Higher Physics

5.2 Electric Circuits

1. The circuit opposite contains a 12 V battery with three similar bulbs all in series.
(a) What is the potential difference across CD?
(b) What is the potential difference across BD?
(c) What is the potential difference across AD?
(d) What happens to the other bulbs if one bulb should blow?
2. The circuit opposite contains three similar bulbs all in parallel and a 12 V
battery.
(a) What is the potential difference across AB?
(b) What is the potential difference across CD?
(c) What is the potential difference across !?
(d) What happens to the other bulbs if one bulb should blow?
3. The dia"ram shows different combinations of resistors. Calculate the total resistance of each
combination.
4. #i$en three %.& resistors' show how to connect them to ma(e)
(a) 1*.& (b) +.& (c) 2.&
5. A ,&& W iron is used on an American 12& V mains supply.
(a) Calculate the current drawn by the heatin" element.
(b) Calculate the resistance of the heatin" element.
(c) What resistor should be placed in series with the iron so that it may be used on a 2,& V
supply? -.o that the same current is drawn./
6. A set of 12 Christmas tree li"hts operate from a 2+ V supply. They are all similar 1.& W bulbs
connected in parallel.
(a) What happens to the other bulbs if one bulb blows?
(b) What is the $olta"e across each bulb?
(c) Calculate the current throu"h each bulb in mA.
(d) Calculate the resistance of each bulb.
7. Two resistors' 12 and 2+ ' are connected in series across a 0.& V battery.
(a) Write down the total resistance across the battery.
(b) Calculate the current which flows from the battery.
(c) What is the current which flows throu"h the 12 resistor?
(d) What is current throu"h the 2+ resistor?
(e) Calculate the $olta"e across each resistor.
8. The dia"ram below shows a circuit to show the le$el of li1uid in a tan(. The $ariable resistor' 2' is
made from a len"th of resistance wire 34 and a slidin" contact. When the tan( is empty the slidin"
contact is at 3 and when it is full the slidin" contact is at 4.
(a) What happens to the ammeter readin" as the tan( is filled?
(b) The resistance of 2 can $ary from & to ,, . Calculate
the ammeter readin" when the tan( is full.
(c) Calculate the ammeter readin" when the tan( is empty.
(d) 5plain why the , resistor is included in the circuit.
(e) This apparatus is a model of a system used in cars. Which system is it?
9. A student sets up the circuit below. 6t contains a 12 V power supply with two resistors in parallel and
a third resistor in series. The readin" on the $oltmeter V is *.& V. The readin" on the ammeter A is
2.& A.
(a) What is the readin" on the ammeter A7?
(b) What is the readin" on the $oltmeter V1?
(c) 8se 9hm:s law to calculate the $alue of resistor 21.
(d) 8se 9hm:s law to calculate the readin" on the
ammeter A2.
(e) 5plain' in a full sentence' the relationship between
the readin" on the ammeter A and the two
ammeter readin"s' A1 and A2.
() ;ence what is the readin" on the ammeter A1?
(g) Calculate the $alue of resistor 22.
1!. !or the circuit on the ri"ht find)
(a) the resistance of the parallel section'
(b) the total resistance' (c) the total current'
(d) the potential difference across' and the current throu"h'
each resistor.
11. Consider the diode circuit opposite with the switch closed.
(a) What is the readin" on the ammeter and the readin" on the
$oltmeter?
(b) The switch is now opened. What is the readin" on the
ammeter and on the $oltmeter?
12. The dia"ram shows a li"ht emittin" diode -<D/ circuit.
An <D needs about 1.= V to "low at normal bri"htness.
(a) 5plain why the resistor 2 is needed in the circuit.
(b) 5plain what happens to the bri"htness of the <D when the
$alue of 2 is chan"ed so that the ammeter readin" increases.
(c) 5plain what happens to the bri"htness of the <D if the
battery terminals are re$ersed.
(d) Calculate the $alue of 2 "i$en that the <D needs 2, mA for normal bri"htness.
13. The dia"ram shows a li"ht dependant resistor -<D2/ in a
potential di$ider circuit. A li"ht beam falls on the <D2.
(a) 5plain what happens to the $oltmeter readin" when
the li"ht intensity increases.
(b) 5plain what happens to the $oltmeter readin" if the
battery terminals are re$ersed.
(c) At a certain li"ht intensity' the resistance of the <D2 is
1&& . Calculate the meter readin".
14 The dia"ram shows a thermistor circuit. ;eat from a
student:s fin"er is enou"h to show a readin" on the
$oltmeter.
(a) 5plain what happens to the meter readin" when the
temperature increases.
(b) At a certain temperature' the resistance of the
thermistor is *& . Calculate the meter readin".