Sec 4 Physics

Name : _______________________( ) Class : _________ Date : ______

Current Electricity
1. The current through a lamp connected across 120 V is 0.40 A when the lamp is on.

(a) Calculate the lamp’s resistance when it is on for some times.

V = IR
R = 120 V/0.40 A = 3.0 x 102 Ω

(b) When the lamp is cold, its resistance is one fifth as large as it is when the lamp is
hot. Compute its cold resistance.
Rc = 1/5R = 1/5 (3.0 x 102 Ω) = 60 Ω

(c) Determine the current through the lamp when it is just turned on and connected to
a potential difference of 120 V?

V = IR
I = 120 V/60 Ω = 2.0 A

2. The variation with current of the potential difference (p.d.) across a component X is
shown in the figure below.

(a) Explain if component X obeys Ohm’s law.

The p.d. against current graph is not a straight line passing through the origin, hence
component X does not obey Ohm’s law.

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(b) Determine the resistance of component X when current flowing through it is 2.0 A.

R = V/I = 5.0/2.00 A = 2.5 Ω

(c) Using the figure shown, explain how the resistance of component X varies with
current flowing through it.

The resistance of component X is given by the ratio of the p.d. to current and since
the graph shows that the ratio increases, this means that the resistance of the
component X is increasing with increase of current.

(d) In the figure above, draw another graph that shows the variation with current of the
p.d. across a resistor R of constant resistance 3.0 Ω.

3. A laboratory technician who wants to make a resistor of value 64  has only a

resistance wire of 3.000 m. He connects it up in a circuit as shown.

wire with crocodile clip

uniform resistance wire

ABC
0.500 m

(a) When he connects the wire with crocodile clip to point B of the wire, he obtains the
following readings on the meters.
Voltmeter 12 V
Ammeter 1.5 A
Calculate the resistance of the section of wire AB.
V = IR
12 V = (1.5 A) R
R = 8.0 Ω

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(b) Explain if he is able to make a 64  resistor with the wire that he has.

No, it is not possible for him to make a 64 Ω resistor with the wire he has.
The length of the wire is directly proportional to its resistance. To obtain a resistor
of 64 , the length of the wire need to be 4.0 m.

(c) If he has another resistance wire of the same material but twice the cross sectional
area, determine the ammeter reading if he performs the same experiment with
0.500 m of this new wire?

kl
R = /A
k
8.0 Ω = /A (0.500 m)
k
/A = 16 Ω m-1
kl
R = /2A
= ½ (k/A) (l)
= ½ (16 Ω m-1) (0.500 m)
= 4.0 Ω 
V = IR
12 V = I (4.0  )
I = 3.0 A

4. An engineer needs a 10 Ω resistor and a 45 Ω resistor, but there are only 30 Ω

resistors in stock. Explain what the engineer could do to get 10 Ω resistor and 45 Ω
resistor from the 30 Ω resistors.

Three 30 Ω resistors in parallel will give a 10 Ω resistance. Two 30 Ω resistors in

parallel will give a 15 Ω and in series with another 30 Ω will give a 45 Ω resistance.

5. The resistance of each resistor is 10 Ω, determine the equivalent resistance between

the terminal points X and Y of the circuit shown below.
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X Y
3 2

1 1 1
= +
R e R 1 + R 2 R 3 + R3
1 1 1
= +
R e 10 Ω+10 Ω 10 Ω+10 Ω
Re = 10 

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6. Twelve resistors, each of resistance R ohms, form a cube (see Fig. below). (a)
Find RAB, the equivalent resistance of the edge. (b) Find RBC, the equivalent
resistance of the face diagonal. (c) Find RAC, the equivalent resistance of body
diagonal. (Ans.: (a) (7/12)R. (b) (3/4)R. (c) (5/6)R. )

A B

R R1 = R + R/2 + R/2 = 2R

R/2 R/2 1/R2 = 1/2R + 2/R = 5/2R

Hence R1 = 2R/5;

R3 = 2R/5 + R = 7R/5;
R/2
1/RAB = 5/7R + 1/R = 12/7R
R/2 R/2 RAB = 7R/12

R
A B

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b) R/2
R/2

R R

R/2 R/2
B C

1/RBC = 1/3R + 1/R = 4/3R

RBC = 3R/4

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 c)

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 R
R
R R
R
R R
R
R R
A R C
R

RAC = R/3 + R/6 + R/3 = 5R/6

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7. The figure below shows the resistance - length (R - L) relationships of two wires S and
T at a fixed temperature. The cross section area of T is twice that of S. The equations
of the relationships are indicated beside each trend line.

Fig 1.1

(a) Using evidence from the graph, show that the wires used to determine the two
relationships are made from the same material.

At L = 4 m

RS = 0.22
S = RS AS /L
= 5.5 x 10-8  m

RT = 0.11
T = RT AT /L
= 5.5 x 10-8  m
= S
Same material as the resisitivity are the same.

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(b) Explain, by the flow of electrons, how might the temperature affect the trend line
of wire S as shown in Fig 1.1?

As temperature increases, the atoms in the wire vibrates more

Flow of electrons is reduced as atoms vibrate more, hence resistance of wire
increases
The new trend line will be above the old line

(c) Draw in Fig 1.1 the trend line of wire S at a higher temperature.

Extrapolation must pass thru origin… see graph

(d) A student suggests that an enamel coated wire with a cross sectional area of 7.0
mm2 may be replaced by seven strands of thinner enamel coated wires each
having a cross sectional area of 1.0 mm2 but twisted together as shown in figure
below.

Explain, with mathematical evidence, if you agree with the student.

Yes.
The resistance of each thin strand is 7 times more or 7R
Twisted together, strands form a parallel circuit. Effective resistance = (7/7R) -1 = R

(e) In actual, wires with multiple strands are not coated with enamel. However,
suggest a practical advantage of using wire made with multiple thinner strands
compare to a single strand wire of the same cross sectional area.

Multistrand wires are more flexible. OR

Lower chances of overheating as the expose area is larger. OR
Wire still works with one strand damaged.

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