IBDP Physics B.

5 Worksheet

1. Four identical resistors, each of resistance 𝑅, are connected as

shown.

What is the effective resistance between P and Q?

3𝑅
A. 4

B. 𝑅
4𝑅
C.
3

D. 4𝑅

2. Conductor X is connected to a cell of emf E. A power of 16 W is dissipated in X.

Conductor Y is made from the same material with the same diameter as X but is twice as long. A
cell of emf 2E is connected to Y.

Both cells have negligible internal resistance.

What power is dissipated in Y?

A. 8.0 W

B. 16 W

C. 32 W

D. 64 W

3. Four identical resistors, each of resistance 𝑅, are connected as shown.

What is the effective resistance between P and Q?

3𝑅
A. 4

B. 𝑅
4𝑅
C.
3

D. 4𝑅

4. Conductor X is connected to a cell of emf E. A power

of 16 W is dissipated in X.

Conductor Y is made from the same material with the

same diameter as X but is twice as long. A cell of emf
2E is connected to Y.

Both cells have negligible internal resistance.

What power is dissipated in Y?

IBDP Physics B.5 Worksheet

A. 8.0 W

B. 16 W

C. 32 W

D. 64 W

7. Three lamps (X, Y and Z) are connected as shown in the circuit. The emf of the cell is 20 V. The
internal resistance of the cell is negligible. The power dissipated by X, Y and Z is 10 W, 20 W and 20 W
respectively.

What is the voltage across Lamp X and Lamp Y?

Lamp X Lamp Y

A. 16 V 4V

B. 4V 16 V

C. 4V 8V

D. 16 V 16 V

8. X and Y are two conductors with the same diameter, made from
the same material. Y is twice the length of X. They are connected in series to a cell of emf ε.

X dissipates power P.

What is the power dissipated by Y?

𝑃
A.
2

B. P

C. 2P

D. 4P

9. Four identical lamps are connected in a circuit. The current through lamp L is I.
IBDP Physics B.5 Worksheet

The lamps are rearranged using the same cell.

What is the current through L?

𝐼
A.
4

𝐼
B. 2

C. I

D. 2I

10. Two resistors of equal resistance R are connected with two cells of emf ε and 2ε. Both cells
have negligible internal resistance.

What is the current in the resistor labelled X?

𝜀
A. 2𝑅

3𝜀
B. 2𝑅
𝜀
C. 𝑅

3𝜀
D.
𝑅

11. A variable resistor is connected to a cell with emf ε and internal resistance r as shown. When
the current in the circuit is I, the potential difference
measured across the terminals of the cell is V.

The resistance of the variable resistor is

doubled.

What is true about the current and the potential

difference?

Current Potential difference

A. 𝐼 greater than V
greater than 2

B. 𝐼 greater than V
less than 2

C. 𝐼 equal to V
greater than 2

D. 𝐼 equal to V
less than 2
IBDP Physics B.5 Worksheet

12. Two resistors of equal resistance R are connected with two cells of emf ε and 2ε. Both cells
have negligible internal resistance.

What is the current in the resistor labelled X?

𝜀
A. 2𝑅

3𝜀
B. 2𝑅

𝜀
C.
𝑅

3𝜀
D. 𝑅

13. (a) A cell of negligible internal resistance and electromotive force (emf) 6.0 V is connected to
three resistors R, P and Q.

R is an ohmic resistor. The I-V characteristics of P and Q are shown in the graph.

The current in P is 0.40 A.

(a.i) Show that the current in Q is 0.45 A. [3]

IBDP Physics B.5 Worksheet

(a.ii) Calculate the resistance of R. [2]

(a.iii) Calculate the total power dissipated in the circuit. [1]

(b) Resistor P is removed. State and explain, without any calculations, the effect of this on the
resistance of Q. [2]
IBDP Physics B.5 Worksheet

15. An electrically heated pad is designed to keep a pet warm.

The pad is heated using a resistor that is placed inside the pad. The dimensions of the resistor
are shown on the diagram. The resistor has a resistance of 4.2 Ω and a total length of 1.25 m.

diagram not to scale

When there is a current in the resistor, the temperature in the pad changes from a room
temperature of 20 °C to its operating temperature at 35 °C.

(a) The designers state that the energy transferred by the resistor every second is 15 J.

Calculate the current in the resistor. [1]

(b) The designers wish to make the resistor from carbon fibre.

The graph shows the variation with temperature, in Kelvin, of the resistivity of carbon fibre.
IBDP Physics B.5 Worksheet

(b.i) The resistor has a cross-sectional area of 9.6 × 10−6 m2.

Show that a resistor made from carbon fibre will be suitable for the pad. [3]

(b.ii) The power supply to the pad has a negligible internal resistance.

State and explain the variation in current in the resistor as the temperature of the pad increases.

[2]

(c) When there is a current in the resistor, magnetic forces act between the resistor strips.

For the part of the resistor labelled RS,

(c.i) outline the magnetic force acting on it due to the current in PQ. [1]
IBDP Physics B.5 Worksheet

(c.ii) state and explain the net magnetic force acting on it due to the currents in PQ and TU. [2]

(d) The design of the pad encloses the resistor in a material that traps air. The design also
places the resistor close to the top surface of the pad.

Explain, with reference to thermal energy transfer, why the pad is designed in this way. [3]
IBDP Physics B.5 Worksheet

18. In the circuit shown, the battery has an emf of 12 V and negligible internal resistance. Three
identical resistors are connected as shown. The resistors each have a resistance of 10 Ω.

The resistor L is removed. What is the change in potential at X?

A. Increases by 2 V

B. Decreases by 2 V

C. Increases by 4 V

D. Decreases by 4 V

19. Two cells are connected in parallel as shown below. Each cell has an emf of 5.0 V and
an internal resistance of 2.0 Ω. The lamp has a resistance of 4.0 Ω. The ammeter is ideal.

What is the reading on the ammeter?

A. 1.0 A

B. 1.3 A

C. 2.0 A

D. 2.5 A

20. Three identical resistors each of resistance R are connected with a variable resistor X
as shown. X is initially set to R. The current in the cell is 0.60 A.

The cell has negligible internal resistance.

X is now set to zero. What is the current in the cell?

A. 0.45 A

B. 0.60 A

C. 0.90 A

D. 1.80 A
IBDP Physics B.5 Worksheet

21. A battery of negligible internal resistance is connected to a lamp. A second identical lamp
is added in series. What is the change in potential difference across the first lamp and what is the
change in the output power of the battery?

22. A circuit consists of a cell of emf E = 3.0 V and four resistors connected as shown. Resistors R1
and R4 are 1.0 Ω and resistors R2 and R3 are 2.0 Ω.

What is the voltmeter reading?

A. 0.50 V

B. 1.0 V

C. 1.5 V

D. 2.0 V

23. Two conductors S and T have the V/I characteristic graphs shown below.

When the conductors are placed in the circuit below, the reading
of the ammeter is 6.0 A.

What is the emf of the cell?

A. 4.0 V

B. 5.0 V

C. 8.0 V

D. 13 V
IBDP Physics B.5 Worksheet

24. For a real cell in a circuit, the terminal potential difference is at its closest to the emf when

A. the internal resistance is much smaller than the load resistance.

B. a large current flows in the circuit.

C. the cell is not completely discharged.

D. the cell is being recharged.

25. A circuit contains a variable resistor of maximum resistance R and a fixed resistor, also
of resistance R, connected in series. The emf of the battery is 6.0 V and its internal resistance is
negligible.

What are the initial and final voltmeter readings when the variable resistor is increased from an
initial resistance of zero to a final resistance of R?

26. The diagram shows two cylindrical wires, X and Y. Wire X has a length 𝑙, a diameter 𝑑, and
𝑑 𝜌
a resistivity 𝜌. Wire Y has a length 2𝑙, a diameter of 2 and a resistivity of 2 .

resistance of X
What is resistance of Y?

A. 4

B. 2

C. 0.5

D. 0.25
IBDP Physics B.5 Worksheet

27. In the circuits shown, the cells have the same emf and zero internal resistance. All resistors are
identical.

What is the order of increasing power dissipated in each circuit?

28. Three identical resistors of resistance R are connected as shown to a battery with a
R
potential difference of 12 V and an internal resistance of 2 . A voltmeter is connected across one of
the resistors.

What is the reading on the voltmeter?

A. 3 V

B. 4 V

C. 6 V

D. 8 V

29. A mass of 1.0 kg of water is brought to its boiling point of

100 °C using an electric heater of power 1.6 kW.

A mass of 0.86 kg of water remains after it has boiled for 200 s.

The electric heater has two identical resistors connected in parallel.

IBDP Physics B.5 Worksheet

The circuit transfers 1.6 kW when switch A only is closed. The external voltage is 220 V.

(a.i) The molar mass of water is 18 g mol−1. Estimate the average speed of the water molecules
in the vapor produced. Assume the vapor behaves as an ideal gas. [2]

(a.ii) State one assumption of the kinetic model of an ideal gas. [1]

(b.i) Estimate the specific latent heat of vaporization of water. State an appropriate unit for your
answer. [2]
IBDP Physics B.5 Worksheet

(b.ii) Explain why the temperature of water remains at 100 °C during this time. [1]

(c) The heater is removed and a mass of 0.30 kg of pasta at −10 °C is added to the
boiling water.

Determine the equilibrium temperature of the pasta and water after the pasta is added. Other
heat transfers are negligible.

Specific heat capacity of pasta = 1.8 kJ kg−1 K−1

Specific heat capacity of water = 4.2 kJ kg−1 K−1 [3]

(d.i) Show that each resistor has a resistance of about 30 Ω. [1]

(d.ii) Calculate the power transferred by the heater when both switches are closed. [2]
IBDP Physics B.5 Worksheet

30. A photovoltaic cell is supplying energy to an external circuit. The photovoltaic cell can
be modelled as a practical electrical cell with internal resistance.

The intensity of solar radiation incident on the photovoltaic cell at a particular time is at
a maximum for the place where the cell is positioned.

The following data are available for this particular time:

Operating current = 0.90 A

Output potential difference to external circuit = 14.5 V
Output emf of photovoltaic cell = 21.0 V
Area of panel = 350 mm × 450 mm

(a) Explain why the output potential difference to the external circuit and the output emf of the
photovoltaic cell are different. [2]

(b) Calculate the internal resistance of the photovoltaic cell for the maximum intensity condition
using the model for the cell. [3]
IBDP Physics B.5 Worksheet

(c) The maximum intensity of sunlight incident on the photovoltaic cell at the place on the Earth’s
surface is 680 W m−2.

A measure of the efficiency of a photovoltaic cell is the ratio

energy available every second to the external circuit

.
energy arriving every second at the photovoltaic cell surface

Determine the efficiency of this photovoltaic cell when the intensity incident upon it is at a
maximum. [3]

(d) State two reasons why future energy demands will be increasingly reliant on sources such
as photovoltaic cells. [2]
IBDP Physics B.5 Worksheet

32. A resistor of resistance R is connected to a fully charged cell of negligible internal resistance. A
constant power P is dissipated in the resistor and the cell discharges in time t. An identical cell is
connected in series with two identical resistors each of resistance R.

What is the power dissipated in each resistor and the time taken to discharge the cell?

33. Two cells each of emf 9.0 V and internal resistance 3.0 Ω are connected in series. A 12.0 Ω
resistor is connected in series to the cells. What is the current in the resistor?

A. 0.50 A

B. 0.75 A

C. 1.0 A

D. 1.5 A

34. Charge flows through a liquid. The charge flow is made up of positive and negative ions. In one
second 0.10 C of negative ions flow in one direction and 0.10 C of positive ions flow in the opposite
direction.

What is the magnitude of the electric current flowing through the liquid?

A. 0 A

B. 0.05 A

C. 0.10 A

D. 0.20 A

35. Most power stations rely on a turbine and a generator to produce electrical energy. Which
power station works on a different principle?

A. Nuclear

B. Solar

C. Fossil fuel

D. Wind
IBDP Physics B.5 Worksheet

36. In an experiment to determine the resistivity of a material, a student measures the resistance of
several wires made from the pure material. The wires have the same length but different diameters.

Which quantities should the student plot on the 𝑥-axis and the 𝑦-axis of a graph to obtain a
straight line?

37. The resistance of component X decreases when the intensity of

light incident on it increases. X is connected in series with a cell of
negligible internal resistance and a resistor of fixed resistance. The
ammeter and voltmeter are ideal.
What is the change in the reading on the ammeter and the change in
the reading on the voltmeter when the light incident on X is increased?

38. What is the unit of electrical potential difference expressed in fundamental SI units?

A. kg m s-1 C-1

B. kg m2 s-2 C-1

C. kg m2 s-3 A-1

D. kg m2 s-1 A
IBDP Physics B.5 Worksheet

39. Three resistors of resistance 1.0 Ω, 6.0 Ω and 6.0 Ω are connected as shown. The voltmeter is
ideal and the cell has an emf of 12 V with negligible internal resistance.

What is the reading on the voltmeter?

A. 3.0 V

B. 4.0 V

C. 8.0 V

D. 9.0 V

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