ARAVALI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

SECTOR-85, GREATER FARIDABAD

CLASS – X
SUBJECT – PHYSICS
CHAPTER-12 (ELECTRICITY)

ANNEXURE 1D

 We know that current through a conductor depends upon its resistance and potential difference
across its ends.
 In various electrical instruments resistors are often used in various combinations and Ohm’s Law
can be applied to combination of resistors to find the equivalent resistance of the combination.
 The resistances can be combined in two ways
1. In series
2. In parallel
To increase the resistance individual resistances are connected in series combination and to
decrease the resistance individual resistances are connected in parallel combination.
Resistors in Series
 When two or more resistances are connected end to end then they are said to be connected in
series combination.
 Figure below shows a circuit diagram where two resistors are connected in series combination.

 Now value of current in the ammeter is the same irrespective of its position in the circuit. So we
conclude that " For a series combination of resistors the current is same in every part of the circuit or
same current flows through each resistor "
  Again if we connect three voltmeters one across each resistor as shown below in the figure
4.The potential difference measured by voltmeter across each one of resistors R1 , R2 and R3 is
V1 , V2 and V3 respectively and if we add all these potential differences then we get

This total potential difference V in equation 6 is measured to be equal to potential difference measured across
points X and Y that is across all the three resistors in figure 3. So, we conclude that <"the total potential
difference across a combination of resistors in series is equal to the sum of potential differences across the
individual resistors."
Again consider figure 4 where I is the current flowing through the circuit which is also the current through each
resistor. If we replace three resistors joined in series by an equivalent single resistor of resistance R such that,
the potential difference V across it, and the current I through the circuit remains same.

Now applying Ohm’s law to entire circuit we get<

On applying Ohm's law to the three resistors separately we have,<

From equation 6

So here from above equation 9 we conclude that when several resistances are connected in series combination,
the equivalent resistance equals the sum of their individual resistances and is thus greater than any individual
resistance.

Draw a schematic diagram of a circuit consisting of a battery of three cells of 2 V each, a 5 Ω

resistor, an 8 Ω resistor, and a 12 Ω resistor, and a plug key, all connected in series.

Answer:

Redraw the circuit of Question 1, putting in an ammeter to measure the current through the
resistors and a voltmeter to measure the potential difference across the 12 Ω resistor. What would
be the readings in the ammeter and the voltmeter?

Answer:

The total resistance in the circuit = Sum of the resistances of all resistors

We know;

Or,

Or,

Since, resistances are connected in series, thus electric current remains the same through all resistors.
Here we have, electric current, I = 0.24 A, resistance, R = 12 Ω

Thus, potential difference, V through the resistor of

Or,

Thus, reading of ammeter

Reading of voltmeter through resistor of Resistors in parallel

When two or more resistances are connected between the same two points they are said to be connected in
parallel combination.
Figure below shows a circuit diagram where two resistors are connected in parallel combination.

IMPORTANT NOTE
When a number of resistors are connected in parallel, then the potential difference across each resistance is
equal to the voltage of the battery applied.
When a number of resistances are connected in parallel, then the sum of the currents flowing through all the
resistances is equal to total current flowing in the circuit.
When numbers of resistances are connected in parallel then their combined resistance is less than the smallest
individual resistance. This happens because the same current gets additional paths to flow resulting decrease in
overall resistance of the circuit

To calculate the equivalent resistance of the circuit shown in figure 5 consider a battery B which is connected
across parallel combination of resistors so as to maintain potential difference V across each resistor. Then total
current in the circuit would be

Since potential difference across each resistors is V. Therefore, on applying Ohm's Law
Putting these values of current in equation 10 we have

If R is the equivalent resistance of parallel combination of three resistors heaving resistances R1, R2 and R3
then from Ohm's Law

Or,

Comparing equation (10) and (11) we get

For resistors connected in parallel combination reciprocal of equivalent resistance is equal to the sum of
reciprocal of individual resistances.
Value of equivalent resistances for capacitors connected in parallel combination is always less than the value of
the smallest resistance in circuit.

Practice Numericals
Example 1: There are three resistors joined in series in a system having resistance equal to 10 Ω,
20 Ω and 30 Ω respectively. If the potential difference of the circuit is 240 V, find the total
resistance and current through the circuit.

Solution: Given, R1 = 10 Ω, R2 = 20 Ω, R3 = 30 Ω and V = 240 V

Total resistance (R) =?

Current through the circuit ( I ) =?

According to Ohm’s Law Total resistance in series (R) = Sum of resistance of all resistors

We know that electric current

Or,

Thus, total resistance

Current through the circuit = 4 A

Example 2: There are two electric lamps M and N which are joined in a series having resistance
equal to 15 Ω and 20 Ω respectively. If the potential difference between two terminals of electric
circuit is 220V, find the total resistance and electric current through the circuit. Also find the
potential difference across the two lamps separately.

Solution: Given, resistance (R1) of one electric lamp, M = 15.2 Ω

Resistance (R2) of other electric lamp, N = 20 Ω

Potential difference (V) through the circuit = 220 V

Electric current (I) through the circuit =?

Potential difference through each of the electric lamp =?

According to Ohm’s Law; total resistance in series

= Sum of resistance of all resistors

Electric Current

Potential difference (V1) across electric lamp M

Potential difference (V2) across electric lamp N

Thus, electric current through the circuit = 6.25 A

Potential difference through electric lamp M = 2.432 V

Potential difference through electric lamp N = 3.2 V

Example 3: There are two resistors R1 and R2 having resistance equal to 20Ω and 30Ω
respectively are connected in parallel in an electric circuit. If the potential difference across the
electric circuit is 5 V, find the electric current flowing through the circuit and the total resistance of
the resistors.

Solution: Given, R1 = 20 Ω, R2 = 30 Ω, Potential difference (V) = 5 V

Total resistance (R) =?

Electric current (I) through the circuit =?

We know that in parallel combination, the reciprocal of total resistance is;

Or,

Now, electric current through the circuit

Or,

Thus, total resistance

Electric current (I) through the circuit = 0.416 A

Example 4: 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 potential of 240V is applied
to 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.

Solution: We know that the reciprocal of total resistance = sum of reciprocals of individual
resistances

Now, electric current through the circuit

Or,

Similarly, electric current through different appliances can be calculated as follows:

Electric current through heater

Electric current through electric lamp

Electric current through electric fan

Electric current through computer

Electric current through exhaust

The total current through the circuit can be calculated by adding the electric current through individual
resistors.

Or, Itotal = 6 A + 48 A + 30 A + 12 A + 24 A = 120 A

Question - Calculate the electric current in the given circuit when

(a) Key K1 is open and K2 is closed
(b) both keys are closed
(c) Key K2 is open and K1 is closed
Solution .
(a) When, key K1 is open and K2 is closed , then no current flows in the circuit as circuit is an open circuit.
(b) When both keys are closed a current begin to flow in the circuit. Let us consider the circuit given below
where we have labelled above given circuit.

How to determine equivalent resistance:-

(i) Now if you look closely at the circuit you would find that current is dividing at point A and combining again
at point B.
(ii) Same amount of current (say I1) will flow through resistors R1 and R2 also same amount of current (say I2)
will flow through resistors R3 and R4.
(iii)We are aware of the fact that “For a series combination of resistors the current is same in every part of the
circuit or same current flows through each resistor”. So we can say that resistors R1 and R2 are connected in
series combination. Similarly resistors R3 and R4 are also connected in series combination.
(iv) again as mentioned above in step (i) current is dividing at point A so we have different currents flowing
through the combination of resistors R1 and R2 and resistors R3 and R4.
(v)So equivalent resistance of resistors R1 and R2 which is (R1 + R2) and equivalent resistance of resistors R3
and R4 which is (R3 + R4) are connected in parallel combination to each other as they have different amount of
current flowing through them.
(vi)So, Equivalent resistance in the circuit would be

Putting the values as given in the question we get

1R=14+4+14+4=18+18=141
So,
R=4Ω
Electric current,
I=V/R=12/4=3A
(c) When key K2 is open and K1 is closed, the part ADB will become an open circuit, So no current will flow in
this part of the circuit.
Therefore, net resistance of the circuit will be
R=R1+R2=4+4=8Ω
Therefore, electric current.
I=V/R=12/8=1.5A