CIRCUITS AND ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

Circuits and Electromagnetic Waves

1. An ac series circuit has 12 ohms resistance, 15 7. The capacitive reactance in an ac series circuit
ohms inductive reactance and 10 ohms will change by what factor when the frequency
capacitive reactance. If an effective emf of 120 is tripled?
V is applied to the circuit, then what is the
effective (rms) current value? a) 1/3
b) 1/9
a) 3.3 A c) 3
b) 4.0 A d) 9
c) 9.2 A
d) 36.0 A
8. An ac series circuit with a peak current of 20 A
2. The primary winding of an electric train will have what effective (rms) current?
transformer has 400 turns and the secondary
has 50. If the input voltage is 120 V(rms), what a) 28.2 A
is the output voltage? b) 7.1 A
c) 14.1 A
d) 20.0 A
a) 480.0 V
b) 60.0 V
c) 15.0 V 9. In the inductor of a 60 cycle ac series circuit,
d) 10.0 V the peak voltage precedes the peak current in
each cycle by what time intervals?
3. An ac series circuit has 12 ohms resistance, 15 a) 2.1 x 10-3 s
ohms inductive reactance and 10 ohms b) 4.2 x 10-3 s
capacitive reactance. If an effective (rms) emf c) 8.3 x 10-3 s
of 120 V is applied, what is the power output? d) 16.7 x 10-3 s

a) 1200 W
b) 1108 W 10. An ac series circuit with 12 ohms resistance, 15
c) 1022 W ohms inductive reactance and 10 ohms
d) 598 W capacitive reactance has how many ohms of
impedance?
4. A transformer consists of a 500 turn primary
coil and a 2000 secondary coil. If the current in a) 37.0 
the secondary is 3.0 amps, what is the primary b) 27.7 
current? c) 21.9 
d) 13.0 
a) 0.75 A
b) 1.33 A
c) 12.0 A 11. An ac series circuit with 12 ohms resistance, 15
d) 48.0 A ohms inductive reactance and 10 ohms
capacitive reactance has what phase angle?
5. In an ac series circuit, the current in a pure
resistor differs in phase with the applied a) 22.6°
voltage by what angle? b) 18.4°
c) 87.0°
a) zero d) 67.4°
b) 45°
c) 90°
d) 180° 12. Peak values for a neodymium-glass laser are
600 joules for 1 nanosecond. If the cross-
6. In an ac series circuit, the voltage in the section of the laser beam is 1 cm2, what are the
inductor differs in phase with the voltage in the maximum values of E and B? (µ0 = 4 x 10-7 T-
capacitor by what angle? m/A)
a) Zero a) 4 x 107 V/m, 0.3 T
b) 45° b) 3 x 108 V/m, 1.0 T
c) 90° c) 2 x 109 V/m, 7.0 T
d) 180°

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 Circuits and Electromagnetic Waves

d) 5 x 106 V/m, 0.1 T d) 1 J

13. A solar cell has a light-gathering area of 10 cm2 19. The Earth is 1.49 x 1011 meters from the sun. If
and produces 0.2 A at 0.8 V (DC) when the solar radiation at the top of the Earth's
illuminated with sunlight of intensity 1000 atmosphere is 1340 W/m2, what is the total
W/m2. What is the efficiency of the solar cell? power output of the sun?

a) 16% a) 7 x 1027 W
b) 7% b) 2 x 1030 W
c) 23% c) 6.6 x 1026 W
d) 4% d) 3.7 x 1026 W

14. If the radiant energy from the sun comes in as a

plane EM wave of intensity 1340 W/m 2, 20. Maxwell guessed that visible light was an
calculate the peak values of E and B. (µ0 = 4 x electromagnetic wave because of its
10-7 T-m/A)
a) frequency.
a) 300 V/m, 10-4 T b) wavelength.
b) 1000 V/m, 3.3 x 10-6 T c) speed.
c) 225 V/m, 1.6 x 10-3 T d) energy.
d) 111 V/m, 3.0 x 10-5 T

15. Find the frequency of x-rays of wavelength 10- 21. As an electromagnetic wave travels through
10
m. free space, its speed can be increased by

a) 3 x 1018 Hz a) increasing its frequency.

b) 3 x 1010 MHz b) increasing its energy only.
c) 6 x 109 Hz c) increasing both its energy and momentum.
d) 3 x 108 HZ d) none of the above will increase its speed.

16. What is the maximum value of the electric

field E at 1 meter from a 100-watt lightbulb 22. An object that is giving off only infrared
radiating in all directions? (µ0 = 4 x 10-7 T- electromagnetic waves is giving off heat
m/A) through

a) 1000 V/m a) convection.

b) 2000 V/m b) conduction.
c) 4000 V/m c) radiation.
d) 6000 V/m d) visible light.

17. What is the wavelength of 100 MHz television

EM-waves? 23. A camera that takes infrared photographs in the
dark takes these pictures by
a) 0.3 cm
b) 3m a) using film sensitive to invisible radiation.
c) 9 km b) amplifying the electromagnetic radiation.
d) 10 m c) illuminating the object with infrared light.
d) using infrared filters.
18. Determine the amount of energy carried in 1
meter of a 3.5-milliwatt He-Ne laser beam if
the cross-sectional area of the beam is 5 x 10 -6 24. The electromagnetic radiation that causes
m2. tanning

a) 0.014 J a) can produce cancer.

b) 0.4 J b) rarely passes through glass windows.
c) 0.175 Mj c) is absorbed by ozone.

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 Circuits and Electromagnetic Waves

d) all of the above d) Refraction

25. Maxwell developed his theory of 31. An ultraviolet light has a wavelength of 300
electromagnetism by combining previous nm and speed of 2.1 x 10 8 m/s through a
discoveries. He added his own original transparent medium. What is the frequency of
hypothesis that this wave in the medium?
(1 nm = 10-9 m and c = 3 x 108 m/s)
a) electrical charges produce electrical fields.
b) moving electrical charges produce a) 6.3 x 102 Hz
magnetic fields. b) 9 x 102 Hz
c) changing electrical fields produce c) 7 x 1014 Hz
magnetic fields. d) 10 x 1014 Hz
d) changing magnetic fields produce
electrical fields.
32. How is the direction of propagation of an
26. Of the various types of electromagnetic electromagnetic wave oriented relative to the
radiation, which is the most penetrating through associated E and B fields?
all forms of matter?
a) parallel to both E and B
a) Infrared b) perpendicular to both E and B
b) Gamma c) parallel to E, perpendicular to B
c) visible light d) parallel to B, perpendicular to E
d) ultraviolet

27. What value of inductance should be used in a 33. Microwave radiation is useful in which of the
series circuit with a capacitor of 1.8 x 10 -3 following?
microfarads when designed to radiate a
wavelength of 35 m? (c = 3 x 108 m/s) a) sending phone messages
b) cooking food
a) 3.8 mH c) aircraft navigation
b) 2.6 x 10-2 mH d) All of the above are valid choices
c) 3.8 x 10-3 mH
d) 1.9 x 10-4 mH
34. The human eye is sensitive to light with
wavelength down to 390 nm. What is the
28. Temperature variation of different parts of a frequency of radiation at this wavelength? (1
person's body can be detected by analyzing the nm = 10-9 m and c = 3 x 108 m/s)
emission pattern of which type of
electromagnetic radiation? a) 1.8 x 108 Hz
a) Microwave b) 8.5 x 108 Hz
b) Infrared c) 1.1 x 1011 Hz
c) Ultraviolet d) 7.7 x 1014 Hz
d) X-rays
35. An AM radio turning circuit has a coil with an
inductance of 6.0 mH and a capacitor set at 7.5
29. Microwave ovens emit a frequency intended to x 10-6 microfarads. What frequency will it
be in resonance with which of the following? detect?

a) frequency of water molecule a) 551 kHz

b) size of oven compartment b) 750 kHz
c) frequency of metal lining of oven c) 1061 kHz
d) frequency of food molecules d) 1520 kHz

36. An FM radio tuning circuit has a coil with an

30. The phenomenon used by police radar is which inductance of 0.003 mH. What is the value of
of the following? the capacitance if the set is tuned to 98 MHz?

a) Absorption a) 1.76 x 10-6 microfarads

b) Resonance b) 12.3 x 10-6 microfarads
c) Reflection c) 0.98 x 10-6 microfarads

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 Circuits and Electromagnetic Waves

d) 0.88 x 10-6 microfarads d) 45 N/C

37. A radio wave transmits 1.2 W/m 2 average 42. Which one of the following scientists first built
power per unit area. What is the peak value of and operated devices that could emit and detect
the associated magnetic field? (magnetic man-made electromagnetic radiation?
permeability = 4 x 10-7 T  m/A and c = 3 x
108 m/s) a) Hertz
b) Ampere
a) 1.0 x 10-7 T c) Maxwell
b) 8.4 x 10-3 T d) Lenz
c) 1.1 T
d) 30 T
43. Which condition of motion must be met with
regard to a charged particle if it is in the
process of emitting electromagnetic radiation?
38. A radar pulse sent out to an airplane at a
distance of 20 km will return as an echo to the a) moves at constant velocity
source in what time interval? (c = 3 x 108 m/s) b) accelerates
c) moves at the speed of light
a) 33.3 x 10-6 s d) moves parallel to a uniform magnetic field
b) 66.7 x 10-6 s
c) 133 x 10-6 s
d) 0.033 x 10-6 s 44. The electric field, E, in an electromagnetic
wave is oriented in what direction with respect
to its associated magnetic field, B?

39. An electromagnetic wave with a peak magnetic a) E parallel to B

field component of 1.5 x 10-7 Wb/m2 carries b) E anti-parallel to B
what average power per unit area? c) E perpendicular to B
(magnetic permeability = 4 x 10-7 T  m/A, d) E at a 45° angle to B
electric permittivity = 8.85 x 10-12 C2/N-m2 and
c = 3 x 108 m/s)
45. Which one of the following scientists made the
a) 12.4 T theoretical prediction that electromagnetic
b) 2.70 T waves travel through a vacuum at the speed of
c) 3.00 T light?
d) 1.30 T
a) Hertz
b) Faraday
40. A radio wave signal which transmits at a c) Maxwell
frequency of 7.2 MHz has what wavelength? (c d) Lenz
= 3 x 108 m/s)

a) 41.7 m 46. A radar pulse returns 3.0 x 10-4 seconds after it

b) 4.2 m is sent out when reflected from an object. What
c) 28.8 m is the distance between the radar and object? (c
d) 2.4 x 10-2 m = 3 x 108 m/s)

a) 9.0 x 104 m
41. An electromagnetic wave with a peak magnetic b) 4.5 x 104 m
field component of 1.5 x 10 -7 Wb/m2 has an c) 6.0 x 104 m
associated peak electric field component of d) 1.0x 104 m
what value?
(magnetic permeability = 4 x 10-7 T 
m/A,electric permittivity = 8.85 x 10-12 C2/N-m2 47. In order to keep its food hot, a restaurant will
and c = 3 x 108 m/s) place it under which type of lamp?

a) 0.50 x 10-15 N/C a) Infrared

b) 2.00 x 10-5 N/C b) visible light
c) 2.20 x 104 N/C c) ultraviolet

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 Circuits and Electromagnetic Waves

d) X-ray d) infrared, ultraviolet, visible and gamma

48. An electromagnetic wave with a peak electric 54. Find the resonant frequency for a series RLC
field component of 1.2 x 10 2 N/C has what circuit where R = 10, C = 5 µF, and L = 2
associated peak magnetic field value? mH.
(electrical permittivity = 8.85 x 10 -12 C2/N-m2
magnetic permeability = 4 x 10-7 Tm/A and c a) 998 Hz
= 3 x 108 m/s) b) 1.592 kHz
c) 2.45 kHz
a) 1.0 x 10-7 T d) 11.3 kHz
b) 3.6 x 1010 T
c) 2.5 x 106 T
d) 2.8 x 10-11 T
55. What is the average power dissipation in an
49. Glass panes are opaque to a certain type of RLC series circuit R = 100 , L = 0.1 H, C =
radiation which passes through quartz. What 10 µF driven at resonance by a 100 V-rms
type of radiation is it? source?

a) Microwave a) 100 W
b) Gamma b) 500 W
c) X-ray c) 1000 W
d) Ultraviolet d) 2W

50. A 200  resistor is connected in series with a

10 µF capacitor and a 60 Hz 120 V rms line
voltage. If electrical energy costs 5¢ per kWh. 56. What is the average power dissipation in a
How much does it cost to leave this circuit series RC circuit if R = 5 k, C = 2 µF, and V
connected for 24 hours? = 170 cos 300 t?

a) 62¢ a) 0.93 W
b) 31¢ b) 2.74 W
c) 5.2¢ c) 28.2 W
d) 0.6¢ d) 157 W

51. An electromagnetic wave is made up of which

of the following oscillating quantities?
57. A transformer is to be designed to increase the
a) electrons only 30 kV-rms output of a generator to the
b) electric fields only transmission-line voltage of 345 kV-rms. If the
c) magnetic fields only primary winding has 80 turns, how many turns
d) electric and magnetic fields must the secondary have?

52. A 50  resistor, a 0.1 H inductor, and a 10 µF a) 6

capacitor are connected in series to a 60 Hz b) 70
source. The rms current in the circuit is 3 A. c) 920
Find the rms voltage across the resistor, the d) 9200
inductor, and the capacitor.

a) 150 V-rms, 113 V-rms, 795 V-rms

b) .06 V-rms, 80 V-rms, 562 V-rms
c) 150 V-rms, 113 V-rms, 562 V-rms
d) 60 V-rms, 80 V-rms, 795 V-rms 58. A series RLC circuit in a radio is in resonance
with AM 770 kHz. If the radio station is
changed to AM 1540 kHz, by what factor must
53. In order of increasing frequency, which of the the capacitance be multiplied to again achieve
following is correct? resonance?

a) radio, visible, infrared and X-ray a) 4

b) infrared, visible, X-ray and gamma b) 2
c) visible, infrared, ultraviolet and X-ray c) ½

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 Circuits and Electromagnetic Waves

d) ¼
59. An ac power generator produces 50 A (rms) at
3600 V. The voltage is stepped up to 100,000 V
by an ideal transformer and the energy
transmitted through a long distance power line
with a total resistance of 100 ohms. What is the
rms current in the long distance line?
d) 323 watts
64. An ac series circuit contains a resistor of 20
ohms, an inductor of 30 mH and a variable
capacitor. If the frequency of the applied
voltage is 500 Hz, to what setting should the
capacitor be set if resonance is achieved?

a) 1.0 A a) 0.8 microfarads

b) 1.8 A b) 1.6 microfarads
c) 24 A c) 2.4 microfarads
d) 1000 A d) 3.4 microfarads

65. A resistor and capacitor are connected in series

60. An ac power generator produces 25 A (rms) at with an applied ac voltage source. Voltmeter
3600 V. The energy is transmitted through a readings across the resistor and capacitor
long distance power line which has a total separately, give values of 50 V and 75 V (rms),
resistance of 100 ohms. What percentage of the respectively. What is the effective (rms)
power delivered by the generator is dissipated voltage of the source?
as heat in the long distance line if a step-up
transformer is not used? a) 25 V
b) 63 V
a) 0.09% c) 90 V
b) 1.8% d) 125 V
c) 32%
d) 69% 66. A resistor, inductor and capacitor are
connected in series, each with effective (rms)
voltage of 65 V, 140 V and 80 V, respectively.
61. In an ac circuit, the ratio of average current to What is the value of the effective voltage of the
maximum current is applied source in the circuit?

a) Zero a) 48 V
b) 0.5 b) 88 V
c) 0.707 c) 95 V
d) 1.0 d) 285 V

62. The current in an inductor connected to an ac 67. A resistor, inductor and capacitor are
voltage source lags the voltage. This lag is connected in series, each with effective (rms)
caused by voltage of 65 V, 140 V and 80 V, respectively.
What is the phase angle in this circuit?
a) the back emf in the coil
b) the voltage across the coil a) 22°
c) the time required for electrical signals to b) 28°
travel through all the coils of an inductance c) 37°
d) the resistance of the coil d) 43°

68. An ac series circuit contains a resistor of 20

63. A resistor, inductor and capacitor are
connected in series, each with effective (rms)
voltage of 65 V, 140 V and 80 V, respectively.
If the resistor is rated at 24 ohms, what is the
average power dissipated in the circuit?
ohms, a capacitor of 0.75 microfarads and an
inductor of 120 mH. If an effective (rms)
voltage of 120 V is applied, what is the
effective (rms) current when the circuit is in
resonance?

a) 88 watts a) 4.3 A
b) 132 watts b) 17.1 A
c) 238 watts c) 6.0 A

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 Circuits and Electromagnetic Waves

d) 10.3 A d) 530 Hz
69. An ac voltage source, with a peak output of 75. Consider an ac series circuit containing a coil,
200 V, is connected to a 50 ohm resistor. What capacitor and resistance. Tripling the frequency
is the effective, (or rms), current in the circuit? will change the inductive reactance by what
factor?
a) 2.82 A
b) 4.0 A a) 1/3
c) 5.64 A b) 1.0
d) 1.0A c) 1.73
d) 3.0

70. An ac voltage source, with a peak output of 76. Consider an ac series circuit containing a coil,
200 V, is connected to a 50 ohm resistor. What capacitor and resistance. Tripling the frequency
is the rate of heating power in the resistor? will change the capacitive reactance by what
factor?
a) 200 W
b) 400 W a) 1/3
c) 566 W b) 1.0
d) 800 W c) 1.73
d) 3.0

71. The power factor in an ac series circuit is equal 77. Consider an ac series circuit containing a coil,
to which of the following ratios? capacitor and resistance. Tripling the frequency
will change the circuit's impedance by what
a) resistance to inductive reactance factor?
b) capacitive reactance to inductive reactance
c) inductive reactance to capacitive reactance a) 1/3
d) resistance to impedance b) 1.0
c) 3.0
d) Information is insufficient to determine
72. In an ac series circuit the capacitive reactance answer
is 200 ohms and frequency is 100 Hz. What is
the capacitance? 78. The rate of heat dissipation in an ac circuit with
resistance, R, and effective current, I, is given
a) 3.2 microfarads by which of the following?
b) 6.28 microfarads
c) 1.0microfarads a) 0.5 x I2 R
d) 50.0 microfarads b) I2 R
c) 2.0x I2 R
d) 4.0x I2 R
73. In an ac series circuit the inductive reactance is
50 ohms and the frequency is 100 Hz. What is
the inductance in the circuit? 79. Resonance occurs in an ac series circuit when
which of the following conditions is met?
a) 80 Mh
b) 240 mH a) resistance equals capacitive reactance
c) 500 mH b) resistance equals inductive reactance
d) 740 mH c) capacitive reactance equals inductive
reactance
d) capacitive reactance equals zero
74. An ac series circuit contains a resistor of 20
ohms, a capacitor of 0.75 microfarads and an
inductor of 120 mH. What frequency should be 80. The power dissipated in an ac series circuit
used to create a resonance condition in the increases as the phase angle approaches what
circuit? value?

a) 159 Hz a) Zero
b) 318 Hz b) 45°
c) 637 Hz c) 90°

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 Circuits and Electromagnetic Waves

d) 180° 56. 2.74 W

ANSWER KEY 57. 920
58. ¼
1. 9.2 A 59. 1.8 A
2. 15.0 V 60. 69%
3. 1022 W 61. zero
4. 12.0 A 62. the back emf in the coil
5. zero 63. 238 watts
6. 180° 64. 3.4 microfarads
7. 1/3 65. 90 V
8. 14.1 A 66. 88 V
9. 4.2 x 10-3 s 67. 43°
10. 13.0  68. 17.1 A
11. 22.6° 69. 2.82 A
12. x 109 V/m, 7.0 T 70. 400 W
13. 16% 71. resistance to impedance
14. 1000 V/m, 3.3 x 10-6 T 72. 50.0microfarads
15. x 1010 MHz 73. 80 mH
16. 6000 V/m 74. 530 Hz
17. 0.3 cm 75. 3.0
18. 0.175 mJ 76. 1/3
19. 3.7 x 1026 W 77. Information is insufficient to determine answer
20. speed. 78. I2 R
21. none of the above will increase its speed. 79. capacitive reactance equals inductive reactance
22. radiation. 80. zero
23. using film sensitive to invisible radiation.
24. all of the above
25. changing electrical fields produce magnetic
fields.
26. gamma
27. 1.9 x 10-4 mH
28. Infrared
29. frequency of water molecule
30. Reflection
31. 7 x 1014 Hz
32. perpendicular to both E and B
33. All of the above are valid choices
34. 7.7 x 1014 Hz
35. 750 kHz
36. 0.88 x 10-6 microfarads
37. x 10-7 T
38. 133 x 10-6 s
39. 2.70 T
40. 41.7 m
41. 45 N/C
42. Hertz
43. accelerates
44. E perpendicular to B
45. Maxwell
46. 4.5 x 104 m
47. Infrared
48. 4.0x 10-7 T
49. Ultraviolet
50. 5.2¢
51. electric and magnetic fields
52. 150 V-rms, 113 V-rms, 795 V-rms
53. infrared, visible, X-ray and gamma
54. 1.592 kHz
55. 1000 W