13 Worksheet (AS)

1 A battery of e.m.f. 6.0 V, and internal resistance 1.0  is connected to a resistor and drives a
current of 125 mA through it. What is the resistance of the resistor? [1]
A 0.75 
B 1.75 
C 47 
D 48 
2 In the circuit shown below, the current in the ammeter is zero.

Which statement is correct? [1]

A The e.m.f. E2 is equal to E1.
B The e.m.f. E2 is equal to R1/R2.
C The e.m.f. E2 is greater than E1.
D The e.m.f. E2 is less than E1.
3 When potential difference across the terminals of a battery is measured using an analogue
voltmeter of resistance 95 , the reading on the voltmeter is 5.70 V. When it is measured
using a very high resistance digital meter the reading is 6.00 V.
What is the internal resistance of the battery? [1]
A 0.2 
B 1.8 
C 5.0 
D 28.5 

AS and A Level Physics Original material © Cambridge University Press 2010 1

 13 Worksheet (AS)

4 The diagrams show a potentiometer being used to compare two resistors. The ammeter in each
circuit reads zero.

What is the ratio of the two resistances? [1]

5 A student designs a circuit to give an decreasing voltage output as the temperature increases. She
builds the circuit in the diagram, but finds that the output voltage increases with increasing
temperature.

output

A friend suggests four possible changes to the circuit.

Which change would produce the effect she wanted? [1]
A Replace the resistor with one of higher resistance.
B Replace the resistor with one of lower resistance.
C Reverse the polarity of the battery.
D Swap the position of the thermistor and the resistor.

AS and A Level Physics Original material © Cambridge University Press 2010 2

 13 Worksheet (AS)

 6 A d.c. power supply of e.m.f. 12 V has an internal resistance of 2.3 . It is accidentally shorted
out across its terminals by a short length of wire of negligible resistance.
a Calculate the current drawn from the supply. [2]
b Suggest why it may be dangerous to have a supply shorted out in this way. [1]
 7 A cell of e.m.f. 1.5 V is connected across a length of wire of resistance 2.6 . A high resistance
voltmeter placed across the terminals of the cell measures 0.85 V. Calculate:
a the potential difference across the internal resistance [2]
b the internal resistance of the cell. [2]
 8 The diagram shows a potential divider circuit.

The battery has negligible internal resistance.

Calculate the potential difference across the 6.0  resistor. [3]
 9 A length of wire of resistance 7.3  is connected across the terminals of a cell of e.m.f. 1.4 V.
A high resistance voltmeter measures a p.d. of 0.81 V across the terminals of the cell.
Calculate:
a the ‘lost volts’ (  the p.d. across the internal resistance of the cell) [2]
b the internal resistance of the cell [2]
c the ratio: [3]

10 Two cells are connected in series. Each cell has e.m.f. 1.4 V and internal resistance 0.38 .
The combination of the cells is connected across an external circuit of resistance 1.8 .
Calculate:
a the potential difference across the external circuit [4]
b the potential difference across the terminals of each cell. [2]

AS and A Level Physics Original material © Cambridge University Press 2010 3

 13 Worksheet (AS)

11 The diagram shows a potential divider circuit. The voltmeter has infinite resistance and the
battery has negligible internal resistance.

a The variable resistor is set on its maximum resistance of 200 . Calculate the
voltmeter reading. [3]
b The resistance R of the variable resistor is gradually altered from its maximum resistance
value of 200  to zero. Draw a sketch graph to show how the voltmeter reading changes
with R. [3]
12 The diagram shows a simple electrical
thermometer based on a negative temperature
coefficient (NTC) thermistor. At 30 °C the
thermistor has a resistance of 2.4 k and this
decreases to 430  at 100 °C. The battery has
negligible internal resistance. Calculate the
maximum input voltage into the datalogger. [4]

13 A chemical cell has e.m.f. 1.5 V and R/ I /A V/V P/W

internal resistance 0.50 . It is 0.00
connected across a variable resistor of
0.10
resistance R.
[2] 0.20
a Copy and complete the table.
(I  current drawn from the cell; 0.30
V  terminal p.d.; 0.40
P  power dissipated by external 0.50
resistor)
0.60
b With the aid of a sketch graph,
describe how the power dissipated 0.70
by the external resistor is affected 0.80
by its resistance. [3]
0.90
1.00

Total: Score: %

AS and A Level Physics Original material © Cambridge University Press 2010 4