in
series with a 10 resistor. If this circuit is supplied at 9V, calculate (a) the total resistance, (b)
the current through the 10 resistor, (c) the current through the 15 resistor.
[19.375, 0.46A, 0.29A]

Fig. Q2

3. For the circuit shown in Fig. Q3. Calculate the values for (a) the current through each resistor, (b)
the p.d. across each resistor and (c) the power dissipated by the 20 resistor.
[(a) 25, 0.56A; 15, 0.94A; 10, 0.6A; 20, 0.3A, (b) 25, 14V; 20, 6V, (c) 1.8W]

Fig. Q3

4. Determine the p.d. between terminals E and F of the circuit in Fig. Q4. [7.74V]

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MBS3211_Engineering Science for BS Electricity_Tutorials

Fig. Q4

5. For the circuit of Fig. Q5, calculate (a) the p.d. across the 8 resistor, (b) the current through the
20 resistor and (c) the current through the 5 resistor. [14.12V; 1.5A; 3.18A]

Fig. Q5

6. Three resistors of 10, 15 and 20 respectively are connected in parallel. This combination is
connected in series with another parallel combination of 8 and 5. If the complete circuit is
supplied from a 20V source, calculate (a) the total resistance, (b) the total current, (c) the p.d. across
the 8 resistor and (d) the current through the 5 resistor. [7.69; 2.6A; 8V; 1.6A]
7. Two resistors of 20 and 15 are connected in parallel and this combination is connected in series
with an unknown resistor Rx. Determine the value of Rx if the complete circuit draws a current of
0.6A from a 12V supply. [11.43]
8. Two resistors of 15 and 5 connected in series with a resistor Rx and the combination is supplied
from a 220V source. If the p.d. across the 5 resistor is 20V. Calculate the value of Rx. [37.5]
9. A 220V, 0.5A lamp is to be connected in series with a resistor across a 240V supply. Determine the
resistor value required for the lamp to operate as its correct voltage. [40]
10. A 12 and a 6 resistors are connected in parallel across the terminals of a battery of emf 6V and
internal resistance 0.6. Calculate (a) the current drawn from the battery; (b) the terminal p.d. and
(c) the current through the 6 resistor. [1.3A; 5.2V; 0.87A]
11. An electric cooker element consists of two parts, each having a resistor of 15, which can be
connected (a) in series, (b) in parallel, or (c) using one part only. Calculate the current drawn from
a 220V supply for each connection. [7.33A; 29.3A; 14.7A]
12. A cell of emf 3V has an internal resistance 0.1. Calculate the terminal p.d. when (a) there is no
load connected and (b) a 2.9 resistor is connected across the terminals. [3V; 2.9V]

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MBS3211_Engineering Science for BS Electricity_Tutorials

13. A battery has a terminal voltage of 1.8V when supply a current of 10A. This voltage rises to 2.0V
when the load is removed. Calculate the internal resistance. [0.02]
14. Four resistors of values 10, 20, 40 and 50 are connected in parallel across the terminals of
a generator having an emf of 50V and internal resistance 0.5. Calculate (a) the current drawn
from the generator, (b) the p.d. across each resistor and (c) the current flowing through each
resistor. [8.88A; 45.5V;104.55A; 202.28A; 401.14A; 500.91A]
15. Calculate the p.d. across the 2 resistor in Fig. Q15. [4.62V]

Fig. Q15

16. For the network shown in Fig. Q16, calculate (a) the total resistance, (b) the supply current, (c) the
p.d. across the 15Ω resistor, (d) the total power dissipated in the whole circuit and € the power
dissipated by the 15 Ω resistor. [19.96 Ω; 11A; 76.6V; 2.42kW; 391W]

Fig. Q16

17. A circuit consists of a 15Ω and a 20Ω resistors connected in parallel across a battery of internal
resistance 2Ω. If 60W is dissipated by the 15Ω resistor, calculate (a) the current in the 20Ω resistor,
(b) the terminal p.d. and the emf of the battery, (c) the total power dissipated in the external circuit.
[1.5A; 30V; 37V; 105W]
18. a coil of 15Ω resistance is in parallel with a coil of 20Ω resistance. This combination is connected
in series with a third coil of 10Ω resistance. If the whole circuit is connected across a battery having
an emf of 30V and an internal resistance of 2Ω, calculate (a) the terminal voltage of the battery and
(b) the power in the 15Ω coil. [27.1V; 10.42W]
19. A coil of 20Ω resistance is joined in parallel with a coil of R ohms resistance. This combination is
then joined in series with a piece of apparatus A, and the whole circuit connected to 110V mains.
What must be the value of R so that A shall dissipate 600W with 10A passing through it? [6.67Ω]
20. A circuit, consisting of three resistance 12Ω, 18Ω and 24Ω respectively, joined in parallel, is
connected in series with a fourth resistance. The whole is supplied at 50V and it is found that the
power dissipated in the 12Ω resistor is 36W. Determine the value of the fourth resistance and the
total power dissipated in the group. [7.79Ω; 187.54W]

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MBS3211_Engineering Science for BS Electricity_Tutorials

21. A new battery has a terminal voltage of 19.8V when supply a current of 1A. This voltage rises
to 20 V when the load is removed.
(i) Calculate the internal resistance.
(ii) What rating should be selected for the load resistor among 1W, 10W, 25W, 50W, 100W?
22. A 12Ω and a 6Ω resistor are connected in parallel across the terminals of a battery of emf 6V and
internal resistance 0.6Ω. Calculate (a) the current drawn from the battery, (b) the terminal p.d.
and (c) the current through the 6Ω resistor.
23. The resistivity of copper is 1.723 x 10-8 -m. Determine:
(i) the resistance of 150m of a solid copper wire having a diameter of 0.5mm.
(ii) the resistance of 10cm PCB copper trace of 2mm width and 0.07mm thickness.
24. Consider the circuit below, determine the voltages across AC, BC and the current flow through
R2.
R4 100

A R2 30 B
R5 300

R3 R1
20V 50 20

25. Consider the circuit below, calculate (a) the p.d. across the 8Ω resistor, (b) the current through the
20Ω resistor and (c) the current through the 5Ω resistor.







30V
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