Ch14/P.

14 Electric Circuits

14.1 Charges in Motion

Warm-up 14.1 (p. 28)

1 Alarm clock < TV set < rice-cooker < air-conditioner
2 The bulb could be broken, the battery is exhausted or more cells should be used.
3
Object battery bulb switch
Circuit
symbol

Object resistor ammeter voltmeter

Circuit
symbol

Check-point 1 (p. 30)

1 C
2 C
3 Charges, amperes, electrons, 1, greater
4 Negative, protons or positive ions

Practice 14.1 (p. 31)

1 D
2 D
3 (a) Doubled b) Halved
4 (a) 0.49 A (b) 67 mA
5 (a) & (b) (c)

6 By Q = It,
Q = 20 × 10−3 × 0.1 = 2 × 10−3 C
2 × 10−3 C of charge passes through a cow.
Since the size of the charge of an electron is 1.6 × 10−19 C,
 Ch14/P.2

2 × 10 −3
number of electrons passing through the cow = = 1.25 × 1016
1.6 × 10 −19
There are 1.25 × 1016 electrons passing through the cow.
 Ch14/P.3

14.2 Electrical Energy and Voltage

Warm-up 14.2 (p. 32)

The third and the forth statements.

Check-point 2 (p .35)
E 12
1 B By Q = ⇒ Q= =4C
V 3
2 9J By E = QV = 1 × 9 = 9 J
3 1, volts
4 Volts

Practice 14.2 (p. 36)

1 B
2 A
3 C

4 (a) Flow of energy (heat) occurs when there is a temperature difference between objects in contact.
Flow of charges occurs when the voltage across two points in a circuit is not zero.
(b) A pump is necessary to keep water flowing in pipes.
A battery is necessary to keep charges flowing in a circuit.

5 False
By E = QV, if the voltage of a cell is 2 V, 2 J of energy will be given to 1 C of charge.

6 (a) Since the cells are connected in series,

total voltage = 1.5 + 1.5 = 3 V
(b) Since the cells are connected in parallel,
total voltage = 1.5 V
 Ch14/P.4

14.3 Resistance

Warm-up 14.3 (p. 38)

1 The second and the third statements.
2 Decrease.

Check-point 3 (p. 44)

1 B
In both cases, the battery, the ammeter and the resistor/iron nail are connected in series, and the
voltmeter and the resistor/iron nail are connected in parallel. Since the battery, the ammeter and the
voltmeter are assumed to be ideal, the voltage across the resistor/iron nail should be the same as that of
the battery, i.e. 1.4 V.
2 A
3 Unchanged, unchanged
4 Can
Series, ammeter, parallel
V= IR
Length, cross-sectional area, πr2

Practice 14.3 (p. 45)

1 A
2 A
3 C
4 (a) Halved
(b) Halved

5 By V = IR = (10 × 10−3) × (1 × 103) = 10 V

The voltage across the resistor is 10 V.

V 220
6 (a) By R = = = 20 Ω
I 11
The resistance of the heating element is 20 Ω.
V 110
(b) By I = = = 5.5 A
R 20
The current flowing through the heating element is 5.5 A.

l
7 For a metal wire, its resistance R ∝ , where l is its length and A is its cross-sectional area.
A
(a) The resistance is doubled.
(b) The resistance becomes one-forth of the original value.
(c) The resistance increases.
 Ch14/P.5

8 (a) & (b)

Ohm's law is not applicable beyond the point '•'.

It is because the voltage across the wire is no longer directly proportional to the current passing
through it.
(c) By V = IR,
V 1
(i) R = = =5Ω
I 0.2
The resistance of the wire is 5 Ω.
V 6
(ii) R = = =6Ω
I 1.0
The resistance of the wire is 6 Ω.

9 The resistance of these metals is larger.

For those metals having small distance L, the number of electrons passing them per unit time is small
when a certain voltage is applied across them, i.e. their resistance is high.
 Ch14/P.6

14.4 Resistors in Series and in Parallel

Warm-up 14.4 (p. 46)

1 (a) Agree
(b) Agree
2 (a) If the pathway is narrow, the number of students walking through the pathway per unit time is
small.
(b) The pathway should be widened.

Check-point 4 (p. 51)

1 D
2 I1 = 6 A, I2 = 3 A
The voltage across the 1-Ω resistor and 2-Ω resistor is 6 V.
V
By I = ,
R
6
for 1-Ω resistor, I1 = =6A
1
6
for 2-Ω resistor, I2 = = 3 A
2
3 RB = 6 Ω, RC = 12 Ω, RD = 12 Ω, RE = 6 Ω, RF = 6 Ω, RG = 8 Ω, RH = 4 Ω, RK = 8 Ω, RL = 8 Ω
Circuit 1:
By V = IR,
12 = 1 × (6 + RB)
RB = 6 Ω
Circuit 2:
Identical resistors C and D are connected in parallel and their equivalent resistance is equal to that
of resistor B.
By RB−1 = RC−1 + RD−1,
RB−1 = 2RC−1
RC = 2RB = 2 × 6 = 12 Ω = RD
Circuit 3:
Identical resistors E and F are connected in series and their equivalent resistance is equal to that
of resistor D.
By RD = RE + RF,
RE = 0.5 × RD = 0.5 × 12 = 6 Ω = RF
Circuit 4:
Resistors G and H are connected in series and their equivalent resistance is equal to that of
resistor D. And the resistance of resistor G is twice that of resistor H.
By RD = RG + RH,
1 1
RH = RD = × 12 = 4 Ω
3 3
⇒ RG = 8 Ω
Circuit 5:
Identical resistors K and L are connected in parallel and their equivalent resistance is equal to that
of resistor H.
By RH−1 = RK−1 + RL−1,
 Ch14/P.7

RH−1 = 2RK−1
RK = 2RH = 2 × 4 = 8 Ω = RL
4 All circuits in question 3 have the same equivalent resistance.
 Ch14/P.8

Check-point 5 (p. 54)

1 (a)

Ibulb Vbulb
original 0.111 A 0.667 V
R=6Ω 66.7 mA 0.4 V
R = 6 kΩ 0.166 mA 0.999 mV
R = 6 MΩ 0.167 µA 1.00 µV

V 1
Current passing the bulb Ibulb = =
R 3 + 6 + Rammeter
6
Voltage across the bulb Vbulb = IbulbR =
3 + 6 + Rammeter
(b) Low
2 (a)
Ibulb Vbulb
original 0.111 A 0.667 V
R=6Ω 83.3 mA 0.5 V
R = 6 kΩ 0.111 A 0.666 V
R = 6 MΩ 0.111 A 0.667 V

(
The equivalent resistance of the bulb and voltmeter Req = R voltmeter −1 + 6 −1 ) −1

V 1
Total current in the circuit Itotal = =
R 3 + Req
Req
Voltage across the bulb Vbulb = ItotalReq =
3 + Req

Vbulb  Req  1
×
Current passing the bulb Ibulb = =
Rbulb  3 + Req  6

(b) High
3 (a)
Ibulb Vbulb
original 0.111 A 0.667 V
R=6Ω 66.7 mA 0.4 V
R = 6 kΩ 0.166 mA 0.999 mV
R = 6 MΩ 0.167 µA 1.00 µV

Current passing the bulb Ibulb

V 1
= =
R 3 + 6 + Rbattery
Voltage across the bulb Vbulb
6
= IbulbR =
3 + 6 + Rbattery
 Ch14/P.9

(b) Low
 Ch14/P.10

Practice 14.4 (p. 55)

1 A
2 C
By V = IR,
voltage across 3-Ω resistor, V3-Ω = 0.5 × 3 = 1.5 V
voltage across 1-Ω resistor, V1-Ω = 0.5 × 1 = 0.5 V
⇒ Voltage across 2-Ω resistor = 2 V
V 2
Current passing 2-Ω resistor = = =1A
R 2
Total current in the circuit = 1.5 A
⇒ Voltage across R = 6 − 2 = 4 V
V 4
R= = = 2.67 Ω
I 1.5

3 B
Current flowing through 5-Ω resistor I A1 = 0.6 A
By V= IR,
the voltage across PQ = I A1 R5- Ω = 0.6 × 5 = 3 V
VPQ 3
Current flowing through 10-Ω resistor = = = 0.3 A
R10-Ω 10
⇒ Current flowing through 2-Ω resistor = 0.9 A
⇒ Voltage across 2-Ω resistor = IR = 0.9 × 2 = 1.8 V
Voltage of the battery = VPQ + V2-Ω = 3 + 1.8 = 4.8 V

1 1 1
4 (a) 0.5 Ω = +
R 1 1
1 1 1 1
(b) 0.333 Ω = + +
R 1 1 1
1 1 1 1 1
(c) 0.25 Ω = + + +
R 1 1 1 1

5 A
Let the resistance of each resistor be 1 Ω.
−1
1 1 1
For (1): The equivalent resistance R =  + +  + 1 = 1.33 Ω
1 1 1
−1
1 1 
For (2): The equivalent resistance R =  +  + 1 = 1.67 Ω
1 2 
−1
1 1
For (3): The equivalent resistance R = 1 +  +  + 1 = 2.5 Ω
1 1
 Ch14/P.11

6 Since the bulbs are connected in series, current passing them is the same. And, by
V = IR, their voltage ratio is RX : RY : RZ.
(a) (i) Current ratio = 1 : 1 : 1
(ii) Voltage ratio = 1 : 2 : 3
(b) (i) Current ratio = 1 : 1 : 1
(ii) Voltage ratio = 3 : 4 : 12
(c) (i) Current ratio = 1 : 1 : 1
(ii) Voltage ratio = RX : RY: RZ

7 Since the bulbs are connected in parallel, voltage across them is the same. And,
V
by I = , the ratio of the current passing them is RX−1: RY−1: RZ−1.
R
(a) (i) Current ratio = 6 : 3 : 2
(ii) Voltage ratio = 1 : 1 : 1
(b) (i) Current ratio = 4 : 3 : 1
(ii) Voltage ratio = 1 : 1 : 1
(c) (i) Current ratio = RX−1: RY−1: RZ−1
(ii) Voltage ratio = 1 : 1 : 1

−1
1 1
8 (a) R =  +  = 1.5 Ω
6 2
−1
1 1
(b) R =  +  = 1.33 Ω
4 2
−1
1 1 
(c) R=3+  +  +3=9Ω
6 2+2+2

−1
1 1 
9 (a) Equivalent resistance of the circuit R = 3 +  +  = 6 Ω
 4 12 
V
By I = ,
R
6
current drawn from the battery =
6
=1A
= current passing 3-Ω resistor
⇒ Voltage across 3-Ω resistor = 3 V
⇒ Voltage across 4-Ω / 12-Ω resistor = 6 − 3 = 3 V
Similarly,
V 3
current flowing through 4-Ω resistor = = = 0.75 A,
R 4
V 3
current flowing through 12-Ω resistor = = = 0.25 A
R 12
Current passing 3-Ω, 4-Ω and 12-Ω resistors is 1 A, 0.75 A and 0.25 A respectively.
(b) As shown in the calculation in (a), the voltage across each resistor is 3 V.
 Ch14/P.12

10 (a) Total resistance in the circuit = 2 + 10 = 12 Ω

V
By I = ,
R
6
I= = 0.5 A
12
Current of 0.5 A passes the 2-Ω resistor.
(b) Since the 10-Ω resistor is short-circuited,
total resistance in the circuit = 2 Ω
V
By I = ,
R
6
I= =3A
2
Current of 3 A passing the 2-Ω resistor.

11 False

12 True

13 False

14 False

15 True

16 False
 Ch14/P.13

Revision exercise 14

Multiple-choice (p. 60)

Section A
1 A
2 B
3 C
−1
1 1 
4 C The equivalent resistance between A and B =  +  =4Ω
 8 3 + 4 + 1 
4
The voltage across AB = × 12.5 = 2 V
5 + 4 + 16
5 B (HKCEE 2002 Paper II Q33)

Section B
6 B
7 B
8 B (HKCEE 1998 Paper II Q33)

Conventional (p. 61)

Section A
1 (a) More charge passes the wire each second. (1A)
By V = IR, when the voltage increases, the current I flowing through the wire, i.e. the amount of
charge passing the wire per unit time, increases. (1A)
(b) Less charge passes the wire each second. (1A)
Since the resistance of the wire increases with its length, (1A)
if the length of the wire increases, the current I flowing through the wire, i.e. the amount of
charge passing through the wire per unit time, decreases (V = IR).
(c) Less charge passes the wire each second. (1A)
Since the resistance of the wire increases with decreasing diameter, (1A)
if the diameter of the wire decreases, the current I flowing through the wire, i.e. the amount of
charge passing through the wire per unit time, decreases (V = IR).

2 When S is open, current of 1 A passes 4-Ω resistor and R2. The voltage across R2 is 8 V.
V
By R = , (1M)
I
8
R2 = =8Ω (1A)
1
When S is closed, total current drawn from the battery is 1.5 A. The voltage across R2 is 6 V.
V
By R = ,
I
6
equivalent resistance of R1 and R2 = =4Ω (1A)
1.5
 Ch14/P.14

−1 −1
 1 1   1 1
And, the equivalent resistance =  +  =  +  (= 4 Ω)
 R1 R2   R1 8 
⇒ R1 = 8 Ω (1A)
The resistance of R1 and R2 is 8 Ω.
 Ch14/P.15

3 (a) The equivalent resistance of R2, R3 and 5-Ω light bulb

(
= R2 −1 + R3 −1 ) −1
(
+ 5 = 10 −1 + 10 −1 ) −1
+ 5 = 10 Ω
V
By I = ,
R
10
current flowing through 5-Ω light bulb I = =1A (1A)
10
Since the resistance of R2 and R3 is the same, the same amount of current flows through them.
Hence, current passing through R2 is 0.5 A. (1A)
(b) The brightness of the lamp is unchanged. (1A)
It is because the voltage across the lamp is unchanged. (1A)

4 (a) A bird standing on a power transmission cable will not get an electric shock. (1A)
It is because the voltage across the points where the bird stands is small. (1A)
By V = IR, the current passing the body of the bird is very small and the bird will not get an
electric shock. (1A)
(b) When a kite is entangled with a high-voltage power transmission cable, the voltage between the
cable and the Earth, where the person stands, is huge. (1A)
By V = IR, the current passing the body of the person is very large and may kill that person. (1A)

5 (a)

Correct connection of ammeter (1A)

Correct connection of voltmeter (1A)
(b) R∝l (1A)
(c) (i) Wire P (1A)
(ii) Wire Q is thicker. (1A)
l
For a resistance wire, its resistance R ∝ , where l is its length and A is its cross-sectional
A
area. (1A)
Since Q always has a smaller resistance for all lengths of the wire, Q is thicker. (1A)
 Ch14/P.16

Section B
V
6 (a) By R = , (1M)
I
12
in Figure d, R = = 500 Ω (1A)
24 × 10 −3
12
in Figure e, R = = 1000 Ω (1A)
12 × 10 −3
(b) It is because the ammeter in Figure d gives the sum of the current passing the unknown resistor
and the voltmeter, (1A)
while the ammeter in Figure e measures the current passing the unknown resistor only. (1A)
The circuit in Figure e gives a more accurate result. (1A)
The reasons are as follows:
Since the voltmeter readings in Figures d and e are equal to the voltage across the battery, R is
much larger than 1 Ω (the resistance of the ammeter). (1A)
Hence, the voltage measured in Figure e is roughly equal to that across the unknown resistor. (1A)
Also, in Figure d, the ammeter reading is larger than the actual current passing through the
unknown resistor. (1A)
Hence, Figure e gives a more accurate result.
(c) Circuit in Figure d should be used. (1A)
It is because the resistance of the unknown resistor is much smaller than that of the voltmeter and
only negligible amount of current would pass the voltmeter. (1A)
Then the readings of the ammeter and the voltmeter in Figure d would be close to the actual
current passing and the actual voltage across the unknown resistor. (1A)
If the circuit in Figure e is used instead, since the resistance of the unknown resistor is
comparable to that of the ammeter, the voltage measured would be much larger than the actual
voltage across the unknown resistor. (1A)

7 (a) Consider a simple circuit in which a cell is connected to an unknown resistor T.

To measure the current passing T, an ammeter is connected in series with T. (1A)
It is known that the total resistance of the circuit is the sum of the resistance of the ammeter and
T. (1A)
If the resistance of the ammeter is not very small, after connecting the ammeter, the total
V
resistance of the circuit will be larger and, by I = , the current flowing in the circuit will be
R
smaller than the expected value. (1A)
Hence, the resistance of an ammeter should be very small.
(b) Consider a simple circuit in which two resistors, T and U, are connected in series to a cell.
To measure the voltage across T, a voltmeter is connected in parallel to it. (1A)
( ) −1
It is known that the equivalent resistance of T and the voltmeter is RT −1 + Rvoltmeter −1 , where RT
and Rvoltmeter are the resistance of T and voltmeter respectively. (1A)
If the resistance of the voltmeter is not very large, after connecting the voltmeter, the equivalent
resistance will be smaller than the resistance of T and the voltage across T will be different from
the expected value. (1A)
Hence, the resistance of a voltmeter should be very large.
 Ch14/P.17

8 (a)

Correct connection of ammeter ('+' and '−' terminals) (2A)

Correct connection of voltmeter ('+' and '−' terminals) (2A)
Correct connection with 5 wires (1A)
V
(b) R = , where R, V and I are resistance of the resistor, voltmeter reading and ammeter reading
I
respectively. (1A)
(c) The resistance of an ammeter should be very small while that of a voltmeter should be very large.
(1A)
(d) The experimental value will be smaller than the actual value. (1A)
If the resistance of X is comparable to that of the voltmeter, the current measured by the ammeter
is larger than the actual current passing X as a fraction of the current measured passes the
voltmeter. (1A)
And, since the ammeter has much smaller resistance than the voltmeter and X, the equivalent
resistance of X and the voltmeter is still much larger than the resistance of the ammeter and the
voltage measured is still close to the voltage of the battery. (1A)
By V = IR, (1A)
the resistance calculated is smaller than the actual resistance of X.
(e)

Correct connection of ammeter (1A)

Correct connection of voltmeter (1A)
 Ch14/P.18

9 (HKCEE 2001 Paper I Q10)

 Ch14/P.19

10 (a) (i) Since the lamps are connected in series, the circuit will be broken if one of the lamps breaks.
(1A)
(ii) The lamps become dimmer. (1A)
(iii) When more lamps are connected, the total resistance of the circuit increases and the voltage
across each lamp decreases. (1A)
This makes the lamps dimmer.
(b) (i) If a filament breaks, the current can pass through the resistor connected in parallel to the
filament and the circuit is still complete. (1A)
(ii) The other lamps will be much dimmer. (1A)
Since the lamps are connected in series and the resistance of R is much larger than that of a
filament, the voltage across each filament is much smaller than that across the resistor of the
broken lamp. Hence, the lamps will be very dim. (1A)

Physics in articles (p. 65)

(a) He is not correct. (1A)
Even if a piece of metal is not connected to a battery, free electrons inside the metal move rapidly. (1A)
Since free electrons collide with positive ions inside the metal, they change their moving directions and
their overall displacement, not distance travelled, is zero. (1A)
(b) They are opposite. (1A)
(c) When a current passes through a piece of metal, electrons are accelerated by the electric field and gain
kinetic energy. (1A)
Then electrons transfer the kinetic energy gained to ions in collisions. This increases the internal
energy of the metal and produces the heating effect. (1A)