Buds Public School, Dubai

NAME: PHYSICS GRADE-12

Topic - Current Electricity

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1. A steady current flows in a metallic conductor of non-uniform cross-section.

This of these quantities is constant along the conductor: current, current density, electric field,
drift speed?
2. The emf of a cell is always greater than its terminal voltage. Why? Give reason

3. Using the concept of drift velocity of charge carriers in a conductor, deduce the relationship
between current density and resistivity of the conductor.

4. Define the term current density of a metallic conductor. Deduce the relation connecting
current density (J) and the conductivity σ of the conductor, when an electric field E, is applied to
it.

5. Draw V - I graph for ohmic and non-ohmic materials. Give one example for each.

6. Define the term 'resistively' and write its S. I. Unit. Derive the expression for the resistively of
a conductor in terms of number density of free electrons and relaxation time. Explain, using this
relation, why the resistivity of a metal increases and that of a semiconductor decreases with rise
in Temperature

7.(i) How does the resistivity of (i) a conductor and (ii) a semiconductor vary with temperature?
Give reason for each case.
(ii)Why alloys like constantan and nichrome are used for making standard resistors?

8. Define the term 'temperature coefficient of receptivity'. Write its S I unit. Plot a graph showing
the variation of receptivity of copper and nichrome with temperature.

9. Explain how electron mobility changes for a good conductor when (i) the temperature of the
conductor is decreased at constant potential difference and (ii) applied potential difference is
doubled at constant temperature

10. 4 cells of identical emf E, internal resistance r, are connected in series to a variable resistor.
The following graph shows the variation of terminal voltage of the combination with the current
output:
(i) What is the emf of each cell used?
(ii) For what current from the cells, does maximum power dissipation occur in the circuit?
(iii) Calculate the internal resistance of each cell.
11. (i)Define the terms (i) drift velocity, (ii) relaxation time.
(ii) A conductor of length L is connected to a dc source of emf ∑. If this conductor is replaced by
another conductor of same material and same area of cross-section but of length 3L, how will the
drift velocity change ?

12.Draw a plot showing the variation of resistivity of a (i) conductor and (ii) semiconductor,
with the increase in temperature.
How does one explain this behaviour in terms of number density of charge carriers and the
relaxation time?

13. A potential difference V is applied across a conductor of length L and diameter D. How is the
drift velocity, vd, of charge carriers in the conductor affected when (i) V is halved, (ii) L is
doubled and (iii) D is halved ? Justify your answer in each case.

14. (a) Deduce the relation between current I flowing through a conductor and drift velocity _νd
of the electrons.

(b) Figure shows a plot of current ‘I’ flowing through the cross-section of a wire versus the time
‘t’. Use the plot to find the charge flowing in 10s through the wire.

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