Current Electricity- 10 Year Important Questions

Question 1. The plot of the variation of potential difference across a combination of three identical cells in
series, versus current is as shown in the figure. What is the emf of each cell? (Delhi 2008)

Answer: Total emf of three cells in series = P.D corresponding to zero current = 6V
∴ The emf of each cell = 63 = 2V

Question 2. A wire of resistance 8R is bent in the form of a circle. What is the effective resistance between the
ends of a A diameter 2AB? (Delhi 2008)

Answer: The effective resistance between A and BO

Question 3. Two conducting wires X and Y of same diameter across a battery. If the number density of electro
in X is twice that in Y, find the ratio of drift velocity of electrons in the two wires. (All India 2008)
Answer:

Question 4. A resistance R is connected across a cell of emf ε and internal resistance r. A potentiometer now
measures the potential difference between the terminals of the cell as V. write the expression for ‘r’ in terms of
ε, V and R.
Answer:

Question 7. Two wires of equal length, one of copper and the other of manganin have the same resistance.
Which wire is thicker? (All India 2012)
Answer:

For both wires R and l are same and ρ copper < p manganin.
∴ A copper < A manganin
i.e. Manganin wire is thicker than copper wire.

Question 8. A 10 v battery of negligible internal resistance is connected across a 200 V battery and a resistance
of 38Ω as shown in the figure. Find the value of the current in circuit. (Delhi 2013)

Answer:
Applying Kirchhof s rule, we get 200 -10 = 190 V

Question 9. A 5 V battery of negligible internal resistance is connected across a 200 V battery and a resistance
of 39 Ω as shown in the figure. Find the value of the current (Delhi 2013)

Answer:

Question 13. Why is the terminal voltage of a cell less than its emf? (Comptt. All India 2013)
Answer: Terminal voltage of a cell is less than emf because some curent, however small, may be is drawn to measure
terminal voltage due to internal resistance of the cell.

Question 15. Define the term ‘Mobility’ of charge carriers in a conductor. Write its S.I. unit. (Delhi 2014)
Answer: Mobility of charge carriers is defined as the magnitude of the drift velocity per unit electric field E.

Question 16. Show variation of resistivity of copper as a function of temperature in a graph. (Delhi 2014)
Answer:

Question 18. Define the term ‘drift velocity’ of charge carriers in a conductor and write its relationship with
the current flowing through it. (Delhi 2014)
Answer: Drift velocity. It is the velocity with which a free electron in the conductor gets drifted under the influence of
the applied external electric field

Question 21. Write the expression for the drift velocity of charge carriers in a conductor of length T across
which a potential difference ‘V’ is applied. (Comptt. All India 2014)
Answer:

Question 22. How does one explain increase in resistivity of a metal with increase of temperature? (Comptt. All
India 2014)
Answer: With increase in temperature, the relaxation time (average time between successive collisions) decreases and
hence resistivity increases. Also,

resistivity increases, as x decreases with increase in temperature.

Question 25. The plot of the variation of potential difference A across a combination of three identical cells in
series, versus current is shown along the question. What is the emf and internal resistance of each cell? (All
India 2016)

Answer:

(From the graph, current is 1A corresponding to V = 0)

Question 27. Nichrome and copper wires of same length and same radius are connected in series. Current I is
passed through them. Which wire gets heated up more? Justify your answer. (Outside Delhi 2017)
Answer:
Nichrome :
Nichrome wire gets heated up more because of higher resistivity of nichrome.
ResistivityNI > ResistivityCu

Question 29. Two metallic wires of the same material have the same length but cross-sectional area is in the
ratio 1 : 2. They are connected
(i) in series and
(ii) in parallel. Compare the drift velocities of electrons in the two wires in both the cases (i) and (ii). (All India
2008)
Answer:

Question 30. Derive an expression for the resistivity of a good conductor, in terms of the relaxation time of
electrons. (All India 2008)
Answer: Drift speed gained by an electron under the effect of electric field E→ in a conductor is

Question 33. Derive an expression for drift velocity of free electrons in a conductor in terms of relaxation time.
(Delhi 2009)
Answer: In the absence of electric field the electrons motion is random and the net velocity is zero. In the presence of
electric field, they tend to flow opposite to that of the electric field in the conduction. If an electric field ‘E’ is applied
across a length l of the conductor, the electrons will experience an acceleration, a = eEm.
If the average time for the acceleration is x, the velocity required is

Question 34. Calculate the current drawn from the battery in the given network. (All India 2009)
Answer:

Question 38. In the given circuit, assuming point A to be at zero potential, use Kirchhoff’s rules to determine
the potential A at point B. (All India 2011)

Answer:
Applying Kirchhoff’s law by moving along ACDE,
we get,

Question 40. A cell of emf E and internal resistance r is connected to two external resistances R1 and R2 and a
perfect ammeter. The current in the circuit is measured in four different situations:
(i) without any external resistance in the circuit
(ii) with resistance R2 only
(iii) with R1 and R2 in series combination
(iv) with R1 and R2 in parallel combination
The currents measured in the four cases are 0.42A, 1.05A, 1.4A and 4.2A, but not necessarily in that order.
Identify the currents corresponding to the four cases mentioned above.
Answer:
Question 41. A battery of emf 10 V and internal resistance 3Ω is connected to a resistor. If the current in the
circuit is 0.5 A, find
(i) the resistance of the resistor;
(ii) the terminal voltage of the battery. (Comptt. Delhi 2012)
Answer:

Question 42. A battery of emf 6 V and internal resistance 2Ω is connected to a resistor. If the current in the
circuit is 0.25 A, find
(i) the resistance of the resistors;
(ii) the terminal voltage of the battery. (Comptt. Delhi)
Answer:

Question 43. The network PQRS, shown in the circuit diagram, has the batteries of 4 V and 5 V and negligible
internal resistance. A milliammeter of 20 Ω resistance is connected between P and R. Calculate the reading in
the milliammeter. (Comptt. All India 2012)

Answer: Applying loop rule to loop PQRP

-4 = 60(I – I1) – 20 I1 = 0
or – 4 = 60I – 60I1 – 20I1
or 20I1 -15 I = 1 …[+ by 4 …(i)]
Applying loop Yule to loop PRSP, we get
-5 + 200 I + 20 I1 = 0
4I1 + 40 I = 1 …[+ by 5 …(ii)]

∴ Reading of milliammeter = 0.064 A

Question 44. The network PQRS, shown m the circuit diagram, has the batteries of 5 V and 10 V and negligible
internal resistance. A milliammeter of 50Ω resistance is connected between P and R. Calculate the reading in
the milliammeter. (Comptt. All India 2012)

Answer:
Applying loop rule to loop PSRP
-10 + 100 I + 50 I1 = 0
or 100 I + 50 I1 = 10
or 10 I + 5 I1 = 1 …[+ by 10 …(i)
Applying loop rule to loop PRQP

Reading in milliammeter = 0.08A

Question 46.
An ammeter of resitance 1 Ω can measure current upto 1.0 A
(i) What must be the value of the shunt resistance to enable the ammeter to measure upto 5.0 (A)?
(ii) What is the combined resistance of the ammeter and the shunt? (Delhi 2013)
Answer:

Question 47. Explain the term ‘drift velocity’ of electrons in a conductor. Hence obtain the expression for the
current through a conductor in terms of ‘drift velocity’
Answer:
Definition : Drift velocity is defined as the velocity with which fress electrons in a conductor get drifted in a direction
opposite to the direction of the applied field. Its unit is m-1s and dimensions [LT-1]
Expression : The magnitude of electric field set up across the conductor is given by
E = Vl
Let n be the number of free electrons per unit volume of the conductor.
Then, total number of free electrons in the conductor
= n × Volume of the conductor
Hence, Q = (nAl)e
Time taken by the charge to cross the conductor length l is given by

Question 48. Write the expression for the current in a conductor of cross-sectional area A in terms of drift
velocity. (Comptt. All India 2013)
Answer: Drift velocity. Drift velocity is defined as the velocity of the free electrons with which they get drifted
towards the positive terminal under the influence of the external electric field. The drift velocity of electron is of the
order of 10-5 m/sec. Expression for current in terms of drift velocity is :

Expression : Consider a conductor of length l and of uniform cross-section area A .

∴ Volume of the conductor = Al
If n is the number of the conductors, then total number of free electrons in the conductor = Aln
If e is the charge on ” each electron, then
total charge on all A the free electrons in the conductor, q = Alne
The electric field set up across the conductor of potential difference V is given by,

Due to this field, the free electrons present in the conductor will begin to move with a drift velocity vd towards the
positive terminal of the battery
∴ Time taken by free electrons to cross the conductor,

SinceA, n and e are constants,

Therefore, the current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the drift velocity.

Question 51. Use Kirchhoff’s rules to determine the value of the current I1 flowing in the circuit shown in the
figure. (Comptt. Delhi 2013)

Answer:
Using Kirchoff’s first law at junction E, we get
I3 = I3 + I2
In loop ABCDA, using Kirchoff’s second law, we get
80 – 20 I2 + 30 I1 = 0

So (-) sign of current indicates that the direction of current is opposite to that as shown in the circuit diagram.

Question 53. A battery of emf E and internal resistance r when connected across an external resistance of 12 ft,
produces a current of 0.5 A. When connected across a resistance of 25 ft, it produces a current of 0.25 A.
Determine
(i) the emf and
(ii) the internal resistance of the cell. (Comptt. All India 2013)

Question 55. A uniform wire of resistance 12 Ω is cut into three pieces so that the ratio of the resistances R 1 :
R2 : R3 = 1 : 2 : 3 and the three pieces are connected to form a triangle across which a cell of emf 8V and
internal resistance

1 Ω is connected as shown. Calculate the current through each part of the circuit. (Comptt. All India 2013)
Answer:
Question 56. State Kirchhoff’s rules. Explain briefly how these rules are justified. (Delhi 2014)
Answer: Kirchhoff’s rules.
1. Kirchhoff’s junction rule : At any junction, the sum of the currents entering the junction is equal to the
sum of currents leaving the junction.
2. Kirchhoff’s loop rule : The algebraic sum of changes in potential in any closed loop involving resistors
and cells is zero.
These two laws are justified on the basis of law of conservation of charge and the law of conservation of energy
respectively.

Question [Link] the average drift speed of conduction electrons in a copper wire of cross-sectional area
1.0 × 10 -7 m2 carrying a current of 1.5 A. Assume the density of conduction electrons to be 9 × 1028 m-3. (All
India 2014)
Answer:

Question 59. Estimate the average drift speed of conduction electrons in a copper wire of cross-sectional area
2.5 × 10-7 m2 carrying a current of 1.8 A. Assume the density of conduction electrons to be 9 × 1028 m-3. (All
India 2014)
Answer:

Question 63. Use Kirchhoff’s rules to obtain conditions for the balance condition in a Wheatstone bridge.
Answer:
Conditions for the balance condition in a Wheatstone bridge :

Applying Kirchhoff’s loop rule to closed loop ADBA,

This is the required balance condition in a Wheatstone bridge arrangement.

Question 64. Use Kirchhoff’s rules to determine the potential difference between the points A and D when no
current flows in the arm BE of the electric network shown in the figure.

Answer: Let us consider the loop ABED.

Using Kirchhoff’s second law, we have

Question 65. Calculate the current drawn from the battery by the network of resistors shown in the figure.
(Comptt. All India 2015)

Answer: Given : Circuit diagram can be rearranged as shown below :

It forms a wheatstone’s bridge

It is the condition of null point when no current flows through BD arm, i.e. 5 Ω.
Resistances P = (1 Ω) and R = (2 Ω) are in series;
Similarly, Resistances Q = (2 Ω) and S in series,

Question 66. Using the concept of drift velocity of charge carriers in a conductor, deduce the relationship
between current density and resistivity of the conductor. (Comptt. Delhi 2015)
Answer:
The drift velocity is given by,

Question 67. Two cells of emfs 1.5 V and 2.0 V having internal resistance 0.2 Ω and 0.3 Ω respectively are
connected in parallel. Calculate the emf and internal resistance of the equivalent cell.(Delhi 2016)
Answer:
Given : E1 = 1.5 V, E2 = 2.0 V,

Question 68. A battery of emf 12V and internal resistance 2 Ω is connected to a 4 Ω resistor as shown in the
figure.
(a) Show that a voltmeter when placed across the cell and across the resistor, in turn, gives the
(b) To record the voltage and the current in the circuit, why is voltmeter placed in parallel and ammeter in
series in the circuit? (All India)

Answer:
We find from the equations (i) and (ii), the voltmeter gives the same reading, i.e. 8 V.
(b) An ammeter is connected in series because same current is flowing in the circuit, while voltmeter is connected in
parallel to measure potential difference across two points in the circuit.

Question 69. The figure shows a plot of terminal voltage ‘V’ versus the current ‘i’ of a given cell. Calculate
from the graph
(a) emf of the cell and
(b) internal resistance of the cell. (Comptt. Outside Delhi 2017)

Answer:

Question 70. A cell of emf 4 V and internal resistance 1 Ω is connected to a d.c. source of 10 V through a
resistor of 5 Ω. Calculate the terminal voltage across the cell during charging.
Answer:

Question 71. Prove that the current density of a metallic conductor is directly proportional to the drift speed of
electrons. (Delhi 2008)
Or
Derive an expression for the current density of a conductor in terms of the drift speed of electrons. (All India
2008)
Answer: Suppose a potential difference V is applied across a conductor of length l and of uniform cross-section A.
The electric field E set up inside the conductor is given by
E = Vl
Under the influence of field E→, the free electrons begin to drift in the opposite direction E→ with an average drift
velocity vd.
Let the number of electrons per unit volume or electron density = n
Charge on an electron = e
No. of electrons in length l of the conductor = n x volume of the conductor = n × Al
Total charge contained in length l of the conductor is
q = enAl … (i)
All the electrons which enter the conductor at the right end will pass through the conductor at the left end in time,

Hence the current density of a metallic conductor is directly proportional to the drift speed of electrons.

Question 72. A number of identical cells n, each of emf e, internal resistance r connected in series are charged
by a d.c. source of emf elr using a resistor R.
(i) Draw the circuit arrangement.
(ii) Deduce the expressions for
(a) the charging current and
(b) the potential difference across the combination of the cells. (Delhi 2008)
Answer:
Question 75. (i) Calculate the equivalent resistance of the given electrical network between points A and B.

(ii) Also calculate the current through CD and ACB, if a 10 V d.c. source is connected between A and B, and the
value of R is assumed as 2 Ω. (All India 2008)
Answer: (i) Equivalent circuit of the given problem is shown in the given diagram. The simplified circuit is equivalent
to a balanced wheatstone bridge.
Hence there will be no current in arm CD,

(ii) Being a balanced wheatstone bridge

Question 82. Write any two factors on which internal resistance of a cell depends. The reading on a high
resistance voltmeter, when a cell is connected across it, is 2.2 V. When the terminals of the cell are also
connected to a resistance of 5 Ω as shown in the circuit, the voltmeter reading drops to 1.8 V. Find the internal
resistance of the cell. (All India 2010)

Answer:
(a) Internal resistance of a cell depends upon :
(i) nature of electrolyte of the cell
(ii) separation between the electrodes.
(b) Given: emf of cell, e = 2.2 V, R = 5 Ω, V = 1.8 V

Question 83. Write any two factors on which internal resistance of a cell depends. The reading on a high
resistance voltmeter, when a cell is connected across it, is 2.0 V.
When the terminals of the cell are also connected to a resistance of 3Ω as shown in the circuit, the voltmeter
reading drops to 1.5 V. Find the internal resistance of the cell. (All India 2010)
Answer:
Factors affecting internal resistance of a cell :
(a) Internal resistance of a cell depends upon :
(i) nature of electrolyte of the cell
(ii) separation between the electrodes.
(b) Given: emf of cell, e = 2.2 V, R = 5 Ω, V = 1.8 V

Let r be the internal resistance of the cell

Question 84. State Kirchhoff’s rules. Use these rules to write the expressions for the current I1 I2 and I3 in the
circuit diagram shown. (All India 2010)

Answer:
(i) Kirchhoff’s junction rule : At any junction, the sum of the currents entering the junction is equal to the sum of
currents leaving the junction.
(ii) Kirchhoff’s loop rule : The algebraic sum of changes in potential-in any closed loop involving resistors and cells is
zero.
(b) According to Kirchhoff’s junction rule,
Question 85. State Kirchhoff’s rules. Apply Kirchhoff’s rales to the loops ACBPA and ACBQA to write the
expressions for the currents I1, I2 and I3 in the network. (All India 2010)

Answer: Kirchhoff’s rules :

(i) Kirchhoff’s junction rule : At any junction, the sum of the currents entering the junction is equal to the sum of
currents leaving the junction.
(ii) Kirchhoff’s loop rule : The algebraic sum of changes in potential-in any closed loop involving resistors and cells is
zero.
(b) According to Kirchhoff’s junction rule,

Numerical : Applying Kirchhoff’s rule in loop ACBPA, we have

In loop ACBQA, by Kirchhoff’s rule, we have

12I3 + 1I2 = 10 …(ii)
Subtracting (i) from (ii), we have

Question 87. Define the terms

(i) drift velocity,
(ii) relaxation time.
A conductor of length L is connected to a dc source of emf e. If this conductor is replaced by another conductor
of same material and same area of cross-section but of length 3L, how will the drift velocity change? (Delhi
2010)
Answer:
(i) Drift velocity : It may be defined as the average velocity gained by the free electrons of a conductor in the opposite
direction of the externally applied field.
(ii) Relaxation time : The average time that elapses between two successive collisions of an electron is called
relaxation time.

When length is tripled (3L), drift velocity becomes one-third of the original.
For details :
(i) Drift velocity. Drift velocity is defined as the velocity of the free electrons with which they get drifted towards the
positive terminal under the influence of the external electric field. The drift velocity of electron is of the order of 10~5
m/ sec.
Derivation. Let ‘m’ be the mass of an electron and ‘e’ be the charge on it. When an external electric field ‘E is applied,
the acceleration
acquired by an electron is given by

Let v1 v2, v3 … vn be final velocities of electrons then average velocity of the electrons is given by

Therefore, when length is tripled, the drift velocity becomes one-third.

Question 88. In the circuit shown, R1 = 4Ω, R2 = R3 = 15 Ω, R4 = 30Ω and E = 10V. Calculate the equivalent
resistance of the circuit and the current in each resistor. (Delhi 2010)
Answer:

Question 89.
In the circuit shown, R1 = 4Ω, R2 = R3 = 5Ω, R4 = 10Ω and E = 6V. Work out the equivalent resistance of the circuit
and the current in each resistor. (Delhi 2010)

Answer:

Question 90. In the figure a long uniform potentiometer wire AB is having a constant potential gradient along
its length. The null points for the two primary cells of emfs ε1 and ε2 connected in the manner shown are
obtained at a distance of 120 cm and 300 cm from the end A.
Find (i) ε1/ε2
(ii) position of null point for the cell ε1
How is the sensitivity of a potentiometer increased ?
Answer:

∴ Balancing length for cell ε1 = 210 cm

The sensitivity of a potentiometer can be increased by reducing the potential gradient.

Question 91. Using Kirchoff’s rules determine the value of unknown resistance R into circuit so that no current
flows through 4ω resistance. Also find the potential difference between A and D. (Delhi 2012)

Answer:

Question 92. Calculate the value of the resistance R in the circuit shown in the figure so that the current in the
circuit is 0.2 A. What would be the potential difference between points B and E? (All India 2012)
Answer:

Question 93. Calculate the value of the resistance R in the circuit shown in the figure so that the current is 0.2
A. What would be the potential difference between points A and B?

Answer:

Question 97. Define the current sensitivity of galvanometer. Write its S.I. unit.

Figure shows two circuits each having a galvanometer and a battery of 3 V.

When the galvanometers in each arrangment do not show any deflection, obtain the ratio R1/R2.
(All India 2012)
Answer: Current sensitivity of a galvanometer : Current sensitivity of a moving coil galvanometer is defined as
deflection produced in the galvanometer per unit current passed through it. Its SI unit is rad A-1
(i) For circuit on the left side—
If G has zero deflection, then
(ii) For circuit on the right side—
If galvanometer and battery are inter-changed, there is no change in the circuit as such.

Question 103. A resistance of R Ω draws current from a potentiometer shown in the figure.

The potentiometer has a total resistance R0 Ω. A voltage V is supplied to the potentiometer. Derive an
expression for the voltage across R when the sliding contact is in the middle of the potentiometer.
Answer:

Question 107. A cell of emf ‘E’ and internal resistance V is connected across a variable load resistor R. Draw
the plots of the terminal voltage V versus
(i) R and
(ii) the current I.
It is found that when R = 4 Ω, the current is 1 A and when R is increased to 9 Ω, the current reduces to 0.5 A.
Find the values of the emf E and internal resistance r. (Delhi 2012)
Answer:

Question 11. In the circuit shown in the figure, find the current through each resistor. (Comptt. Delhi 2012)

Answer:
Total emf of the circuit
=8V – 4V = 4V
Since two resistors 30 and 60 are connected in parallel, their combined resistance is

Since all resistors are in series,

R = 0.5 + 4.5 + 2 + 1 = 8Ω

0.5Ω A current will flow in 3 resistors, i.e., 0.5Ω, 4.5Ω and 1Ω.
Current through resistors 30 and 60

Question 116.
The reading of the (ideal) ammeter, in the circuit shown here, equals :
(i) I when key K1 is closed but key K2 is open.
(ii) I2 when both keys K1 and K2 are closed.
Find the expression for the resistance of X in terms of the resistances of R and S. (Comptt. Delhi 2012)
Answer:
Finding the expression for the resistance X
(i) Current I when K2 is open and Kj is closed E

Question 118. A student connects a cell, of emf E2 and internal resistance r2 with a cell of emf E1 and internal
resistance r1, such that their combination has a net internal combination resistance R.
Draw a diagram of the ‘set-up’ and obtain an expression for the current flowing through the resistance R.
(Comptt. Outside Delhi 2016)
Answer:
Since the net internal resistance of two cells is less than r1 it means that the two cells must have been
connected in parallel The diagram of the setup is as shown
Question 119. A resistance of R draws current from a potentiometer. The potentiometer wire, AB, has a total
resistance of R0. A voltage V is supplied to the potentiometer. Derive an expression for the voltage across R
when the sliding contact is in the middle of potentiometer wire. (Delhi 2016)

Answer:
Given : Total resistance of potentiometer wire AB = R0
Voltage applied = V,
Given resistance = R Resistance between points A and C

Question 120. (a) The potential difference applied across a given resistor is altered so that the heat produced
per second increases by a factor of 9. By what factor does the applied potential difference change?
(b) In the figure shown, an ammeter A and a resistor of 40 are connected to the terminals of the source. The
emf of the source is 12 V having an internal resistance of 2 O. Calculate the voltmeter and ammeter readings.
(Outside Delhi 2017)
Answer:
(a) Heat produced in a resistor ‘R’ when applied, potential difference V, is :

Question 122. Derive the expression for the current density of a conductor in terms of the conductivity and
applied electric field. Explain, with reason how the mobility of electrons in a conductor changes when the
potential difference applied is doubled, keeping the temperature of the conductor constant.
Answer:
(i) Derivation of expression for current density—
Using Ohm’s law,

Potential difference (V), across the ends of a conductor of length ‘l’ where field ‘E’ is applied, is given by

So, as potential is doubled, drift velocity also gets doubled, therefore, there will be no change in mobility.

Question 131.
(a) Why do the ‘free electrons’, in a metal wire, ‘flowing by themselves’, not cause any current flow in the wire?
Define ‘drift velocity’ and obtain an expression for the current flowing in a wire, in terms of the ‘drift velocity’
of the free electrons.
(b) Use the above expression to show that the ‘resistivity’, of the material of a wire, is’ inversely proportional to
the ‘relaxation time’ for the ‘free electrons’ in the metal. (Comptt. Outside Delhi 2016)
Answer:
(a) (i) The free electrons, in a metal, (flowing by themselves), have a random distribution of their velocities. Hence the
net charge crossing any cross section in a unit time is zero.
(ii) The drift velocity equals the average (time dependent) velocity acquired by free electrons, under the action of an
applied (external) electric field.
(iii) Expression for current in terms of drift velocity :
Definition : Drift velocity is defined as the velocity with which fress electrons in a conductor get drifted in a direction
opposite to the direction of the applied field. Its unit is m-1s and dimensions [LT-1]

Expression : The magnitude of electric field set up across the conductor is given by
E = Vl
Let n be the number of free electrons per unit volume of the conductor.
Then, total number of free electrons in the conductor
= n × Volume of the conductor
Hence, Q = (nAl)e
Time taken by the charge to cross the conductor length l is given by

(b) We know from above

Question 132.
(i) Derive an expression for drift velocity of electrons in a conductor. Hence deduce Ohm’s law.
(ii) A wire whose cross-sectional area is increasing linearly from its one end to the other, is connected across a
battery of V volts. Which of the following quantities remain constant in the wire?
(a) drift speed
(b) current density
(c) electric current (d) electric field Justify your answer. (Delhi 2016)
Answer:
(i)
(a) Relation between electric current and drift velocity : Consider a uniform metallic wire XY of length l and cross-
sectional area A. A potential difference V is applied across the ends X and Y of the wire. This causes an electric field
at each point of the wire of strength :
Due to this electric field, the electrons gain a drift velocity Vd opposite to direction of electric field. If q be the charge
passing through the cross-section of wire in t seconds, then, current in wire, I = qt
The distance transversed by each electron in time (t) = drift velocity × time = Vdt
If we consider two planes P and Q at a distance Vdt in a conductor, then the total charge flowing in time t will be equal
to the total charge on the electrons present within the cylinder PQ.
The volume of this cylinder = cross sectional area × length = A Vdt
If n is the number of free electrons in the wire per unit volume, then the number of free electrons in the cylinder = n(A
Vdt)
If charge on each electron is -e (e = 1.6 × 10-19 C), then the total charge flowing through a cross-section of the wire,

This is the relation between electric current and drift velocity. Negative sign shows that the direction of current is
opposite to the drift velocity.
(b) Charge = Current × time
(i) For 0 to 5 seconds, the current

Hence, q1 = (2.5) × (5) = 12.5 C

(ii) For 5 sec to 10 sec, the current = 5A
Hence, q2 = 5 × (10 – 5) = 5 × 5 = 25 C
q = q1 + q2 = 12.5 + 25 = 37.5 C
(ii) (c) Electric current will remain constant in the wire.
Reason : All other quantities depend on the cross sectional area of the wire and hence will not remain constant.

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