6A Physics Tri-weekly October 19, 2022

Name:_________________________________________________

1. A potentiometer wire is suspected of having being damaged at some point along its length. To
test this, the circuit below is set up.

The table shows readings of the potential difference V, taken using a voltmeter of infinite
resistance for the length of wire L.
L/m 0.10 0.26 0.40 0.55 0.70 0.86 1.00
V/v 0.17 0.42 0.67 0.93 1.40 1.76 2.00

(a) Plot a graph of V against L. Explain the shape of your graph and hence determine the region
of the wire in which the damage has occurred. (8mrks)

(b) The wire in (c ) has a resistance per unit length of 8Ωm-1 when undamaged.
Calculate
(i) The potential difference per unit length of undamaged wire (2mrks)
(ii) The current in the wire (undamaged) (2mrks)

2. (a) (i) define the terms ampere and coulomb. (3mrks)

(ii) show that the equation 1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 can be used to add THREE
resistors in parallel.
(4mrks)

(b) Determine,
 (i) the combined circuit resistance. The internal resistance of the battery is
2Ω. (3mrks)
(ii) the total current flowing. (2mrks)
(iii) the total power dissipated in the battery and the external circuit. (4mrks)
(iv) the terminal p.d across the 12Ω resistor. (4mrks)
(v) the charge flowing in 4mins and the work done in moving one electron.
(4mrks)
(vi) the speed acquired by an electron. (3mrks)

(b) A length of nichrome wire with cross-sectional area 2.60 x 10-6m2 has a potential difference of
100V across it. Nichrome has a resistivity of 5.0 x 10-7Ωm. The element dissipates thermal
energy at a rate of 500W.
Calculate
(i) The current flowing through the wire (2mrks)
(ii) The resistance of the wire (2mrks)
(iii) The length of the wire (2mrks)

4. (a) (i) State Kirchhoff’s two laws for electrical circuits and give the physical principle that each law
is based on. (6mrks)

(b)

(i) Write an expression for Kirchhoff’s first law. (1mrk)

(ii) Write loop equations for abcf and abde. (2mrks)
(iii) Determine I1, I2 and I3. (6mrks)