ELECTRICITY

LEARNING SHEET SOLUTION -6

1. What are the advantages of parallel electrical circuits?

Ans:

 A parallel connection ensures that all the connected components get the same voltage. All the electrical
components have rated voltages and parallel connection ensures that all the equipment are protected, in
comparison to a series connection where all the components get different voltage.

 It is possible to provide individual switches for each component in a parallel connection, thus ensuring that each
electrical device is controlled separately. In comparison, a series connection is often termed "all or nothing." This
means that all the devices will need to be switched on or off simultaneously and that failure of a component will
mean non-functioning of all the devices downstream.

 Addition of more electrical devices is easier in a parallel connection. In comparison, addition of additional
devices increases the resistance of the circuit.

2. There are five electric appliances, viz. electric heater and electric lamp, an electric fan, computer and an exhaust
fan are connected in parallel in a household. The resistance electric appliances are 40Ω, 5 Ω, 8Ω, 20Ω and 10Ω
respectively. If an electric current of 240V is flowing through the circuit then find
a) Total resistance through the circuit
b) Total electric current (I) through the circuit and
c) the current through each of the resistor.

Ans: given, R1=40ohm,R2=5ohm,R3=8ohm,R4=20ohm and R5=10ohm.

Total resistance
1/R=1/R1+1/R2+1/R3+1/R4+1/R5
1/R=1/40+1/5+1/8+1/20+1/10
1/R=(1+8+5+2+4)/40
1/R=20/40
1/R=1/2
R=2ohm
So, Total resistance is 2ohm.

b. we know that,
V=IR
240=I*2
I=120A
So, electric current is 120A.

c. current through each resistor as follows;

we know that, V=IR

I=V/R
I1=240/40
I1=6A
I2=240/5
I2=48A
I3=240/8
I3=30A
I4=240/20
I4=12A
I5=240/10
I5=24A
3. Judge the equivalent resistance when the following are connected in parallel – (a) 1 Ω and 10 6 Ω, (b) 1 Ω and
103 Ω, and 106 Ω.

Ans: Since 1Ω and 106 Ω are connected in parallel 

then the equivalent resistance R will be 

R1=11+1061
R=106+1106  ~ 106106
 R=1Ω
 Equivalent resistance is 1Ω 

(b) 1Ω and 103Ω and 160Ω are in parallel

R1=11+1031+1061
R1=106106+103+1
R1=10000001001001
 R=0.999Ω 
Therefore, equivalent resistance =0.999Ω

4. An electric lamp of 100 Ω, a toaster of resistance 50 Ω, and a water filter of resistance 500 Ω are connected in
parallel to a 220 V source.

Ans: In a parallel arrangement, the potential difference remains same but electric current is different.
Here, we have R₁ = 100 Ω, R₂ = 50 Ω and R₃ = 500 Ω
Total 1/R = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + 1/R₃
Total 1/R = 1/100 Ω + 1/50 Ω + 1/500 Ω
Total 1/R = ( 5 + 10 + 1 )/500
Total 1/R = 16/500
500/16 = Total R
Total Resistance = 500/16 Ω
Since, R = V/i
500/16 = 220/i
i = 220 × 16/500
i = 7.04 A