Jurong Junior College

J1 H2 Physics (2014)
Tutorial Topic 14: D.C. Circuits

1. Find the equivalent resistance of the following resistor networks.

[(a) 18 Ω, (b) 4.4 Ω, (c) 9.0 Ω, (d) 8.9 Ω, (e) 27 Ω]

(a) (b)
10 Ω 8.0 Ω 8.0 Ω

10 Ω

(c) (d)
10 Ω 8.0 Ω 8.0 Ω 8.0 Ω

10 Ω 8.0 Ω 10 Ω 10 Ω

(e)
10 Ω 12 Ω
18 Ω 2.0 Ω

4.0 Ω 7.0 Ω

2. Find the current delivered by the cell in the circuit in Fig.2. [0.75 A]

5.0 Ω 4.0 Ω

12 V 8.0 Ω 4.0 Ω

7.0 Ω
Fig.2

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3. Find the ammeter readings A1 and A2 in Fig.3. [0.60 A, 0.57 A]

Fig.3

4. The electricity supply to our homes is a voltage source of 230 V. If two light bulbs,
one rated 15 W and the other rated 150 W, are connected to this source in series,
what happen to the brightness of the 15 W and 150 W bulbs? Give your reasoning.

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5 The reading of the ammeter in the circuit below is I. When, an additional resistance R’ is
connected between M and N, in parallel with R,

E
r
I

R
M N

A I does not change and the currents in R and R' are inversely proportional to their
resistances.

B p.d. between M and N does not change.

C I increases and p.d. between M and N decreases.

D the heat developed in R does not change.

6 Bulbs M and N in the circuit below are lit and the source E has negligible internal
resistance. When bulb N is removed from its socket (i.e. open circuit between point D
and point E),

A bulb M will light up more brightly.

B the p.d. between point D and point E will become zero.

C the p.d. between point D and point E will not change.

D the p.d. between point D and point E will increase.

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7 The graph shows the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of two resistors R and X.

The resistors R and X are connected in series with a cell of negligible internal
resistance. The current in the circuit is 0.3 A.

The resistors R and X are then connected in parallel with the same cell.

What is the e.m.f. of the cell and the current in the cell when the resistors are connected
in parallel?

e.m.f. / V current / A
A 1.0 0.3
B 1.5 0.7
C 2.5 0.5
D 2.5 1.0

8 A resistor is connected, through an ammeter, to a battery which has an e.m.f. E and

internal resistance r. Now the points M and N are connected using a short piece of
copper wire represented by the dashed line in the diagram below. Consequently, the
current flowing through

A R does not change significantly.

B the wire is very small, because the p.d. across it is very small.

C the ammeter does not change, but the current in the circuit flows mainly through
the copper wire.

D the ammeter increases, and most of the current in the circuit flows through the
copper wire.

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9 The letter “B” is constructed with a uniform wire of resistance 2.0 Ω per cm. The side of
the letter is made up of a straight wire of 10.0 cm long and its curvature comprises two
semicircles.

The resistance between the two ends of the straight wire, in ohms, is

A 3.06
B 6.11
C 12.2
D 15.2

10 In the diagram below, a voltmeter is connected to the terminals of a battery with an

e.m.f. E and internal resistance r. The ammeter has no resistance. The readings of the
ammeter and voltmeter are I1 and V1 respectively. When the sliding contact of the
rheostat is moved nearer to the point P, the readings become I2, and V2. Which of the
following is correct?

A I2 > I1, V2 < V1

B I2 > I1, V2 > V1

C I2 < I1, V2 < V1

D I2 = 0 A, V2 = E

11. A new dry cell has an e.m.f. of 1.5 V and negligible internal resistance. When the cell
has been used for some time, its internal resistance increases. When this cell is in
use, measurement from a voltmeter (of resistance 500Ω) shows that its terminal p.d.
is 1.4 V, while a reading of 1.5V is obtained using a potentiometer. Determine

(a) the e.m.f. of the cell [1.5 V]

(b) the internal resistance of the dry cell [35.7 Ω]

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12 A uniform wire XY of length 120 cm and radius 0.55 mm is connected in series
with a cell of e.m.f. 3.0 V and internal resistance 0.70 Ω, as shown below.

(a) The resistivity of the material of the wire is 1.1 x 10-6 Ω m. Show that the
resistance of the wire XY is 1.4 Ω.

(b) Calculate the potential difference (p.d.) per unit length of XY. [1.7 V m-1]

13. The diagram below shows a potentiometer, which can be used to measure potential
difference to high accuracy.

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 (a) show that
ex
V =
l
where l is the total length of the resistance wire and x is the length of the
resistance wire when the jockey position provides a null reading in the
galvanometer.

(b) What is the value of x if the p.d. V = 3.2 V, l = 1 m and e = 9 V. [0.356 m]

(c) Can the internal resistance of the source V be measured using a

potentiometer?

14. The driver cell of a potentiometer has an e.m.f. of 2 V and negligible internal
resistance. The potentiometer wire has a resistance of 3 Ω.

(a) Calculate the resistance needed in series with the wire if a p.d. of 5 mV is
required across the whole wire. [1197 Ω]

(b) The wire is 100 cm long and a balance length of 60 cm is obtained for a
thermocouple of e.m.f. E. What is the value of E? [3 mV]

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15. The e.m.f. of a battery A is balanced by a length of 65.0 cm on a potentiometer wire.
The e.m.f. of a standard cell, 1.5 V, is balanced by a length of 50.0 cm.

(a) What is the e.m.f. of A? [1.95 V]

(b) Calculate the new balance length if A has an internal resistance of 2.0 Ω and
a resistor of 8.0 Ω is joined to its terminals. [52.0 cm]

16. A simple potentiometer circuit is set up below, using a uniform wire AB, 1.0 m long,
which has a resistance of 2.0 Ω. The internal resistance of the 4 V battery is
negligible.

(a) If the variable resistor R were given a value of 2.4 Ω, what would be the
length AC for zero galvanometer deflection? [0.825 m]

(b) If R was adjusted to 1.0 Ω and the 1.5 V cell and galvanometer were replaced
by a voltmeter of resistance 30 Ω, what would be the reading of the voltmeter
if the contact C were placed at the mid point of AB? [1.30 V]

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17. The variation with current of the potential difference (p.d.) across a component X is
shown in Fig. 17.1.

Fig. 17.1
(a)(i) State how the resistance of component X varies, if at all, with increase in
current.

(ii) On Fig. 17.1, draw a line to show the variation with current of the p.d. across
a resistor R of constant resistance 3.0 Ω.

(b) The component X and the resistor R or resistance 3.0 Ω are connected in
series with a battery of negligible internal resistance, as shown in Fig. 17.2.

Fig. 17.2

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 The current in the circuit is found to be 2.0 A.
(i) Use Fig. 17.1 to determine the p.d. across component X.

(ii) Determine
1. the p.d. across R,

2. the e.m.f. of the battery.

(c) The resistor R and the component X are now connected in parallel with the
battery, as shown in Fig. 17.3.

Fig. 17.3
Using your answer to (b)(ii) and the graph of Fig. 17.1, determine the current
from the battery.

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