Electricity: Combination of Resistors

Topic : Subjective Questions

1.
Draw a circuit diagram of an electric circuit containing a cell, a key, an
ammeter, a resistor of 2 Ω in series with a combination of two resistors (4 Ω
each) in parallel and a voltmeter across the parallel combination.  [ 2mark]

                              

                       [ 2mark]

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 Electricity: Combination of Resistors

2.
Two coils have a combined resistance of 25 ohms, when connected in
series and a resistance of 4 ohms when connected in parallel. What is the
resistance of each coil? [4 MARKS]

Let the resistances be R1 and R2.

According to question,

R1 + R2 = 25 …………….(1)

1/R1 + 1/R2 = 1/4 ----------(2)

=> (R1 + R2)/R1R2 = 1/4   [1 MARK]

put R1 + R2  from equation 1

25/R1R2= 1/4

​R1R2 = 4 × 25

=> R1R2 = 100 …………..(3)    [1 MARK]

Using (1) and (3),

(R1 – R2)2 = (R1 + R2)2 – 4R1R2

=> (R1 – R2)2 = 625 – 4(100)

=> R1 – R2 = 15 ………….(4)      [1 MARK]

Solving (1) and (4) we get,

R1 + R2 = 25
R1 – R2 = 15
____________

2R1= 40

R1= 20

putting this in any one of the Equation (both give the same answer)
putting in (1)

R2= 25-20
So

R1 = 20 Ω

R2 = 5 Ω   [1 MARK]

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 Electricity: Combination of Resistors

3. Question 10
How many 176 Ω resistors (in parallel) are required to carry 5 A on a
220 V line? [2 marks]
For x number of resistors of resistance 176 Ω, the equivalent resistance of
the resistors connected in parallel is given by Ohm's law as V = IR       [0.5
mark]

V
R =

I

Where, supply voltage, V = 220 V

Current, I = 5 A

Equivalent resistance of the combination = R, given as

1 1

= x × ( )
R 176

    [0.5 mark]
176
R =

From Ohm's law,

V
=
176

I x

176×I 176×5
x = = = 4
V 220

Therefore, four resistors of 176 Ω are required to draw the given amount of
current.  [1 mark]

4.
B1 ,  B2 ,  and B3 are three identical bulbs connected as shown in figure.
When all the three bulbs glow, a current of 3A is recorded by the ammeter
A, what happens to the reading of A 1,  A2  A3 and A when the bulb B gets
2

fused?   [2 marks]

A2 - Zero   [0.5 mark]

Total resistance can be found out by the ratio of total voltage and total
current(When all bulbs glow)
4.5
T otal resistance = = 1.5 Ohm

Therefore, total current =   [1 mark]

4.5
= 2 A

2.25

Since bulb 1 and bulb 3 are identical, 1 A of current will flow through each. 

A1shows 1 ampere,  A shows zero, A shows 1 ampere and A shows 2

2 3

amperes.  [0.5 mark]

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 Electricity: Combination of Resistors

5.
A current of 1 ampere flows in a series circuit containing an electric lamp
and a conductor of 5 Ω when connected to a 10 V battery. Calculate the
resistance of the electric lamp.
Now if a resistance of 10 Ω is connected in parallel with this series
combination, what change (if any) in current flowing through 5 Ω conductors
and the potential difference across the lamp will take place? Give
reason.  [2 marks]

According to Ohm's law,

V
R =
I

10
H ere,  R = = 10 Ω

1

Since the heater and conductor are in series, resistance of electric lamp =

Total resistance- Resistance of the conductor

Hence resistance= 10 − 5 = 5 Ω  [1 mark]

Now, when a resistance of 10 Ω is connected in parallel with this series

combination, the total resistance is reduced to half of the original value and
hence the total current is double the original value and the potential
difference across the lamp will also remain the same.  [1 mark]

6. A hot plate of an electric oven connected to a 220 V line has two resistance
coils A and B, each of 24Ω resistances, which may be used separately, in
series, or in parallel. What are the currents in the three cases? [3 Mark]
Supply voltage, V = 220 V
Resistance of one coil, R = 24Ω
(i) Coils are used separately
According to Ohm's law, V = I R 1 1

Where, I is the current flowing through the coil

1

I1 =
V
=
220
= 9.166A

R 24
1

Therefore, 9.16 A current will flow through the coil when used separately.     
                       [1 mark]

(ii) Coils are connected in series

Total resistance, R = 24Ω + 24Ω
= 48Ω
2

According to Ohm's law, V = I R

1 2

Where, I is the current flowing through the series circuit

2

I =
V
=
220
= 4.58A

R 48
2

Therefore, 4.58 A current will flow through the circuit when the coils are
connected in series.         [1 mark]

(iii) Coils are connected in parallel

Total resistance, R = =

= 12Ω
1 24
3

1 1 2
+
24 24

According to Ohm's law, V = I R 3 3

Where, I is the current flowing through the circuit I =

V 220
3 = 3= 18.33A

R 12
3

Therefore, 18.33 A current will flow through the circuit when coils are
connected in parallel.      [1 mark]

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 Electricity: Combination of Resistors

7. What are the advantages of connecting electrical devices in parallel with the
battery instead of connecting them in series? [2 Mark]
Advantages of connecting electrical devices in parallel with the battery are
as follows:
1. The voltage across each electrical device is the same and the device
can take current as per its resistance. [0.5 mark]
2. Separate on/off switches can be applied across each
device. [0.5 mark]
3. Total resistance in parallel circuits decreases, hence, a greater current
may be drawn from the cell. [0.5 mark]
4. If one electrical device is damaged, it will not affect the other devices
connected parallel, hence the other devices continue to work
properly. [0.5 mark]

8. Show how you would connect three bulbs, each of resistance 6 Ω, so that
the combination has a resistance of

(i) 9 Ω [1 mark]

(ii) 4 Ω [1 mark]

(i)
In order to get a resistance of 9 Ω from three bulbs, each of resistance 6 Ω,
we connect two bulbs in parallel.
 = + =
1 1 1 1+1 2 1
= =
R 6 6 6

6 3

R = 3 Ω                             [1 mark]

this parallel combination (or resistance

3 Ω) in series with the third bulb of 6 
Ω  as shown in figure. which in result gives  9 Ω of resistance.   [1 mark]

(ii) In order to get a resistance of 4 Ω from three bulbs, each of 6 Ω

resistance.  We need to connect two bulbs  in series which makes 12 Ω.
And now this combination of two bulbs is connected in parallel to the
remaining bulb of 6 Ω resistance.  [1 mark]

So the final equivalent resistance is: 

 = + =   [1 mark]

1 1 1 1+2 3 1
= =

R 12 6 12 12 4

R = 4Ω

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