Topic 16 – Electric circuits – Questions

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1.1 The circuit diagram shows a 4,0  resistor and an 8,0  resistor connected to a 6,0 V
battery.

What is the potential difference across the 4,0 

resistor?
A 0,5 V
B 2,0 V
C 4,0 V
D 6,0 V
(2)

1.2 Two 5,0  resistors are connected as shown in the

diagram.
What is the total resistance of this combination?

A less than 5,0 

B 5,0 
C more than 5,0  and less than 10,0 
D 10  (2)

1.3 The diagram shows a 10  and a 20  resistor

connected in a potential divider circuit.
What is the reading on the voltmeter?
A 4,0 V
B 6,0 V
C 8,0 V
D 12,0 V
(2)

1.4 In the circuit shown, only one of the fuses has blown, but none of the lamps is lit.
Which fuse has blown?

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1.5 The resistance of a wire depends on its length and on its cross-sectional area. Whish of
the following statements correctly describes the relationship between resistance of a
wire and its length, and resistance of a wire and its cross-sectional area?

Length Cross-sectional area

Resistance is directly proportional to Resistance is directly proportional to the

A
the length. cross-sectional area.
Resistance is directly proportional to Resistance is inversely proportional to
B
the length. the cross-sectional area.
Resistance is inversely proportional Resistance is directly proportional to the
C
to the length. cross-sectional area.
Resistance is inversely proportional Resistance is inversely proportional to
D
to the length. the cross-sectional area.
(2)

1.6 Which of the following resistors has the largest potential difference across it?

A 1 k
B 2 k
C 3 k
D They all have the same potential difference across them. (2)

1.7 Which of the following resistors has the largest current passing through it?

A 1 k
B 2 k
C 3 k
D They all have the same current passing through them. (2)

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LONG QUESTIONS
1. A cell has an emf of 1,5 V.
1.1 What does this statement mean? (2)
1.2 Three identical cells of emf 1,5 V are connected in series to form a battery.
Calculate the emf of the battery. (2)

1.3 The battery is connected to a 180  resistor. Calculate the current through
the resistor. (3)
1.4 A second 180  resistor is connected in parallel with the first one. This
combination of resistors is connected to the battery.
a) Draw the circuit diagram for this circuit. (3)

b) Calculate the resistance of the two 180  resistors in parallel. (3)

c) Calculate the current supplied by the battery to this combination. (3)
[16]

2. A thermistor is a temperature – dependent device. Its resistance changes with

temperature as shown in the graph below.
Graph of resistance against temperature for a thermistor.

The thermistor is connected to a potential divider circuit as shown in the circuit diagram
below. The voltmeter reads the potential difference across the thermistor.

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2.1 A series circuit acts as a potential difference divider.
What does this statement mean? (2)
2.2 The voltmeter reads 6,0 V.

a) What is the potential difference across the 12 k resistor? (2)

b) Determine the resistance of the thermistor. (3)
c) Refer to the graph, and determine the temperature of the thermistor.
(2)
2.3 The temperature of the thermistor is increased. Refer to the circuit diagram and the
graph of resistance against temperature above to answer these questions.
How does an increase in temperature of the thermistor affect …..
a) its resistance? (2)
b) the reading on the voltmeter? (2)
[13]

3. A circuit consists of a battery of emf 12 V and a heater with a resistance of 6,0 .

3.1 Show that the reading on the ammeter is 2,0 A. (2)

3.2 Define an electric current. (2)
3.3 Calculate the amount of charge that passes through the resistor in 2 minutes. (3)
3.4 Calculate the amount of energy transferred by the charge in 2 minutes. (3)
3.5 Name the charge carriers in the circuit. (1)
3.6 Which reference to the circuit diagram, in which direction do these charge carriers
(named in 3.5) travel through the resistor?
Answer: To the left OR To the right (1)
[12]
4. The diagram shows a simplified electrical circuit for a
household heater.
It consists of a fan driven by the motor (M), three
identical heating elements (resistors), and a lamp.
A fuse is included to protect the device from a surge in
current.

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4.1 Name the components that work when only switch A is closed. (3)
4.2 The heating elements are controlled with the two switches, B and C. The heater
operates at three different settings: high, medium and low heat. The lower the resistance
of the heater elements, the higher the temperature setting.
Copy the table below, and fill in a tick for each switch that is CLOSED at that setting.

Heater settings Switch B Switch C

High
Medium
Low
(6)
4.3 The current in one of the heater elements is 5,0 A.
The resistance of the element is 50 .
Calculate the potential difference across the heating element. (3)
[12]

5. In the circuit diagram shown below, two resistors of 10  and 40  are connected in
parallel. A resistor R of unknown resistance is connected in series with the parallel
combination. The ammeter reads 0,6 A. The battery has an emf of 9,0 V, and it has no
internal resistance. The voltmeter connected across resistor R reads 4,2 V.

AA
AV 10
1
AR 40
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5.1 Calculate the effective resistance of the parallel resistors. (3)
5.2 Calculate the resistance of resistor R. (3)
5.3 Determine the total resistance of the circuit. (3)
5.4 Determine the voltage across the parallel combination. (2)

5.5 Calculate the current in the 10  resistor. (3)

5.6 If the 10  resistor is removed from the circuit, describe how the following readings are
affected:
a) the reading on the ammeter. (1)
b) the reading on the voltmeter. (1)
[16]

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6. The circuit shown below consists of three resistors connected in a network arrangement
to a 12 V battery (with no internal resistance).

12 V

R2
R1 3
A
6 V

S
R3
6

When switch S is closed, calculate:

6.1 the effective resistance of the circuit. (4)
6.2 the reading on the ammeter. (3)
6.3 the reading on the voltmeter. (3)
6.4 the amount of charge that flows through resistor R3 in 3 minutes. (4)
When switch S is opened, how are the following readings affected?
6.5 the reading on the ammeter (1)
6.6 the reading on the voltmeter (1)
[16]

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Topic 16 – Electric circuits – Answers

ANSWERS TO MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1.1 D  [CL2] (2)
The potential difference across the branches of a parallel circuit is the same (6 V).
1.2 A  [CL2] (2)
EITHER The resistance of the parallel combination is always less than the resistance of
the smallest resistor in the combination OR
1
1 1 1 1 2
R ¿/¿ = + = + = ¿
R 1 R2 5 5 5

5
R// = = 2,5 
2
1.3 C  [CL4] (2)
V 20
= applying the ratios for the potential divider
12V 10+20
V = 8,0 V

1.4 A  [CL2] (2)

Fuse A provides current to all the other fuses because it is attached to the leads from
the power supply.
1.5 B  [CL3] (2)
Resistance increases as length of conductor increases.
Resistance decreases as thickness (cross-sectional area) increases.

1.6 C  [CL2] (2)

The potential difference divides up in direct proportion to the resistance.

1.7 D  [CL2] (2)

The current through a series circuit is the same through all components (resistors).

ANSWERS TO LONG QUESTIONS

1.1 The total amount of energy per unit charge supplied by the battery is 1,5 JC-1 OR
The potential difference across the battery when no current passes through it (on open
circuit) is 1,5 V. [CL1] (2)

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1.2 emf = 1,5 + 1,5 + 1,5 OR 3  1,5 (method)
= 4,5 V  (accuracy; SI units) [CL2] (2)
1.3 V = IR (method)

4,5 = I  180 (substitutions)

4,5
I= =0,025 A or 25 mA (accuracy; SI units) [CL2]
180
(3)

1.4 a)
 battery
(could have 3 cells or be as shown)
 two resistors
connected in parallel
[CL1] (3)

1 1 1
b) = +  (method)
R R1 R2

1 1
¿ +  (substitutions)
180 180
2
¿
180
180
R// = = 90  (accuracy; SI units) [CL3] (3)
2
c) V = IR (method)

4,5 = I  90 (substitutions)

I = 0,05 A or 50 mA (accuracy; SI units) [CL2] (3)
[16]

2.1 The potential difference across each resistor (component) in a series circuit divides
according to the ratio of their resistances.  [CL2] (2)

2.2 a) V = 9,0 – 6,0 = 3,0 V (method) (accuracy; SI units) [CL2] (2)

b) The voltage across the thermistor is 6,0 V, as compared to the voltage across
the 12 k resistor being 3,0 V. 

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 Therefore, the resistance of the thermistor is 2  12 = 24 k. [CL4] (3)
c) (Approximately) 8oC (accuracy; SI units; c.o.e.) [CL3] (2)
2.3 a) R decreases  [CL4] (1)
This is determined from the graph which shows that as temperature increases,
resistance decreases.
b) V decreases  [CL4] (1)
If the resistance decreases, the pd across it will also decrease (because the two
resistors act as a potential divider in proportion to their resistances.)
[13]

3.1 V = IR (method)

12 = I  6,0 (substitutions)
I = 2,0 A [CL2] (2)

3.2 The rate of flow of charge  [CL1] (2)

3.3 Q = It  (method)

= 20  (2  60)  (substitutions; conversion of minutes to second)

= 240 C  (accuracy; SI units) [CL2] (3)
3.4 ALTERNATIVE 1
W
V= W = VQ  (method)
Q
= 12  240 (substitutions; c.o.e)
= 2 880 J (accuracy; SI units)

OR W = VIt  (method)
= 12  2  (260)  (substitutions; conversion of minutes to second)
= 2 880 J (accuracy; SI units) [CL2] (3)
3.5 electrons  [CL2] (1)
3.6 to the left  [CL2] (1)
[12]

4.1 The fuse,  the motor and the lamp [CL2] (3)
4.2

Heater settings Switch B Switch C

High  
Medium 
Low 

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 2 marks for each correct row [CL4] (6)
4.3 V = I R (method)

= 5,0  50 (substitutions)

= 250 V (accuracy; SI units) [CL2] (2)
[12]
1 1 1
5.1 = +  (method)
R R1 R2

1 1
¿ +  (substitutions)
10 40
5
¿
40
40
R// = = 8  (accuracy; SI units) [CL3] (3)
5
5.2 V = IR (method)

4,2 = 0,6  R (substitutions)

R = 7  (accuracy; SI units) [CL2] (3)

5.3 Rseires = R + R// (method)

=7+8

= 15  (accuracy; SI units) [CL2] (2)

5.4 emf = V + V//

9,0 = 4,2 + V//  (method)
V// = 4,8 V  (accuracy; SI units) [CL3] (2)

5.5 V = IR  (method)

4,8 = I  10  (substitutions)
I = 0,48 A  (accuracy; SI units) [CL2] (3)

5.6 a) I decreases  [CL4] (1)

The resistance of the circuit increases, therefore current decreases.
b) V decreases [CL4] (1)
The ratio of R to 40 is much less than the ratio of R to R// therefore less of the potential
difference is applied across R.

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 [16]

1 1 1
6.1 = +  (method)
R R1 R2

1 1
¿ +  (substitutions)
6 3
3
¿
6
6
R// = = 2  (accuracy)
3
Rtotal = 2 + 6 = 8  (accuracy; SI units) [CL3] (4)
6.2 V = IR (method)

12 = I  8 (substitutions)
12
I= = 1,5 A (accuracy; SI units) [CL2]
8
(3)
6.3 ALTERNATIVE 1
V = IR  (method)

= 1,5  2 (substitutions)
= 3 V (accuracy; SI units)
ALTERNATIVE 2

VR1 = 6  1,5  (method)

= 9 V (accuracy)
V// = 12 – 9 = 3 V (accuracy; SI units) [CL3] (3)

6.4 Q = It  (method)

= 1,5  3  60  (substitutions)
= 270 C  (accuracy; SI units) [CL2] (4)
6.5 decreases  [CL4] (1)
The total resistance of the circuit increases therefore current decreases.
6.6 increases  [CL4] (1)
The pd across R3 decreases therefore the voltage V increases.
[16]

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