Mr. R.

Kitley
IB Diploma PHYSICS

5.1.2 – Electric Current Questions

PHYSICS

Hanson ( Wai YE )
Name: ________________________
Fung
Use the following equation to answer the questions below.
Give your answers to an appropriate number of significant
figures
and show all of your working out.

Electric Current (A) = Charge (C) / time (s)

INTRO [___/5]
1) A total charge of 15.0 coulombs flows past a point in a series circuit in 45 seconds. What
-

is the current flowing in the circuit? [1]

I =
¥ =
§ A

2) How long does it take for 30.0 coulombs of charge to flow past a point in a circuit, if the
current in the circuit is 1.125 A? [2]

Q -30C
-

-1--1.1 A I -
¥ t= ¥ =
?÷g= 26.667 .

226.7s
3) How many seconds does it take for a circuit with a current of 1.38 A flowing through it to
-

transfer 3.2 C of charge? [2]

E- ¥ =
}g = 2.3188 . .
.

I 2. 32 S
CORE [___/6]
20
4) If it takes 3.82 x 10 electrons to transfer a charge of 61.12 C of charge, what is the
charge of an electron? [2]
61.12C = Q
(3.82×1020)
Q =
1.6 × 10-19
5) How many minutes is a circuit left on if a current of 0.78 amps flows to cause 850
coulombs of charge to flow? [2]

I=¥ t=¥=%¥g= 1089.74359 160

= 18.162
6) A current of 23 mA flows through a circuit for 4 minutes. How much charge has passed
through any specific point in the circuit? [2]
1=0.023 A
E- ¥ 0=5.52 C
-1--60×4=2405
0.023 =
0¥
EXPERT [___/7]
7) What is the charge that flows past a point in a circuit which is on for 5 days, 6 hours, 20
-

minutes and 12 seconds while a current of 13.5 mA flows? [3]

5*24×60×60=432000 s

Q =
? 6×60×60 = 21600 S
Total time
20×60 = 1200 S
in
seconds
-1--4548125
:
I =

432000-121600-1
( 200+12
I =
0.0135 A = 0.0135×454812
=
6139.962 C = 454812s
8) When electricity flows through a parallel circuit, the current splits at junctions. The
diagram below shows a parallel circuit.
0.215A Total current
_

•sA___
I I
.it#y=ZR@-Ia----B+--I:.&.=L-
¥
+ ±
I
 f- It £
=

= 1. SR
13
.

a) Calculate the current flowing through part C of the circuit. =

[1]
.

IA =
IB + Ic Ic = 0.215 -

0.055 = 0.16

b) Calculate the charge passing points A, B and C in the circuit in the following times...

i) Charge passing point A in 9 seconds? [2]

I -
¥ =
0.215×9
= 1.935 C
ii) Charge passing point B in 15 minutes? [2]

I =
¥ Q =
0.055×60×15
= 49.5C
iii) Charge passing point C in 2 and a half hours? [2]

I =

¥ Q =
0.16 ×
2.5×60×6
=
1440C
DEMANDING [___/6]
c) Describe and explain how you think the current flowing past points A, B and C would
change if there was an extra bulb placed in the circuit of branch B?

i) Current through A? [2]

Decreases
b/c total resistance increases

ii) Current through B? [2]

Decreases
b/c resistance on B increases
iii) Current through C? [2]

Decreases
b/c total current ,
1A ,
decreases