Numerical Problems

Unit # 12
CURRENT ELECTRICITY

1. A battery has emf of 12.8 V and supplies a current of 3.2 A. what is the resistance of the
circuit? How many coulombs leaves the battery in 5 minutes?
Given data
Emf = V = 12.8 V
Current = I = 2A
Time = t = 5 min = 5 × 60s = 300s
To find
Resistance = R = ? Charge = ∆Q =?
Solution
As we know that by Ohm’s law
R = V /I = 12.8/3.2 = 4Ω
And By definition of current we have
∆Q = I × ∆t
By putting values we get ∆Q = 3.2A × 300s
⇒ ∆Q = 960 C

2. Two light bulbs designed for 120 – V use are rated at 40 W and 60 W. Which light bulb has the
greater filament resistance? Why?
Given Data
Voltage = V = 120 V
Power of Bulb 1 = P1 = 40 W
Power of Bulb 2 = P2 = 60 W
To find
Resistance of Bulb 1 = R1 = ?
Resistance of Bulb 2 = R2 =?
Solution
As we know by Ohm’s law
V = IR
⇒ R = V/I ………………. (A)
By definition of power we know that
P = VI Or I = P/V
So by putting this in equation (A), we get
R = V / (P/V) or R = V2 / P
By putting values we get
(120𝑉)2 14400𝑉 2
𝑅1 = = = 𝟑𝟔𝟎 𝒐𝒉𝒎
40𝑊 40𝑊
Similarly
(120𝑉)2 14400𝑉 2
𝑅2 = = = 𝟐𝟒𝟎 𝒐𝒉𝒎
60𝑊 60𝑊
2. A carbon electrode has a resistance of 0.125Ω at 20°C. The temperature coefficient of carbon
is 0.005 at 20°C. What will be the resistance of the electrode at 85°C?
Given Data
Resistance = R = 0.125Ω
Temperature = T = 20°C
Co-efficient of resistivity = α = - 0.005
To find
Resistance at 85°C = Rt =?
Solution
Resistance at any temperature ‘T’ is given by
Rt = Ro (1 + αT)
Where T = T2 – T1 = 85 – 20 = 65°C
Therefore, Rt = 0.125 (1 – 0.0005 × 65)
⇒ Rt = 0.12 Ω

3. Calculate the resistance of wire 10m long that has a diameter of 2mm and resistivity of
2.63×10-2 Ωm.
Given data
Length = L = 10m
Diameter = 2mm = 2× 10-3 m
Radius = r = D/2 = 1.0 × 10-3m
Resistivity = ρ = 2.63 × 10-2 Ωm
To Find
Resistance = R =?
Solution
As we know that resistance is given as
𝜌𝐿
𝑅=
𝐴
By putting values we get
(2.63 × 10−2 )(10)
𝑅= = 83758
3.14 (1.0 × 10−3 )2
⇒ R = 83758 Ω
11. Three arms of a Wheatstone bridge are of 75 Ω each. What is the resistance of the fourth arm?

Given:

Given resistance:
First resistance = P = 75 Ω
Second resistance = Q = 75 Ω
Third resistance = R = 75 Ω
To find

Fourth Resistance = X =?

Solution

As we know that
𝑅𝑄
𝑋=
𝑃
By putting values, we get
75 Ω × 75 Ω
𝑋= = 75 Ω
75 Ω
 Conceptual Questions
Unit # 12
Current Electricity

1. A heavy duty battery of a truck maintains a current of 3A for 24 hours. How much charge
flows from the battery during this time?
Ans: Given Data
Current = I = 3A,
Time = t = 24 hours = 24 × 60 × 60 s = 86400s
To find
Charge = q =?
Solution: As we know that by definition of current
I = q/t or q = I × t
By putting values we get
q = 3A × 86400s = 259200 C

2. While analyzing a circuit the internal resistance of e.m.f. sources are ignored why?
Answer: Internal resistance of source is often ignored due to its small value.
Explanation: Internal resistance of the cell is the resistance offered by electrolyte
of the cell. When it is connected then its emf and terminal potential difference can
be related as:
ε = Vt + Ir OR ε = IR + Ir
As internal resistance ‘r’ is very small so in general ε ≈ Vt. That is why, the
internal resistance of source is often ignored.

3. If aluminum and copper wires of the same length have the same resistance, which has the
larger diameter? Why?
Answer:
Copper wire must have smaller diameter as compared to aluminum wire.
Explanation:
This is because copper has lower resistivity i.e. 0.0178μΩm as compared to aluminum which has
0.0285μΩm. As the length of both the wires is same, therefore, the diameter of copper wire will be
smaller as compared to aluminum wire.

4. Under what circumstances can the terminal P.D. of a battery exceed its e.m.f.?
Answer: Terminal potential difference of the cell is greater than its emf during its charging.
Explanation: In general ε = Vt + Ir OR Vt = ε – Ir
But when the battery is connected to a source of greater emf for charging process then a reverse current
will flowing through it
So Vt = ε – (-Ir) ⇒ Vt = ε + Ir
Hence Vt will become greater than its emf i.e. Vt > ε
5. What is the difference between an e.m.f. and a P.D.?

Answer: The difference between emf and terminal potential difference is

Emf Terminal P.D
 It is the work done in bringing a unit positive  It is the work done in bringing the unit
charge from negative to positive terminal positive charge from positive to negative
within the source terminal within the circuit
ε = W/q ∆V = W/q

 It is the cause  It is the effect

 It is always present even though no current is  It becomes zero when no current is flowing
flowing through the circuit through the circuit.
 Generally emf is greater than terminal P.D  Generally terminal P.D is less than emf of
source.

6. How the loop rule and junction rule are based on the conservation of energy principle?

Answer: Loop rule (KVL)

The algebraic sum of all the potential changes in a closed loop must be zero
i.e. ∑V=0
It is based upon the law of conservation of energy. It represent that energy supplied per unit charge by
the source is equal to the energy utilized per unit charge by the various components in the circuit. So
the total energy remains constant.
Junction Rule (KCL)
The sum of all the currents meeting at a point is zero.
i.e. ∑I=0
So, the current flowing towards the point is equal to the currents flowing away from the point. It is well
in accordance to the law of conservation of charge. Where the point is neither the source nor the sink.
So the total charge will remain the same.
7. Why rise in temperature of a conductor is accompanied by a rise in the resistance?

Answer: Reason:
As the resistance depends upon temperature and the nature of the material. So when the temperature of
the conductor rises.
 The kinetic energy of the free electrons increases
 The amplitude of vibration of atoms in the lattice increases.
 The atom will offer the bigger target.
 The collision cross-section of the atom increases
So, the collision of free electrons and the atoms in the lattice become more frequent and hence the
resistance of the conductor increases.
8. Does the direction of e.m.f. provided by a battery depend on the direction of current flow
through the battery?
Answer: Yes, for using KVL the direction of emf depends upon the direction of current.
Explanation:
 If the source of emf is traversed from negative to positive
terminal, the potential change is positive.
 If the source of emf B traversed from positive to negative
terminal, the potential change is negative.
For example, the loop rule for the given circuit with clockwise current as follows.
(-ε1) + (ε2) = 0
9. Voltages are always measured between two points. Why?

Another name for voltage is “potential difference”. It cannot be measured at a single point because
it is a relative term. Even for calculating potential difference at a single point, we take another point
at infinity. Hence voltages are always measured between two points.
10. Is every emf a potential difference? Is every potential difference an emf?

Electromotive force (emf) is equal to the terminal potential difference when no current flows. EMF
and terminal potential difference (V) are both measured in volts, however they are not the same thing.
Emf (ε) is the amount of energy (E) provided by the battery to each coulomb of charge (Q) passing
through.
11. How much charge flow in pocket calculator each minute when the current is 0.0001A?

Given data
Current = I = 0.0001 A
Times = t = 1 min = 60 sec
To find
Charge = q =?
Solution
As we know by definition of current
I = Q /t
⇒ Q = I×t by putting values we get
Q = 60 sec × 0.0001 A
Q = 0.006 A
12. When Wheatstone Bridge is balanced, then no current flows
through the galvanometer, why?

When the bridge is in balance condition then no current flows through

the coil or the potential difference across the galvanometer is zero. This
condition occurs when the potential difference across a to b and a to d
are equal, and the potential differences across the b to c and c to d remain
same.