THEORY

CURRENT ELECTRICITY

SYLLABUS :
Electric current, Drift velocity, Ohm's law, Electrical resistance, Resistances of different materials,
V-I characteristics of Ohmic and nonohmic conductors, Electrical energy and power, Electrical
resistivity, Colour code for resistor, Series and parallel combinations of resistors; Temperature
dependence of resistance. Electric Cell and its internal resistance, potential difference and emf of
a cell, combination of cells in series and in parallel. Kirchhoff's laws and their applications.
Wheatstone bridge, Metre bridge. Potentiometer-principle and its applications.
ELECTRIC CURRENT :
(a) When a charge flows in a conductor from one place to the other, then the rate of flow of charge
is called electric current(i)
(b) The electric current in measured by 'rate of flow of charge'.
or
(c) Charge flowing per second from any cross section of the conductor is called electric current,
Ch arg e dq q
Current i = = , if flow is uniform i=
Time dt t
(d) Unit : Ampere (A)
1 ampere = 1 coulomb/second.
i.e. if 1 coulomb of charge flows per second then 1 ampere of current is said to be
flowing.
(e) Dimension : (M0L0T0A1)
ne
(f) If n electrons pass through any cross section in every t seconds then i =
t
where e = 1.6 ◊ 10ñ19 coulomb.
(g) 1 ampere of current means the flow of 6.25 ◊ 1018 electrons per second through any cross section
of conductor
(h) Direction of flow of current is taken to be opposite to the direction of flow of electrons.
(i) Value of the current is same throughout the conductor, irrespective of the cross section of conductor
at different points.
(j) Net charge in a current carrying conductor is zero at any instant of time.
(k) Electric field outside a current carrying conductor is zero, but it is non zero inside the conductor
v
and is given by e = ñ
l
(l) Electric current is a scalar quality Although in diagrams, we represent current in a wire by an arrow
but the arrow simply indicate the direction of flow of positive charges in the wire.
CURRENT DENSITY :
(a) The current density at a point in a conductor is the ratio of the current at that point in the conductor
to the area of crossñsection of the conductor of that point.
i
(b) It is denoted by j i.e. j =
A
i = Electric current A = Area of cross section.
Note : Area 'A' is normal to current 'I'. If A is not normal to I, but makes an angle  with the
normal to current, then
 
I P

A

I 1
j= A =
normal A cos 
 
 I = j A cos  = j . A
6.25
J = 
 2 2  10 6
4

 2 ◊ 106 A/m2  200 A/cm2

(c) It is a VECTOR quantity. It's direction is the direction of motion of the positive charges at that
point.
(d) Units : ampere / meter2 (A/m2)
(e) Dimension : [M0Lñ2T0A]
(f) If,
n = number of free electrons per unit volume of conductor.
A = cross sectional area of conductor
vd = Drift. velocity. then
I = neA vd and J = ne vd
(g) Drift velocity : An applied potential difference does not give an accelerated motion to electrons
but simply gives them a small constant velocity ( 10ñ4 m/s) along the length of wire towards the
end at higher potential. This is called Drift velocity of the electrons.
Note : The speed of random motion of electrons is determined by temperature and is given by
1 3 3kT
mv2 = kT  v =
2 2 m
where m is mass of electron, T is absolute temp. and k is Boltz mann's constant.
(h) Electrons collide with the ions of metal while moving. The average timeñinterval between two
successive collisions is called relaxationñtime, denoted by .


The relations between relaxation time () and drift velocity (vd) is given vd = ñ e E
m

OHM'S LAW :
(a) If there is no change in the physical state of a conductor (Such as temperature) then the ratio of
the potential difference applied at it's ends and the current flowing through it is constant i.e.
I

V
VI or V=IR; where, R is a constant. This is called 'Electrical resistance'
of the conductor.
(b) This is true for metallic conductors only which have free electrons.
(c) The law is not applicable for ionized gases, transistors, semiñconductors etc.

I I I Semi I
conductor
Diode Torch
(a) (b) (c) (d) Bulb

V V V V

(d) Units of resistance : ohm()

1 ohm = 1 volt / 1 ampere.
(e) Dimensions of resistance : [M1L2Tñ3A ñ2]
(f) If, L = length of conductor
R = resistance of conductor
A = cross sectional area of conductor perpendicular to current
1 L
Then, R  L , R   R=
A A
This constant of proportionality,  is called 'Resistivity' or 'Specific resistance'.
Note : Effect of stretching a wire on its resistance
R1 l 12
(i) If the length of wire is changed, then R =
2 l 22
R1 l 24
(ii) If the radius of wire is changed, then =
R2 f14
(g) Units of  = Ohmñmeter
Dimensions of = [M1 L3 Tñ3 A2]
(h) If T = Temperature in kelvin R = R0 (1 + (T ñ T0) where R0 = Resistance at temp. T0 and
 = thermal coefficient of resistance so, as T increases R increases.
(i) Resistivity is also defined as the ratio of the intensity of the electric field E at any point within the
conductor and the current density j at that point
E
= j or j  E
(j) Resistivity is characteristic property of the material of the conductor. It does not depend upon
length area etc. of the conductor. Although it depends on temperature. It increases with increase
in temperature
(k) Value of resistivity is least for conductors and most for insulators.
(l) Inverse of resistivity is called conductance of wire denoted by 
1
= 
(m) Units of conductance : Mho
Important points :
(a) If a conductor is stretched to n times of it's original length, it's new resistance will be n2 times older
one
(b) if x% of change is brought in length of a wire, it's resistance will change by 2x%. This is true
for x < 5 only.
(c) If a conductor is stretched such that it's radius is reduced to 1/nth of it's original values, then
resistance will increases n4 times similarly resistance will decrease n4 times if radius is increased n
times by contraction ñ
Effect of temperature on resistance :

Rt

(a)
R0
o t∞C

Rt = R0 (1 +  t)
where, Rt = Resistance at t0 C.
R0 = Resistance at 00 C
t = change in temperature.
= Temperature coefficient of resistance at 0∫ C
= +ve for metals.
= ñve for semi conductors and insulators.
= 0 for alloys.
(b) R2 = R1 [1 + (t2 ñ t1)]. This formula gives an approximate value.
(c) Resistance of the conductor decreases linearly with temperature and becomes zero at a specific
temperature. This temperature is called critical or transition temperature, conductor becomes a
super conductor at this temperature.
(d) There is no loss of energy in a circuit formed by super conductors. Current passed in loop
formed by superconductor will continue flowing for infinite time if there is no resistance in the loop.
COMBINATION OF RESISTANCES :
(a) Series Combination
R1 R2 R3

V
(i) Same current passes through each resistance.
(ii) Voltage across each resistance is directly proportional to it's value.
V1 = IR1, V2 = IR2
(iii) Sum of the voltages across resistances is equal to the voltage applied across the circuit i.e.
V = V1 + V2 + V3 + ..............
V = IR1 + IR2 + IR3 + ..............
V
= R1 + R2 + R3 + ..................
I
=R Where, R = equivalent resistance.
Note : If n resistance (each R) are connected in series there resultant will be nR
(iv) For a series combination of two resistances
R1 R2

(A) equivalent resistance R = R1 + R2

(B) I = V / (R1 + R2)
R1V
(C) V1 (voltage across R1) = IR1 = R  R
1 2
R2V
(D) V2 (voltage across R2) = IR2 = R  R
1 2
(b) PARALLEL COMBINATION :
i1 R1
i1 R2
A B
i1 R3

V
(i) There is same drop of potential across each resistance.
(ii) Current in each resistance is inversely proportional to the value of resistance i.e.
V V V
i1 = R , i2 = R , i3 = R etc.
1 2 3
(iii) Current flowing in the circuit is sum of the currents in individual resistances i.e.
i = i1 + i2 + i3 ,
V V V
i = R + R + R + ........
1 2 3

i 1 1 1 1
 =
= R + R + R + ....
V 1R 2 3
where R = equivalent resistance.
1
Note : (a) You are asked to find R and not in the question, so be careful.
R
(b) The equivalent resistance of parallel combination is lower than the value of lowest resistance
in the combination.
(c) For a parallel combination of two resistances .......
R1
i1 i1
i2 R2

V(R1  R2 )
(i) i = i1 + i2 = R1R2
Note : (i) If n resistances (each R) are connected in parallel, their resultant will be R/n
(ii) If n resistance are connected in series and parallel respectively the ratio of their
resultant will be nR : R/n = n2 .
KIRCHHOFF'S LAWS :
Kirchoff in 1842 gave two laws for solving complicated electrical circuits. These laws are as
followsñ
(a) First law :
In an electrical circuit, the algebraic sum of the current meeting at any junction in the circuit is zero.
OR
Sum of the currents entering the junction is equal to sum of the currents leaving the junction
 i = 0
i1 ñ i2 ñ i3 ñ i4 + i5 = 0
or i1 + i5 = i2 + i3 + i4
Note :
This law is based on law of conservation of charge. In other words, when a steady current flows
in a circuit then their is neither accumulation of charge at point in the circuit nor any charge is
removed from there.
(b) Second law : In a 'closed' mesh of a circuit the algebric sum of the products of the current and
the resistance in each part of the mesh is equal to the algebric sum of the e.m.f.'s in that mesh.
i.e.
iR = E
Important notes
(a) In applying this law, when we traverse in the direction of current then the product of the currrent
and the corresponding resistance is taken as positive, and the emf is taken as positive when we
traverse from the negative to the positive electrode of the cell through the electrolyte.
(b) This law is based on 'law of conservation of energy'.
CELLS :
(a) Electro Motive Force (EMF) : The potential difference across the terminals of a cell when it is
not giving any current is called EMF of the cell.
or
The energy given by the cell in the flow of unit charge in the whole circuit (including the cell) is
W
called the EMF of the cell. E=
Q
(b) Terminal voltage :
(i) The resistance offered by the electrolyte of the cell to the flow of current through it is called internal
resistance of the cell.
(ii) When current is drawn through the cell or current is supplied to cell then, the potential difference
across its terminals is called terminal voltage.
(iii) When i current is drawn from cell, then terminal voltage is less than it's emf E.
V=Eñir
E r

Where V = terminal voltage, r = internal resistance of battery

(iv) When current is supplied to the cell, the terminal voltage is greater than the emf E i.e.
V=E+ir
(v) Units of both emf and terminal voltage are volt.
Combinations of cells :
E1 r1 E2 r2 E3 r3

i1

(a) Series Combination :

(i) Equivalent emf E = E1 + E2 + E3 .........
Note : Direction of emf is taken into consideration.
(ii) Equivalent internal resistance r is given by r = r1 + r2 + r3 .............
E Ei
(iii) Current, i = = r  R
r R i
Imp :
(iv) For maximum current, R = r
i.e. The load resistance must be equal to the equivalent internal resistance.
nE
(v) If all emf are equal (E), then for series combinations of n such cells, I =
R  nr
E nE
Cases : (a) if nr >> R, I = (b) If nr << R, I =
r R
(c) Cells are employed in series only when internal resistance is less than the load resistance.
(b) Parallel Combination :
(i) Equivalent internal resistance,
I I I
r is + r + r + .........
r 1 2

(ii) Equivalent emf E1 r1

E1 E2 E3 Ei i1 E2 r2
  ...........  r3
r1 r2 r3 ri
E= = E3 r4
1 1 1 1
  ...............  E4
r1 r2 r3 ri R

E
(iii) Current, i =
Rr
E R

R
 (iv) When all 'n' cells with emf E and internal resistance r each, are connected in parallel,
r
then equivalent emf = E, equivalent internal resistance =
n
E
nE
(v) In this (5) case I = R  r =
n nR  r

Cases :
E
(a) If r << nR, I =
R
nE
(b) If r >> nR, I =
r
(c) This combination is used only when load resistance is lower than internal resistance.

E n
(c) Mixed combination : m
mnE
i= , For maximum current
mR  nr
Internal resistance = External resistance
R
nr
i.e. R =
m
WHEAT STONE BRIDGE :

(a) The configuration in the adjacent figure is called wheat stone bridge.
(b) If ig = 0 i.e. current in galvanometer is zero, then bridge is said to be balanced.

P R
(c) For ig = 0 (i) VD = VB (ii) =
Q S

(P  Q) (R  S)
(d) Equivalent resistance in balanced condition =
PQRS
P R
(e) If < then VB > VD and current will flow from B to D.
Q S

P R
(f) If > , the VB < VD and current will flow from D to B.
Q S

(g) Meter bridge and post office box work on this principle.
ELECTRIC ENERGY AND POWER :
Electric energy :
When a potential difference is applied across a wire, current starts flowing in it. The free electrons
collide with the positive ions of the metal and lose energy. Thus energy taken from the battery is
dissipated. The battery constantly provide energy to continue the motion of electron and hence
electric current in the circuit. This energy is given to ions of the metal during collision and thus
temperature of wire rises. Thus, energy taken from the battery gets transferred in to heat. This
energy is called electrical energy. This effect is also called 'Heating Effect of Current'.
If
R = Resistance of wire
I = Current in wire
V = Potential difference across wire.
Flow of charge in 'dt' time = Idt.
Energy dissipated dW = Vdq = VIdt,
 V = IR,
V2
 dW = VIdt = I2Rdt = dt = Vdq
R
This energy is equal to work done by battery or heat produced in the wire.
If energy is to be written in calorieñ
dW
Then dW = cal = 24 dW cal When dW is energy in Joules.
4.2
Electrical power :
The rate of loss of energy in an electrical circuit is called electrical power. It is denoted by'P'
dW V2
P= = I2 R = IV =
dt R
units of power = joule/sec, watt, horse power
1 watt = 1 joule/sec, 1 HP = 746 watt
unit of electrical energy = watt second, kilowatt hour
1 kilowatt hour (kwh) = 36 ◊ 105 Joule
Combination of electrical instrumentsñ
(a) If 220V and 40W is written on an electrical instrument then this is called it's standard Ratings. It
means that if 220V is applied across this instrument then 40W of power will be generated. Thus
V2 (220 ) 2
the resistance will be given by R= = ohm
P 40
(b) Series combination :
 (i) If total power dissipatted if P,

1 1 1 1
then = P + P + P ,
P 1 2 3

Where P'1 s are standard powers of instrument

(ii) In this combination, the bulb with least power will glow most and bulb with highest power
will glow least or we can say that bulb with highest R will glow brightest and bulb with least
R will glow least.
(c) Parallel combination :

(i) Net power dissipation P = P1 + P2 + P3

(ii) Bulb with least power will glow least or the bulb in which maximum current is flowing will
glow brightest and viceñversa.
Note :
(a) These formulae are applicable only if the voltage ratings of all the instruments are equal along with
the power source. If voltage ratings are different then circuit is solved by considering equivalent
resistances of the instruments as follows.
(b) Replace the instrument by its's equivalent resistance. If standard rating is (V/P) then it resistance is
R = V2/P
(c) Find the currents and voltages in different branches using kirchoff's first and second laws.
(d) If rating of a bulb is changed form V1/P1 to V2/P2 then

V12 V22 V22

= =R or P2 = P1
P1 P2 V12
 EXERCISE-I

Q.1 A current (I) flows through a uniform wire of diameter (d) when the mean drift velocity is V. The
same current will flow through a wire of diameter d/2 made of the same material if the mean drift
velocity of the electron is
(A) V/4 (B) V/2 (C) 4V (D) 2V
Q.2 When the resistance wire is passed through a die the crossñsection area decreases by 1%, the
change in resistance of the wire is
(A) 1% decrease (B) 1% increase
(C) 2% decrease (D) 2% increase
Q.3 When the resistance of copper wire is 0.1 and the radius is 1 mm, then the length of the wire
is (specific resistance of copper is 3.14 ◊ 10ñ8 ohm ◊ m) ñ
(A) 10 cm (B) 10 m (C) 100 m (D) 100 cm
Q.4 In the following diagram two parallelopipedA and B are of the same thickness. The arm of B is
double that of A. Compare these resistances and find out the value of RA/RB is ñ

1
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) (D) 4
2
Q.5 Net resitance between X and Y is ñ

R
(A) R (B) 2R (C) (D) 4R
2
Q.6 Net resistance between X and Y is ñ

(A) 5  (B) 10  (C) 15  (D) 60 

Q.7 Net resistance between X and Y is ñ

(A) 4  (B) 4.55  (C) 2  (D) 20 

Q.8 For the following circuits, the potential difference between X and Y in volt is ñ

2 4 8 5
(A) (B) (C) (D)
3 3 9 3
Q.9 Reading of ideal .ammeter in ampere for the following circuit is ñ

(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4

Q.10 Five identical resistance are connected as shown in fig. The equivalent
resistance between point (A) and (B) is ñ
(A) R

(B) 5R

(C) R/5

(D) 2R/5
Q.11 Four identical resistances are joined as shown in fig. The equivalent resistance between points (A)
and (B) is R1. The equivalent resistance between points A and C is R2 then ratio of R1/R2 is ñ

(A) 1 : 1 (B) 4 : 3 (C) 3 : 4 (D) 1 : 2

Q.12 In the following circuit the resultant emf between AB is ñ

(A) E1 + E2 + E3 + E4 (B) E1 + E2 + 2E3 + E4

(C) E1 + E2 + (E3/2) + E4 (D) E1 + E2 + (E3/4) + E4
Q.13 Two cells of same emf E and internal resistance r are connected in parallel with a resistance of R.
To get maximum power in the external circuit, the value of R is ñ
E
+ ñ
r

Eñ
+
r
R

r
(A) R  (B) R = r (C) R = 2 r (D) R = 4r
2
Q.14 A cell of e.m.f (E) and internal resistance (r) is connected in series with an external resistance (nr.)
then the ratio of the terminal p.d. to E.M.F is
(A) 1/n (B) 1/(n+1) (C) n/(n+1) (D) (n+1)/n
Q.15 Two electric bulbs whose resistances are in the ratio of 1 : 2 are connected in parallel to a constant
voltage source. The power's dissipated in them have the ratio
(A) 1 : 2 (B) 1 : 1 (C) 2 : 1 (D) 1 : 4
 EXERCISE-II

Q.1 A wire of resistance 0.5 m-1 is bent into a circle of radius 1m. The same wire is connected across
a diameter AB as shown in fig. The equivalent resistance is -

 
(A)  ohm (B) (   2) ohm (C) (   4) ohm (D) ( + 1) ohm
Q.2 The current (I) and voltage (V) graphs for a given metallic wire at two different temperature (T1)
and (T2) are shown in fig. It is concluded that

(A) T1 > T2 (B) T1 < T2 (C) T1 = T2 (D) T1 = 2T2

Q.3 A wire of resistance 2 is redrawn so that its length becomes four times. The resistance of the
redrawn wire is ñ
(A) 2 (B) 8 (C) 16 (D) 32
Q.4 Two wires of equal lengths and of material (x) and (y) have same resistance. The ratio of the radii
of two wires is 1 : 2. The ratio of the specific resistance of the two materials is ñ
(A) 1 : 1 (B) 1 : 2 (C) 1 : 4 (D) 4 : 1
Q.5 Twelve wires of equal resistance (R) are connected to form a cube. The effective resistance
between two diagonal ends will be
(A) 5/6 R (B) 6/5 R (C) 3R (D) 12 R
Q.6 Five cells each of e.m.f (E) and internal resistance (r) are connected in series. If due to oversight
one cell is connected wrongly ,then the equivalent e.m.f and internal resistance of the combination
is
(A) 5E and 5r (B) 3E and 3r (C) 3E and 5r (D) 5E and 4r
Q.7 In fig the equivalent resistance between points (x) and (y)

(A) 16 (B) 14  (C) 11 (D) 18

Q.8 In the circuit shown in fig, the reading of voltmeter is ñ

(A) 1.33 V (B) 0.8 V (C) 2.0 V (D) 1.6V

Q.9 If fig. the difference of potential between (B) and (D) is -

(A) + 0.67V (B) ñ0.67V (C) 2V (D) 1.33V

Q.10 In fig the current through resistance (R) is

(A) 3A (B) 13A (C) 6.5 A (D) 9A

Q.11 In the adjoining figure, the reading of an ideal voltmeter (v) is zero. Then the relation between
R , r1 , and r2 is -

r1.r2
(A) R = r2 - r1 (B) R = r1 - r2 (C) R = r1 + r2 (D) R = r  r
1 2
Q.12 In fig . the steady state voltage drop across capacitor (C) is

VR1
  VR 3 VR1
(A) V (B) R 3  R1.R 3  (C) R  R (D) R  R
  R1  R 3  1 3 1 3

Q.13 In fig the current in 3 and 6 resistance is respectively-

(A) 7.33 A , 3.067A (B) 3.67A , 7.33 A

(C) 6A , 3A (D) 3A , 6A
Q.14 Statement 1 : When cells are connected in parallel to the external load, the effective e.m.f increases.
Statement 2 : Because effective internal resistance of cells decreases.
(A) Both Statement-1 and Statement-2 are true, and Statement-2 is the correct explanation of State-
ment-1.
(B) Both Statement-1 and Statement-2 are true but Statement-2 is not the correct explanation of
Statement-1.
(C) Statement-1 is true but Statement-2 is false.
(D) Statement-1 is false but Statement-2 is true.
Q.15 Statement 1 : The total resistance in series combination of resistors increases and in parallel combination
of resistors decreases.
Statement 2 : In series combination of resistors, the effective length of resistors increases and in
parallel combination of resistors, the area of cross-section of the resistors increases.
(A) Both Statement-1 and Statement-2 are true, and Statement-2 is the correct explanation of State-
ment-1.
(B) Both Statement-1 and Statement-2 are true but Statement-2 is not the correct explanation of
Statement-1.
(C) Statement-1 is true but Statement-2 is false.
(D) Statement-1 is false but Statement-2 is true.
 EXERCISE-III

Q.1 If energy consumption of this circuit is 150 watt then find the value of resistance ñ
[AIEEE-2002]

(A) 2  (B) 4  (C) 6  (D) 8 

Q.2 A wire when connected to 220 V mains supply has power dissipation P1. Now the wire is cut into two
equal pieces which are connected in parallel to the same supply. Power dissipation in this case is P2. The
P2 : P1 is ñ [AIEEE-2002]
(A) 1 (B) 4 (C) 2 (D) 3
Q.3 The length of a given cylindrical wire is increased by 100%. Due to the consequent decrease in diameter
the change in the resistance of the wire will be ñ [AIEEE-2003]
(A) 100% (B) 50% (C) 300% (D) 200%
Q.4 A 220 volt, 1000 watt bulb is connected across a 110 volt mains supply. The power consumed will be ñ
[AIEEE-2003]
(A) 500 watt (B) 250 watt (C) 1000 watt (D) 750 watt
Q.5 A 3 volt battery with negligible internal resistance is connected in a circuit as shown in the figure. The
current I in the circuit will be ñ [AIEEE-2003]

(A) 1.5 A (B) 2 A (C) 1/3 A (D) 1 A

Q.6 The total current supplied to the circuit by the battery is ñ [AIEEE-2004]

(A) 1 A (B) 2 A (C) 4 A (D) 6 A

Q.7 The resistance of the series combination of two resistance is S. When they are joined in parallel the total
resistance is P. If S = n P then the minimum possible value of n is ñ
[AIEEE-2004]
(A) 4 (B) 3 (C) 2 (D) 1
Q.8 An electric current is passed through a circut containing two wires of the same material, connected in
parallel. If the lengths and radii of the wires are in the ratio of 4/3 and 2/3, then the ratio of the currents
passing through the wires will be ñ [AIEEE-2004]
(A) 3 (B) 1/3 (C) 8/9 (D) 2
Q.9 The thermistors are usually made of ñ [AIEEE-2004]
(A) Metals with low temperature coefficient of resistivity
(B) Metals with high temperature coefficent of resistivity
(C) metal oxides with high temperature coefficient of resistivity
(D) Semiconducting meterials having low temperature coefficient of resistivity
Q.10 Time taken by a 836 W heater to heat one litre of water from 10∞C to 40∞C is ñ [AIEEE-2004]
(A) 50 s (B) 100 s (C) 150 s (D) 200 s
Q.11 A moving coil galvanometer has 150 equal divisions. Its current sensitivity is 10 divisions per milliampere
and voltage sensitivity is 2 divisions per millivolt. In order that each division reads 1 volt, the resistance
in ohms needed to be connected in series with the coil will be ñ [AIEEE-2005]
(A) 103 (B) 105 (C) 99995 (D) 9995
Q.12 In the circuit, the galvanometer G shows zero deflection. If the batteries A and B have negligible internal
resistance, the value of the resistor R will be ñ AIEEE-2005]

(A) 200  (B) 100  (C) 500  (D) 1000 

Q.13 Two sources of equal emf are connected to an external resistance R. The internal resistances of the two
sources are R1 and R2(R2 > R1). If the potential difference across the source having internal resistance
R2 is zero, then ñ [AIEEE-2005]
(A) R = R2 ◊ (R1 + R2)/(R2 ñ R1) (B) R = R2 ñ R1
(C) R = R1R2/(R1 + R2) (D) R = R1R2/(R2 ñ R1)
Q.14 An energy source will supply a constant current into the load if its internal resistance is ñ
[AIEEE-2005]
(A) equal to the resistance of the load
(B) very large as compared to the load resistance
(C) zero
(D) non-zero but less than the resistance of the load
Q.15 A material 'B' has twice the specific resistance of 'A'. A circular wire made of 'B' has twice the diameter
of a wire made of 'A'. then for the two wires to have the same resistance, the ratio B /A of their
respective lengths must be ñ [AIEEE 2006]
1 1
(A) (B) 2 (C) 1 (D)
4 2
Q.16 The Kirchhoff's first law (i = 0) and second law (iR = E), where the symbols have usual meanings,
are respectively based on ñ [AIEEE 2006]
(A) conservation of momentum, conservation of charge
(B) conservation of charge, conservation of energy
(C) conservation of charge, conservation of momentum
(D) conservation of energy, conscrvation of charge
Q.17 The current I drawn from the 5 volt source will be ñ [AIEEE 2006]

(A) 0.67 A (B) 0.17 A (C) 0.33 A (D) 0.5 A

Q.18 In a Wheatstone's bridge, three resistances P, Q and R are connected in the three arms and the fourth
arm is formed by two resistances S1 and S2 connected in parallel. the condition for the bridge to be
balance will be ñ [AIEEE 2006]
P R(S1  S 2 ) P R P 2R P R(S1  S 2 )
(A) = 2S S (B) = S S (C) = S S (D) = SS
Q 1 2 Q 1 2 Q 1 2 Q 1 2

Q.19 An electric bulb is rated 220 volt ñ 100 watt. The power consumed by it when operated on 110 volt will
be ñ [AIEEE 2006]
(A) 25 watt (B) 50 watt (C) 75 watt (D) 40 watt
Q.20 The resistance of wire is 5 ohm at 50∫C and 6 ohm at 100∫C. The resistance of the wire at 0∫C
will be [AIEEE 2007]
(A) 2 ohm (B) 1 ohm (C) 4 ohm (D) 3 ohm
Q.21 A 5 V battery with internal resistance 2  and a 2V battery with internal resistance 1 are connected to
a 10 resistor as shown in the figure. [AIEEE-2008]
P2

5V 2V
10
2 1

P1
The current in the 10  resistor is -
(A) 0.03 A P1 to P2 (B) 0.03 A P2 to P1 (C) 0.27 A P1 to P2 (D) 0.27 A P2 to P1
Directions : Questions No. 22 and 23 are based on the following paragraph. (2 Questions)
Consider a block of conducting material of resistivity ëí shown in the figure. Current ëIí enters at ëAí and
leaves from ëDí. We apply superposition principle to find voltage ëVí developed between ëBí and ëCí.
The calculation is done in the following steps :
(i) Take current ëIí entering from ëAí and assume it to spread over a hemispherical surface in the
block.
(ii) Calculate field E(r) at distance ërí from A by using Ohmís law E = j, where j is the current per
unit area at ërí.
(iii) From the ërí dependence of E(r), obtain the potential V(r) at r.
(iv) Repeat (i), (ii) and (iii) for current ëIí leaving ëDí and superpose results for ëAí and ëDí.
 I V I

a b a
A B C D

Q.22 For current entering at A, the electric field at a distance ërí from A is - [AIEEE-2008]
I I I I
(A) (B) (C) (D)
r 2
2r 2
4r 2
8r 2
Q.23 V measured between B and C is - [AIEEE-2008]
I I I I I I I
(A) ñ ( a  b) (B) ñ 2 (a  b ) (C) 2(a  b) (D) ñ (a  b)
a 2a a
Q.24 Statement-1 : The temperature dependence of resistance is usually given as R = R0(1 + t). The
resistance of a wire changes from 100 to 150 when its temperature is increased from 27∫C to
227∫C. This implies that  = 2.5 ◊ 10ñ3/∫C.
Statement-2 : R = R0(1 + t) is valid only when the change in the temperature T is small and
R = (R ñ R0) << R0. [AIEEE-2009]
(A) Statement-1 is true, Statement-2 is true; Statement-2 is a correct explanation for Statement-1
(B) Statement-1 is true. Statement-2 is true; Statement-2 is not a correct explanation for Statement-1
(C) Statement-1 is true, Statement-2 is false.
(D) Statement-1 is false, Statement-2 is true.
Q.25 Two conductors have the same resistance at 0∞C but their temperature coefficients of resistance are 1
and 2. The respective temperature coefficients of their series and parallel combinations are nearly
1 2 1   2 1   2
(A) 1 + 2,    (B) , [AIEEE-2010]
1 2 2 2
1   2 1   2
(C) , 1   2 (D) 1   2 ,
2 2
Q.26 If a wire is stretched to make it 0.1% longer, its resistance will : [AIEEE-2011]
(A) increase by 0.05% (B) increase by 0.2%
(C) decrease by 0.2% (D) decrease by 0.05%