Name:_______________________________Class:___________________Date:____________________

Assessment

Chapter Test A
Teacher Notes and Answers
Circuits and Circuit Elements
CHAPTER TEST A (General)
1. c 13. c
2. b Given
3. c R1 = 6.0 
4. c R2 = 12 
5. a R3 = 4.0 
6. a Solution
7. a
8. c 1 1 1 1 1
= + = +
9. d R1,2 R1 R2 6.0 € 12 €
10. b
1 2.0 1.0 3.0
Given = + =
R1 = 3.0  R1,2 12 € 12 € 12 €
R2 = 6.0  12 €
R3 = 12  R1,2 = = 4.0 €
3.0
Solution
R1,2,3 = R1,2 + R3 = 4.0 € + 4.0 € = 8.0 €
1 1 1 1 1
= + + = + 14. b
Req R1 R2 R3 3.0 €
Given
1 1 R1 = 3.0 €
+ €
6.0 € 12 € R2 = 3.0 €
1 4.0 2.0 1.0
= + + = R3 = 3.0 €
Req 12 € 12 € 12 €
R4 = 3.0 €
7.0 Solution
12 € R1,2,3 = R1 + R2 + R3 =
12 €
Req = = 1.7 € € 3.0 € + 3.0 € + 3.0 € = 9.0 €
7.0
1 1 1 1 1
11. b = + = +
12. c
Req R1,2,3 R4 9.0 € 3.0 €
1 1 3.0 4.0
€ = + =
Req 9.0 € 9.0 € 9.0 €
9.0 €
Req = = 2.2 €
4.0

Original content Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Holt Physics 1 Chapter Tests
 Name:_______________________________Class:___________________Date:____________________
15. b 20. 9.0 
16. two batteries, three resistors Given
17. Bulb A has a current, but B and C do not R1 = 27 €
because the switch is open.
18. A battery has a small internal resistance. As
R2 = 81 €
the current increases, the potential difference R3 = 16 €
across this internal resistance increases and Solution
reduces the potential difference measured at
the terminals of the battery.
€
19. 27 
Given
I R1 = 0.20 A
1 1 1 1
R1 = 3.0 € = + + =
Req R1 R2 R3
€V batt = 6.0 V
1 1 1
Solution + +
27 € 81 € 16 €
€V R1 = R1 × I 1 = 3.0 € × 0.20 A = 1 0.037 0.012 0.062 0.111
€ 0.60 V = + + =
Req 1€ 1€ 1€ 1€
€V R2 = €V batt€ €V R1 = 1 1€
6.0 V € 0.60 V = 5.4 V = = 9.0 €
Req 0.111
I R2 = I R1 = 0.20 A
V 5.4 V
R2 = R2 = = 27 €
I R2 0.20 A €

Original content Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Holt Physics 2 Chapter Tests
 Assessment

Circuits and Circuit Elements

Chapter Test A
MULTIPLE CHOICE
In the space provided, write the letter of the term or phrase that best completes
each statement or best answers each question.

______ 1. Which of the following is the best description of a schematic diagram?

a. uses pictures to represent the parts of a circuit
b. determines the location of the parts of a circuit
c. shows the parts of a circuit and how the parts connect to each other
d. shows some of the parts that make up a circuit
______ 2. A circuit has a continuous path through which charge can flow from a
voltage source to a device that uses electrical energy. What is the name
of this type of circuit?
a. a short circuit c. an open circuit
b. a closed circuit d. a circuit schematic
______ 3. How does the potential difference across the bulb in a flashlight compare
with the terminal voltage of the batteries used to power the flashlight?
a. The potential difference is greater than the terminal voltage.
b. The potential difference is less than the terminal voltage.
c. The potential difference is equal to the terminal voltage.
d. It cannot be determined unless the internal resistance of the batteries
is known.
______ 4. Three resistors connected in series carry currents labeled I1, I2, and I3,
respectively. Which of the following expresses the total current, It, in
the system made up of the three resistors in series?
a. It  I1 + I2 + I3 c. It  I1  I2  I3
€1
⎛1 1 1⎞ ⎛1 1 1⎞
b. I t = ⎜ + + ⎟ d. I t = ⎜ + + ⎟
⎝ I1 I 2 I3 ⎠ ⎝ I1 I 2 I3 ⎠

______ 5. Three resistors connected in series have potential differences across

them labeled V1, V2, and V3. Which of the following expresses the
€ €
potential difference taken over the three resistors together?
a. Vt  V1 + V2 + V3
⎛ 1 1 1 ⎞
b. €V t = ⎜ + + ⎟
⎝ € V 1 € V 2 €V 3 ⎠
c. Vt  V1  V2  V3
€1
⎛ 1 1 1 ⎞
d. €V t = ⎜ + + ⎟
€ ⎝ € V 1 €V 2 € V 3 ⎠

€
 Chapter Test A continued

_______ 6. Three resistors with values of R1, R2, and R3 are connected in series.
Which of the following expresses the total resistance, Req, of the three
resistors?
a. Req  R1 + R2 + R3 c. Req  R1  R2  R3
€1
⎛1 1 1⎞ ⎛1 1 1⎞
R
b. eq ⎜ = + + ⎟ d. Req = ⎜ + + ⎟
⎝ R1 R2 R3 ⎠ ⎝ R1 R2 R3 ⎠

_______ 7. Three resistors connected in parallel carry currents labeled I1, I2, and I3.
Which of the following expresses the total current It in the combined
€ system? €
a. It = I1 + I2 + I3 c. It  I1  I2  I3
€1
⎛1 1 1⎞ ⎛1 1 1⎞
b. I t = ⎜ + + ⎟ d. I t = ⎜ + + ⎟
⎝ I1 I 2 I3 ⎠ ⎝ I1 I 2 I3 ⎠

_______ 8. Three resistors connected in parallel have potential differences across

them labeled V1, V2, and V3. Which of the following expresses the
€ €
potential difference across all three resistors?
a. Vt = V1 + V2 + V3 c. Vt  V1  V2  V3
€1
⎛ 1 1 1 ⎞ ⎛ 1 1 1 ⎞
b. €V t = ⎜ + + ⎟ d. € V t = ⎜ + + ⎟
⎝ € V 1 € V 2 €V 3 ⎠ ⎝ € V 1 €V 2 € V 3 ⎠

_______ 9. Three resistors with values of R1, R2, and R3 are connected in parallel.
Which of the following expresses the total resistance, Req, of the three
€ resistors? €
a. Req  R1 + R2 + R3 c. Req  R1  R2  R3
€1
⎛1 1 1⎞ ⎛1 1 1⎞
b. Req = ⎜ + + ⎟ d. Req = ⎜ + + ⎟
⎝ R1 R2 R3 ⎠ ⎝ R1 R2 R3 ⎠

_______10. Three resistors with values of 3.0 , 6.0 , and 12  are connected in
parallel. What is the equivalent resistance of this combination?
€ €
a. 0.26  c. 9.0 
b. 1.7  d. 33 
_______11. The equivalent resistance of a complex circuit is usually determined by
a. inspection.
b. simplifying the circuit into groups of series and parallel circuits.
c. adding and subtracting individual resistances.
d. dividing the sum of the individual resistances by the number of
resistances.
_______12. To find the current in a complex circuit, it is necessary to know the
a. potential difference in each device in the circuit.
b. current in each device in the circuit.
c. equivalent resistance of the circuit.
d. number of branches in the circuit.
 Chapter Test A continued

______13. Two resistors with values of 6.0  and 12  are connected in parallel.
This combination is connected in series with a 4.0  resistor. What is
the equivalent resistance of this combination?
a. 0.50  c. 8.0 
b. 2.0  d. 22 

______14. What is the equivalent resistance for the resistors in the figure shown
above?
a. 1.3  c. 3.0 
b. 2.2  d. 0.75 
______15. In any complex resistance circuit, the voltage across any resistor in the
circuit is always
a. less than the voltage source.
b. equal to or less than the voltage source.
c. equal to the voltage source.
d. greater than the voltage source.

SHORT ANSWER

16. Identify the types of elements in the schematic diagram above and the number
of each type.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
 Chapter Test A continued

17. Which bulb or bulbs will have a current in

the schematic diagram shown on the right?
______________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
18. Why does the potential difference measured at the terminals of a battery
decrease as the amount of current supplied to a load increases?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

PROBLEM
19. A current of 0.20 A passes through a 3.0  resistor. The resistor is connected
in series with a 6.0 V battery and an unknown resistor. What is the resistance
value of the unknown resistor?

20. Three resistors with values of 27 , 81 , 16 , respectively, are connected in

parallel. What is their equivalent resistance?