CURRENT ELECTRICITY 1

EXERCISE - 1 : BASIC OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

Definition of Current
Q 1. A non-conducting wire of radius R has charge q distributed
unevenly over it. If it is rotated with an angular velocity of
, the equivalent current will be (a) The resistance of R is twice that of S
(a) zero (b) q (b) Both have the same resistance
q q (c) The resistance of S is four times that of R
(c) (d) (d) The resistance of R is half to that of S.
2 2 R
Ans. (c) Ans. (b)
Sol. ”Side = a” “Side = 2b” “Thickness =t”
2
Sol. 
T
2
T
  .a 
Charge flown in one rotation = q Resistance of R  
a.t t
q q q
I     2a 
T 2 2 Resistance of Q  
2a  t t
 Both have the same resistance.
Variation with length and area
Q 2. All the edges of a block with parallel faces are unequal. Its Q 4. The resistance of a 10 m long wire is 10 . Its length is
longest edge is twice its shortest edge. The ratio of the increased by 25% by stretching the wire uniformly. The
maximum to minimum resistance between parallel faces is resistance of wire will change to (approximately)
(a) 2 (b) 4 (a) 12.5  (b) 14.5 
(c) 8 (d) 16 (c) 15.6  (d) 16.6 
Ans. (b) Ans. (c)
Sol. l1 (original length )  10m
R1 (Original resis tan ce)  10
Sol.
25 125
l2  10   10  .l1
100 100
 .c
Rmax  100
a.b  A2  A1 {Since, Volume is constant}
125
a
Rmin  125
bc l1 2
 l2  125   l1
c R1   100   
A2 100
Rmax ab c 2 (2a) 2 A1  100  A1
   2 125
Rmin  a a 2 a
2
bc  125 
R 
1
 R  1.56
 Rmax 4   100 
  
 Rmin 1  Q 5. The length of conductor is doubled and its radius is halved,
Q 3. Two plates of same material R and S are in the form of a its specific resistance is
square and have the same thickness. A side of S is twice the (a) unchanged (b) halved
side of R. Compare their resistances. The direction of current (c) doubled (d) quadrupled
is shown by an arrow head. Ans. (a)
Sol. Specific resistance doesn’t depends upon dimensions of
conductor.
 CURRENT ELECTRICITY 2

Q 6. A resistance of 2  is to be made from a copper wire (specific (d) may increase or decrease depending on material
–8
resistance 1.7 × 10  m) using a wire of length 50 cm. The Ans. (a)
radius of the wire is Sol. When temperature increases, resistivity  increases as
(a) 0.0116 mm (b) 0.0367 mm
(c) 0.116 mm (d) 0.367 mm m  1
Ans. (b)      and conductivity decreases
ne 
2
 
Sol. R  2,   1.7 10 8  m, l  50cm  50 102 m
1

Hence will increases.
l l 
r  2
r Q 10. Thermistors are usually made of
R R (a) metals with low temperature coefficient of resistivity
(b) metals with high temperature coefficient of resistivity
1.7 108  50 10 2
r  0.0367 103 m (c) metal oxides with high temperature coefficient of
3.14  2 resistivity
(d) semiconductors with low temperature coefficient of
 0.0367mm 3 resistivity
Q 7. The specific resistance of a wire is , its volume is 3 m and Ans. (c)
its resistance is 3 ohm, then its length will be Sol. Thermistors is a temperaure sensitive element composed of
(a) 1/  (b) 3 /  semiconductor material (metal oxide) exhibits a large change
in resistance proportional to a small change in temperature.
(c) 3 / (d)  / 3
Ans. (b) Q 11. A conductor behaves as a super conductor
(a) above critical temperature
Sol. Volume  3m 3
(b) at critical temperature
 r 2  3 (c) at 40 C°
(d) at boiling point of that metal
3 Ans. (b)
A   r2  Sol. Temperature at which a particular conductor starts behaves
l
like a super conductor i.e., resistance is equal to zero, that
l temperature value is known as critical temperature.
R
A 2
Q 12. A nichrome wire 1 m long and 1 mm in cross-section area
l  draws 4 ampere at 2 volt. The resistivity of nichrome is
R  R  l2 –7
(a) 1 × 10 –m
–7
(b) 2 × 10 –m
/l 3 –7
(c) 4 × 10 –m
–7
(d) 5 × 10 –m
3R Ans. (d)
l ( R  3)
 Sol. l  1 m, A  1 106 m 2 , I  4 A,V  2V
3 V 1
l R  
I 2

Q 8. The heating element of an electric heater should be made l
R
with a material which should have A
(a) High specific resistance and high melting point
(b) High specific resistance and low melting point R. A 0.5 106
(c) Low specific resistance and high melting point    5 10 7   m
(d) Low specific resistance and low melting point
l 1
Ans. (a)
Variation with Temperature
Sol. Heating element of an electric heater must be made with a
Q 13. Which of the following material has negative temperature
material having high melting point so that it couldn’t melt
coefficient of resistance.
easily and high specific resistance.
(a) brass (b) copper
(c) porcelain (d) carbon
Q 9. As the temperature of a conductor increases, its resistivity
Ans. (d)
and conductivity changes .The ratio of resistivity to
Sol. In case of semiconductors temperature coefficient of
conductivity
(a) Increases resistance. ( ) is-ve.
(b) decreases
(c) remains constant Q 14. Which of the following material has nearly zero temperature
CURRENT ELECTRICITY 3

coefficient of resistance.  50 C

(a) carbon (b) porcelain
(c) copper (d) manganin Q 17. On increasing the temperature of a conductor, its resistance
Ans. (d) increases because
Sol. In case of Alloys, value of ( ) temperature coefficient of (a) relaxation time decreases
resistance is very small or neglegible. (b) mass of the electron increases
(c) electron density decreases
Q 15. A piece of copper and silicon are cooled from room (d) none of the above
temperature to 100 K. The resistance of Ans. (a)
(a) each of them increases Sol. On temperature increases, relaxation time decreases. Hence
(b) each of them decreases resistance increase.
(c) copper increases and that of silicon decreases
(d) copper decreases and that of silicon increases Q 18. The temperature coefficient of resistance for a wire is
–1
Ans. (d) 0.00125°C . At 300 K its resistance is 1 ohm. The temperature
Sol. In case of metals resistance varies directly with temperature. at which the resistance becomes 1.5 ohm is
In case of semiconductors resistance varies (a) 450 K (b) 727 K
(c) 454 K (d) 900 K
exponentially with temperature with  -ve.
Ans. (b)
Q 16. A coil has resistance of 18  when its mean temperature Sol.   0.00125 C 1
is 20oC and of 20  when its mean temperature is 50 oC.
What will be mean temperature rise when its resistance is
R0  1 at 300 K
21  and the surrounding temperature is 15oC. Rt  1.5 at t  ?
(a) 40oC (b) 50oC
(c) 60 C
o
(d) 70oC 1.5  1[1  0.00125(t  300)]
Ans. (b) 0.00125(T  300)  1.5  1
Sol. R1  R0 (1  T1 ) 0.5
T  300 
18  R0 (1  20 ) ...(1) 0.00125
R2  R0 (1  T2 ) 0.5
T  300 
20  R0 (1  50 ) ...(2) 0.00125
Subtract Eq.(1) from Eq.(2) T  300  400  700 K .
1 Series and Parallel of Resistors
 R0 
15 Q 19. A wire of resistance 6  is cut into three equal pieces, which
are joined to form a triangle. The equivalent resistance
Divide Eq.(2)  (1) between any two corners of the triangle is
20 1  50 (a) (3/4)  (b) (4/3) 
 (c) 2  (d) 4 
18 1  20 Ans. (b)
 1 1 
Sol. Resistance of wire  6 
  250 C 
When cut into three equal pieces, resistance of each
 250  piece  2 
  R0  
 15 
R3  21  R0 (1  T3 )
250  1 
21  1 (T ) 
15  250 
1 21 15
(T )  1
250 250
(T )  21 15  250
 65
T0  15C
RAB and RAC are in series
Rise in temperature T  T0  65  15
 CURRENT ELECTRICITY 4

 R12  R1  R2  4 

(3)

(4)
R12  R3 4  2 8 4
R eq     
R12  R3 4  2 6 3
Q 20. Two resistances are joined in parallel whose resistance is Total number of combinations are 4.
3/5 . One of the resistance wire is broken and the effective Q 22. Total current supplied to the circuit by the battery is
resistance becomes 3 . The resistance in ohm of the wire
that got broken was
(a) 4/3 (b) 2
(c) 6/5 (d) 3/4
Ans. (d)

3
Sol. Req  
5
(a) 4A (b) 6A
(c) 2A (d) 1A
If R1 is broken , R2  3  Ans. (a)
R1 R2 3
R eq  
R1  R2 5
3R1 3
R eq  
R1  3 5
 15 R1  3R1  9 Sol.

12 R1  9
9 3
R1   
12 4
Q 21. You are given three equal resistors. How many resistances
can be obtained by joining them in series and parallel
grouping ?
(a) 6 (b) 4
(c) 3 (d) 2
Ans. (b)

Sol. (1)
3 3 3
R eq   
33 2
(2)
 CURRENT ELECTRICITY 5

Ans. (a)
V 6
I   4A Sol. R  3
R eq 3
2
Q 23. The effective resistance between points A and B in the
circuit shown in figure is

(a) R/3 (b) R/2

(c) 2 R/5 (d) 3 R/5
Ans. (c)

Sol.
Where R  3

Now circuit will become R1 AB  8

Q 25. The effective resistance between A and B in figure is

as both ends the earth i.e., at low potential so we can

(a) 10  (b) 12 
connect them. (c) 9.85  (d) 10.85 
R Ans. (c)
2R  2
R eq  2  R
R 5R
2R 
2 2
2R
R eq  Sol.
5
Q 24. What is the equivalent resistance between A and B in the
circuit of figure, if R = 3 ,

1 1 1 3  2 1 1
R123     
4 6 12 12 2
R123  2
2  20 20
R1234   
22 11
(a) 8  (b) 9 
(c) 12  (d) 15 
 CURRENT ELECTRICITY 6

20 20
R eq  3  5 8  9.85
11 11
Q 26. What is the total resistance of the circuit ?

R eq  2  1  2
 5
Q 28. In the figure, find the resistance between points A and B.
Both the circle and the diameter are made of uniform wire of
–4
resistance 1 × 10 ohm per metre. The length AB is 2 meter.
(a) 6  (b) 7 
(c) 8  (d) 9 
Ans. (c)

Sol.
–4 –4
(a) (2/3) × 10  (b) 2 × 10 
–4 –4
(c) 14.56 × 10  (d) 0.88 × 10 
Ans. (d)
R eq  8 Sol. R  1  10 4  / m
length of wire AB  2m
Q 27. What will be the resistance between P and Q in the following
circuit ? Resistance of wire AB  2  104 
Radius of circle  1m
Circumference of semicircle   r
m
Resistance of semicircle    104 

(a) (1/3)  (b) (2/3) 

(c) 2  (d) 5 
Ans. (d)

1 1 1 1 1  1 1 1
    4    
Req  10 4
2 10 4
 104
10    2 
Sol. 1 1 4 
 4 
R eq 10  2 

Now, circuit will be

CURRENT ELECTRICITY 7

2 Ans. (b)
 R eq   104
(4   )
 0.88  10 4 
Q 29. A uniform wire of resistance 36  is bent in the form of a
circle. The effective resistance across the points A and B is
Sol.

Therefore connection will be removed

New Circuit will be

(a) 36  (b) 18 
(c) 9  (d) 2.75 
Ans. (d)

Sol.

Resistance of wire  36

Wire is bent in form of circle
36
Resistance of wire per unit angle 
2
Resistance of wire making angle 30
36 
   3
2 6
Resistance of remaining section of wire  33
3  33 3  33 33
R eq     2.75
3  33 36 12
Q 30. In the circuit diagram shown below each resistance is of
value 1 ohm, what is the equivalent resistance between the
points A and B.

R123  R1  R2  R3
2 3 23
 1 1 
3 3
8
R123  
(a) 4/7  (b) 8/7  3
(c) 3/14  (d) 16/7 
 CURRENT ELECTRICITY 8

1 5
(c)    (d)   
9 9
Ans. (a)
E 
8 16 Sol. r    1 R
2 V 
16 8
Re q  3  3     2.2  0.4 10
8 14 14 7   1  5  5  
2  1.8  1.8 9
3 3
Q 33. An idealized voltmeter is connected across the terminals of
Series and Parallel of Cells a 15 volt battery and a 7.5 ohm appliance is also connected
Q 31. A d.c. main supply of e.m.f. 220 V is connected across a across its terminals .If the voltmeter reads 12.5 volt .What
storage battery of e.m.f 200 V through a resistance of 1. is the internal resistance of the battery.
The battery terminals are connected to an external (a) 1.0  (b) 1.2 
resistance ‘R’. The minimum value of ‘R’, so that a current (c) 1.4  (d) 1.5 
passes through the battery to charge it is: Ans. (d)
(a) 7 (b) 9 Sol. E  15V , V  12.5V , R  7.5
(c) 11 (d) Zero
Ans. (c) E 
Internal Resistance    1 R
V 
 15 
  1  7.5
 12.5 
2.5
r  7.5  1.5
12.5
Q 34. Five cells each of e.m.f. E and internal resistance r are
connected in series. If due to oversight one cell gets
connected wrongly ,then the equivalent e.m.f. and internal
Sol. resistance of this combination is
(a) 5E,5r (b) 4E,4r
(c) 3E,4r (d) 3E,5r
Ans. (d)

If storage battery is removed and if VA – VB > 200 V then a

current passes through this battery to charge it
in open circuit condition (without 200 V battery) Sol.
220
VA  VB  R
R 1
For battery to be charged Equivalent internal resistance = 5r
Equivalent E.M.f =4E-E=3E
VA  VB  200 V
220 R Q 35. Two identical cells connected in series send 1.0 amp of
  200  220 R  200 R  200 current through a 5 ohm resistance.When they are
R 1
connected in parallel, they send current of 0.8 amp through
 R  10  here 11  10 the same resistor. What is the internal resistance of the cell ?
(a) 0.5  (b) 1
Q 32. For a cell terminal potential difference is 2.2 volt when (c) 2.5  (d) 4
circuit is open and reduces to 1.8 volt when cell is connected Ans. (c)
to an external resistance of 5 ohm.What is the internal
resistance of the cell ?
 10   10 
(a)    (b)   
9  19 
CURRENT ELECTRICITY 9

Sol.

Eeq  E1  E2
Sol. req  r1  r2
req  r1and req  r2

Q 37. How will you connect 24 cells each of internal resistance of

1so as to get maximum power output across a load of
1.50 
(a) 4 rows, 6 cells in a row
(b) 12 rows, two cells in a row
(c) 2 rows, 12 cells in a row
(d) 3 rows, 8 cells in a row
Ans. (a)
Sol. For maximum power
nr n
R  1.5   n  1.5m
m m
No.of cells  nm  24
1.5m 2  24
24
m2   16
1.5
2 E  I ( R  2r ) No.of Rows  m  4
No.of Cells  n  1.5  4  6
2 E  1(5  2r )
5  2r  2 E....(1) Kirchhoff’s Laws
Q 38. The figure shows currents in a part of an electric circuit,
 r then current I is
E  0.8  5   ......(2)
 2 2A
Solving equation (1) and (2) 1A
1.3A
 r
5  2r  1.6 5   2A
 2
I
3
r  2.5 (a) 1.7 A (b) 3.7 A
1.2 (c) 1.3 A (d) 1 A
Ans. (a)
Q 36. Two real batteries are connected in series. Consider the Sol. Accroding to Kirchhoff’s first law
following statements (i) The equivalent e.m.f. is larger than 4 A  1A  1.3 A  I  0
either of two emf’s (ii) The equivalent internal resistance is
smaller than either of two internal resistances. 4 A  2.3 A  I
(a) Both statements are correct I  4  2.3  1.7 A
(b) Statement (i) is correct but statement (ii) is wrong
(c) Statement (ii) is correct but statement (i) is wrong Q 39. The Kirchhoff ’s first law (i = 0) and second law
(d) Both are wrong statements (iR = E) where the symbols have their usual meanings,
Ans. (b) are respectively based on
(a) conservation of charge, conservation of momentum
(b) conservation of energy, conservation of charge
(c) conservation of momentum, conservation of charge
 CURRENT ELECTRICITY 10

(d) conservation of charge, conservation of energy

Ans. (d) Sol.
Sol. Krichhoff’s first law is based on conservation of charge
while second law is based on conservation energy. Current will be same through both resistances

Q 40. The figure shows a network of currents. The magnitude of  (2l ) l  l 

R1  , R2   Let R  
currents is shown here. The current I will be A 2A  A
R
R1  2 R, R2 
2
8 1 8 V 14 8  V
I   
5R 2R 5R 2R
2
 28  40  5V
5V  12
(a) – 3A (b) 3A
V  2.4V
(c) 13 A (d) 20 A
Q 43. An infinite ladder network of resistances is constructed
Ans. (d)
with 1  and 2  resistances, as shown in figure.
Sol. According to Kirchhoff’s 1st law The 6 V battery between A and B has negligible internal
resistance :
I  7 A  13 A
I  20 A
Q 41. In the figure shown below, the electric current flowing
through 2R resistor is

B (i) Show that the effective resistance between A & B is 2 .

A D
R 2R C R (ii) What is the current that passes through the 2 
resistance nearest to the battery ?
Ans. (ii) 1.5 A
Sol. Let RAB  x. Then, we can break one chain and connect a
resistance of magnitude x in place of it.Thus, the circuit
(a) from left to right remains as shown in figure.
(b) from right to left
(c) no current flows
(d) double to that through any other resistors
Ans. (b)
Sol. Electric current flow from high potential to low potential.
In given circuit B point is connected with -ve terminal of
battery i.e., at low potential and C point is connected with
the terminal of battery i.e., at high potential.
Hence current flows from right to left through 2R resistor.

Q 42. One end of copper wire of length 2L and cross sectional

area A is attached to one end of another copper wire of
length L and cross section area 2A. If the free end of the
longer wire is at electric potential of 8 volt and free end of Now, 2x and x are in parallel. So, their combined resis
longer wire is at potential of 1 volt ,what is the potential of 2x 2x
junction of two wires. tance is or RAB  1  But RAB is as
(a)1.2 V (b) 2.1 V 2 x 2 x
(c) 2.4 V (d) 3.6 V sumed as x.
Ans. (c)
2x
Therefore, x  1 
2 x
CURRENT ELECTRICITY 11

Q 45. A 5 V battery with internal resistance 2  and a 2 V battery

Solving this equation, we get x  2 hence proved. with internal resistance 1  are connected to a 10  resistor
2 2 as shown in the figure.
(b) Net resistance of circuit R  1   2
22

The current in the 10  resistor is

(a) 0.27 A, P2 to P1 (b) 0.03 A, P1 to P2
(c) 0.03 A, P2 to P1 (d) 0.27 A, P1 to P2
6 Ans. (a)
 Current through battery i   3A
2
This current is equality distributed in 2 and 2 re
i
sistance. Therefore, the desired current is or 1.5 A.
2 Sol.
Q 44. What is the value of R so that ammeter reads zero in the
circuit shown below.

E1r2  E2 r1 5  1  2  2
EEq  
r1  r2 2 1
9
  3V
3
rr 1 2 2
REq  1 2  
(a) 600  (b) 300  r1  r2 1  2 3
(c) 250  (d) 150 
Ans. (b) 3 9
i   0.28 A, P2 to P1
2 32
 10
3
Q 46. What is the current I in the circuit as shown in figure

Sol.

Ammeter reads zero if I1  I 2

6 2

600  R R (a) 2A (b) 1.2 A
4 R  1200 (c) 1 A (d) 0.5 A
R  300 Ans. (a)
 CURRENT ELECTRICITY 12

Q 48. Find out the value of current through 2 resistance for the
given circuit.

Sol.

6 2 3 (a) zero (b) 2A

R eq   
8 2 (c) 5A (d) 1 A
Ans. (a)
V  3V
V 3
I   2A
R eq 3
2
I  2A
Sol
Q 47. In the circuit shown in figure potential difference between
X and Y will be

Both ends of 2 resistor connected-ve terminal of

batteries.
Hence, no current will flow through 2 resistance.

Q 49. 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 & S2 connected in parallel. The condition
for the bridge to be balanced will be
P 2R P R  S1  S2 
(a)  (b) 
Q S1  S2 Q S1S2

P R  S1  S2  P R
(c)  (d) Q  S  S
(a) zero (b) 20 V Q 2S1S2 1 2
(c) 60 V (d) 120 V Ans. (b)
Ans. (d) Sol. In Wheastone’s bridge,

Sol.

P R

Q S
In open circuit
Potential difference ‘V’ =Emf of cell
V=120V
 CURRENT ELECTRICITY 13

P R

Q S1S 2
S1  S 2
P R ( S1  S 2 )

Q S1S 2

Q 50. The Wheatstone’s bridge shown in figure is balanced. If

the position of the cell E and galvanometer G are now (i) The equivalent resistance of the network between A
interchanged, G will show zero deflection and B is independent of the value of R’
(ii) The equivalent resistance of the network between points
A and B is 4 R/3
(iii) The current flowing through R’ is zero
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct ?
(a) (i) alone
(b) (ii) alone
(c) (ii) and (iii)
(d) (i), (ii) and (iii)
Ans. (d)
Sol. As circuit is balanced
4R
R eq  ,Which is independent of R '
(a) only if all resistor are equal 3
(b) only if R1 = R3 and R2 = R4 Current through R '  0
(c) only if R1R4 = R2R3
(d) in all cases Q 52. In the circuit shown, some potential difference is applied
Ans. (d) between A & B. The equivalent resistance between A & B is

A B

Sol. (a) 14  (b) 12.5 

(c) 3.6  (d) 2.1 
Ans. (c)

R1 R2

R4 R3
Given
R1R3  R2 R4
Final
Sol.
Q 51. Consider the following statements regarding the network
shown in the figure

3 2

6 4
No current will flow through 5, i.e., circuit is balanced.
 CURRENT ELECTRICITY 14

1.5 1

R 4
R  6
Potentiometer and Post Office Box
Q 54. In a potentiometer experiment, there is no current at the
96 balance point in
Req   3.6
96 (a) main battery circuit
(b) galvanometer circuit
(c) potentiometer circuit
(d) both main and galvanometer circuit
Ans. (b)
Sol. In potentiometer experiment, galvanometer shows null
deflection at balance point due to same potential at jockey
and galvanometer connection so that no current in
galvanometer circuit.

Q 55. The length of a potentiometer wire is 5 metres. An electron

–19
in this wire experiences a force of 4.8 × 10 newton, e.m.f.
of the main cell used in potentiometer is
(a) 3 volt (b) 15 volt
(c) 1.5 volt (d) 5 volt
R4 R1 Ans. (b)

R3 R2 Sol. F  qE

Q 53. Determine the value of resistance R if the current in branch V

OA is zero.
E
l
Fl 4.8  1019  5
V   15V
q 1.6  1019
Q 56. In a potentiometer, experiment, the balancing length is at
240 cm with a cell. On shunting the cell with a resistance of
2 the balancing length becomes 120 cm .What is the
internal resistance of the cell.
(a) 0.5  (b) 1
(c) 2 (d) 4
Ans. (c)
Sol. E  l1 (240cm)
V  l2 (120cm)
(a) 6  (b) 8  R  2
(c) 10  (d) 12  l   E  
Ans. (a) r   1  1   R  from  r    1 R 
Sol If current through OA is zero.  l2   V  
 240 
r   1  2
 120 
r  2
Q 57. In the following circuit figure, the resistance of wire AB is
10  and its length is 1m. Rest of the quantities are shown in
 CURRENT ELECTRICITY 15

the figure. The potential gradient on potentiometer wire will be

I  0.5  4 107
Sol. K 
A 8 10 6
K  0.025V / m  25m / V / metre

Q 60. The infinity resistance plug in a post office box (resistance

box) has
(a) an air gap only
(b) a resistance coil of infinite resistance
(c) largest resistance value in box
(d) resistance of value –100 ohm
Ans. (a)
Sol. A air gap only

Galvanometer, Ammeter and Voltmeter

Q 61. A galvanometer of coil resistance 20 gives a full scale
(a) 0.8 V/m (b) 0.08 V/m deflection with a current of 5 mA. What arrangement should
(c) 0.008 V/m (d) none of the above be made in order to measure current upto 1.0 A.
Ans. (a) (a) add a series resistance of 2
Sol. E  2V (b) add a parallel resistance of 2
(c) add a series resistance of 0
E 2 (d) add a parallel resistance of 0.1
Current passing through wire I   A Ans. (d)
R 25 3
Sol. G  20, l g  5  10 A, I  1A
V  E  Ir
2 Ig 5  103
V  2   15 Shunt S  I  I G   20  0.1
25 g 1  5  103
V  0.8V To convert galvanometer into ammeter, shunt is connected
in parallel to galvanometer.
V 0.8
K   0.8V / m Q 62. The deflection of galvanometer decreases from 25 divisions
l 1
to 5 divisions when a resistor of 20 is connected in series
Q 58. In the above problem, the length of the wire AJ at which null
.What is galvanometer resistance.
points is obtained, will be
(a) 4 (b) 5
(a) 3.75 cm (b) 37.5 cm
(c) 6 (d) 7
(c) 75 cm (d) 27.5 cm
Ans. (b)
Ans. (b)
Sol. 25 × G = V
Sol. Resistance in secondary circuit  1.5 5 (G + 20) = V
Current from the cell  1A 5 (G + 20) = 25G
G + 20 = 5G
V  E  IE  1.5  11.2  0.3V 4G = 20
Length at which null point is obtained G = 5
V 0.3
 L   100  37.5cm Q 63. The net resistance of an ammeter should be small to ensure
K 0.8 (a) it does not get overheated
(b) it does not draw excessive current
Q 59. The current in the primary circuit of a potentiometer wire is (c) it does not appreciably change the current to measure
–7
0.5 A, specific resistance of wire is 4 × 10 –m and area of (d) it can measure large current
–6 2
cross-section of wire is 8 × 10 m . The potential gradient in Ans. (c)
the wire would be Sol. If does not appereciably change the current to measure.
(a) 2.5 mV/metre (b) 25 mV/metre
(c) 25 V/metre (d) 10 V/metre Q 64. A candidate connects a moving coil voltmeter V, a moving
Ans. (b) coil ammeter A and a resistor R as shown in figure. If the
voltmeter reads 20 volt and the ammeter reads 4 A, the
value of R is
 CURRENT ELECTRICITY 16

l12  20l1  8000  100l1  80l1  l12

200l1  8000
l1  40cm
Eqn.(1) becomes
2 40

(a) equal to 5 ohm R 60
(b) greater than 5 ohm
(c) less than 5 ohm 26
R  3
(d) may be greater or less than 5 ohm 4
Ans. (b) Q 67. A wire connected in the left gap of a meter bridge balance
Sol. V = 20 V a 10 in the right gap at a point which divides the bridge
1 = 4A wire in the ratio of 3:2.What is the resistance of the wire
V 20 (a) 10 (b) 1.2
R   5 (c) 15 (d) 1
1 4
Meter bridge Ans. (c)
Q 65. In meter bridge or wheatstone bridge for measurement of l1 3
resistance, the known and the unknown resistances are Sol. 
interchanged. The error so removed is l2 2
(a) end correction
R 3
(b) index error 
(c) due to temperature effect 10 2
(d) random error
Ans. (a)
R  15
Sol. Sometimes at the end points of meter bridge wire, some
length is found under the metallic strips, so some additional Power in a Resistor and Heating effect
length should be added for accurate measurement, if the Q 68. A 100 watt,110 volt and a 50 watt,110 volt lamps are
end resistance is small, if can be achieved by interchanging connected in series across 220 volt d.c. source. If the
the resistances. resistances of two lamps are assumed to remain constant,
the voltage across 100 watt lamps is
Q 66. A resistance of 2  is connected across one gap of a meter (a) 100 volt (b) 143.3 volt
bridge, the length of wire is 1 meter, and an unknown (c) 73.3 volt (d) 200 volt
resistance, greater than 2  is connected across the other Ans. (c)
gap. When these resistances are interchanged, the balance Sol. P1  100W P2  50W
point shifts by 20 cm. Neglecting any correction, find the
unknown resistance.
(a) 3  (b) 4 
(c) 5  (d) 6 
Ans. (a)
Sol. Initially After interchanging resistances
2   1 , R  ( 1  20)
R1  100  l1 2  (80  1 ) v 2 110 2
R1    121
p1 100
2 l1
 ...(1)
R 100  l1 V 2 (110) 2
R2  2 
R l1  20 P 50
 ...(2) R1  121 R2  242
2 80  l1
Multiple eqn. (1) and (2) V  IR
l1 l  20 V 220
 1 1 I   0.6 A
100  l1 80  l1 R 363
l12  20l1  (100  l1 )(80  l1 ) V100 w  0.6  121  73.3Volt
CURRENT ELECTRICITY 17

Q 69. The supply voltage in a room is 120 V. The resistance of

the lead wires is 6. A 60W bulb is already switched on.
What is the decrease of voltage across the bulb, when a
240 W heater is switched on in parallel to the bulb ?
(a) zero (b) 2.9 V
(c) 13.3 V (d) 10.04 V
Ans. (d) Add
Sol.
V2
Sol. As P
R
Here, the supply voltage is taken as rated voltage
( Rated voltage)2
R
Rated power
 Resistance of 25W-220V bulb is
(220) 2
R1  
25
Resistance of 100W-220V bulb is
(220) 2
R2  
100
When these two bulbs are connected in series, total
resistance is
1 1  (220) 2
R3  R1  R2  (220)  2
 
 25 100  20
 Resistance of bulb 440 2
120V  120V Current, I   A
RB   240 (220) 2
11
60W
20
120V  120V Potential difference across 25W bulb
Resistance of heater, RH   60
240W 2 (220) 2
Voltage across bulb before heater is switched on
 IR1    352V
11 25
120V  240V Potential difference across 100W bulb
V1   117.07V
240  6 2 (220) 2
 IR2    88V
As bulb and heater are connected in parallel. Their equivalent 11 100
resistance is Thus the bulb 25W will be fused. because it can tolerate
only 220V while the voltage across it is 352V.
(240)  (60)
Req   48
240  60 Q 71. A conductor lies along the z–axis at –1.5 < z < 1.5 m
 Voltage across bulb after heater is switched on and carries a fixed current of 10.0 A in â z direction (see
120V  48 
V2   106.66V figure). For a field B  3.0  104 e0.2x â y T, find the
48  6 power required to move the conductor at constant
Decreasese in the voltage across the bulb is speed to x = 2.0 m, y = 0 m in 5 × 10–3 s. Assume parallel
motion along the x–axis.
V  V1  V2  10.41V  10.04V

Q 70. Two electric bulbs marked 25 W–220 V and 100 W-220 V are
connected in series to a 440 V supply. Which of the bulbs
will fuse ?
(a) Both (b) 100 W
(c) 25 W (d) Neither
Ans. (c)
 CURRENT ELECTRICITY 18

Q 73. If two bulbs of wattage 25 and 30 watt each rated at 220

volt are connected in series with 440 volt supply. Which
bulb will fuse ?
(a) 25 watt bulb (b) 30 watt bulb
(c) neither of them (d) both of them
Ans. (a)

(a) 2.97 W (b) 14.85 W Sol.

(c) 29.7 W (d) 1.57 W
Ans. (a)
Sol. Work done in displacing the wire by an elemental
displacement dx is
dW  I .B.l.dx  3.0  10 4  e 0.2 x  10  3  dx Safe current for bulb 1
Total work done in displacing the wire from x = 0 to
x = 2 m is P1 25
I1    0.11A
2.0 V1 220
3
W   dW   9 10 .e 0.2 x dx Safe current for bulb 2
0
P2 30
2 I2    0.13 A
e 0.2 x  V2 220
 W  9  103  
 0.2  0 Current sent by 440V supply

9  103 V 440  V2 V2 
W 
0.2

1  e0.4  I 
R eq 3549.3
 0.12 A  Req  1  2 
 P1 P2 

 W  4.5  10 2 1   2.71
0.4
J I  I1
Bulb of wattage 25W will fuse
2  0.4 
W 4.5  10 1   2.71  Q 74. A 200 volt,1000 watt bulb is connected across 100 volt
Power spent is P  
t 5  103 main supply.What will be power consumed.
 P  2.96W (a) 200 watt (b) 250 watt
(c) 500 watt (d) 750 watt
Ans. (b)
Q 72. In a large building, there are 15 bulbs of 40 W, 5 bulbs of
Sol. Voltage supply =100V
100 W, 5 fans of 80 W and 1 heater of 1 kW. The voltage of
power of bulb = 1000W
the electric mains is 220 V. The minimum capacity of the
main fuse of the building will be : V 2 (200) 2
(a) 10 A (b) 12 A (R) Resistance of bulb    40
(c) 14 A (d) 8 A P 1000
Ans. (b)
Sol. Total power consumption of building at full load is (Voltage sup ply ) 2 1000
P = 15×40 + 5×100+5×80 + 1000 Power consumed    250W
Re sis tan ce of bulb 40
 P = 600 + 500 + 400 + 1000 = 2500W
The current drawn from mains supply at full load is
Q 75. When three identical bulbs of 60 watt, 200 volt rating are
P 2500 125 connected in series to a 200 volt supply, the power drawn
I    11.36 A
V 220 11 by them
Maximum current supplied at full load (a) 60 watt (b)180 watt
As fuse rating must be kept such that maximum current at (c) 10 watt (d) 20 watt
full load can sustain. Ans. (d)
CURRENT ELECTRICITY 19

7
%  100  87.5%
8
Q 78. A coil takes 15 minutes to boil certain amount of water,
another coil takes 20 minutes for the same process .Time
taken to boil the same amount of water when both the coils
are connected in series across same source is
(a) 5 min (b) 8.6 min
Sol. (c) 35 min (d)12 min
Ans. (c)
Sol. when two coils are connected in series, total time taken to
boil the water.
t  t1  t2
Resistance of each bulb
t1  15 min, t2  20 min
V 2 (200) 2
R   666.6 t  35min
P 60
Equivalent resistance of circuit
Q 79. You need to produce a set of cylindrical copper
R eq  2000
wires 3.50 m long that will have a resistance of 0.125
power draw by bulbs from power supply
each. What will be the mass (in gram) of each of these
V2 4000 wires? Given that resistivity of copper is 1.72  108   m,
   20W
Re q 2000 density of copper  8.9 103 kg / m3 .
Q 76. 50 electric bulbs are connected in series across 200 volt Answer: 15
supply and illumination produced is I1. 5 bulbs get fused. If Solution
the remaining bulbs are again connected across the source Resistance of conductor is given as
in series, the illumination produced is I2.Which of the
following is true. l
R
(a) I1= I2 (b) I1> I2 A
(c) I1< I2 (d) anything is possible
Ans. (c) l
 A
Sol. As number of bulbs connected in series from 50 to 45. total R
current passing through circuit increases, so energy If V is the volume of conductor and d is its density then
associated with each bulb increases. Hence illumination will
mass of the conductor is given as
increase, I 2  I1
m  (Vd )
Q 77. A battery is charged at a potential of 15 volt for 8 hours  m  ( Ald )
when current flowing is 10 A.The battery on discharge
supplies a current of 5A for 15 hours .The mean terminal l 2
m d
voltage during discharge is 14 volt. What is watt hour R
efficiency of the battery.
(a) 50% (b) 67.8%
m
1.72 10  (3.5) 8.9 10 
8 2 3

(c) 89.6% (d) 87.5%

Ans. (d) 0.125

Sol. Input Energy=  VIT  15  10  8 J  m  15  10 kg 3

Output Energy  14  5 15 J  m  15 g

O / P Energy 14  5  15
Efficiency   Q 80. Find equivalent resistance (in ohm) across
I / P Energy 15  10  8 terminals A and B in the circuit shown in figure.
7

8
CURRENT ELECTRICITY 20

All four resistors in the given circuit are in parallel

because all one side and other side terminals of each of
the resistors are connected on the two sides of battery
so equivalent resistance of the combination is given as
1 1 1 1 1
   
R 8 4 6 12
8
R 
Answer : (3) 5
Solution: By Ohm’s law current through battery is given as
The equivalent resistance can be found by reducing the 24
circuit by series and parallel combination of resistances I
8/5
step by step as shown in figure.  I  15 A

Q 82. In a Wheatstone’s bridge a battery of 2V is used

as shown in figure. Find the value of n if the current
through the middle branch in the unbalanced condition of
the bridge is when P  1, Q  2, R  2 and
S  3 and resistance of middle branch BD is 4. .

Q 81. Calculate battery current (in amp) of the network

shown in figure.

Answer: 7
Solution:
Distribute of potential is shown in figure

Answer: (15)
Solution
CURRENT ELECTRICITY 21

Q 83. In figure, if the potential at point P is 100 V,

what is the magnitude of potential(in V) at point Q?

Answer : 10
Solution
The current in loop can be directly calculated by
KCL equation for x and y are considering the two resistances in series using branch
manipulation which gives
x x y x2
  0 150  50
2 4 1 I  2A (anticlockwise)
23
 7x  y  8
If potential at point Q is VQ then potential at the bottom
y yx y2
  0
And
3 4 2 terminal of the 150 V battery will be VQ  150  and the
13 y  3x  12 potential drop across 2 resistance is given by Ohm’ss
(3.82)  3  (3.83)  7 gives law which gives the potential of point P which can be
written as
88 y  108
VQ  150  20  2  VP
108 27
y  V  VQ  VP  110  10 V.
88 22
from equation-(3.82) we have Above solution we analyzed by using Ohm’s law and
writing the equation of potential drop. Students are
27
y  8 22
8
203
advised to solve this question by using KCL by
x   V considering potential x at point Q and then writing KCL
7 7 154
equation for x and verify the result obtained.
Thus current in middle branch is given as
203 27 Q 84. Find the current (in amp) in 6 resistance in the

x  y 154 22 circuit shown in figure using Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law.
I 4  
4 4
7
 I 4  A
308
 CURRENT ELECTRICITY 22

12 I 2  0
 I2  0
From equation-(1)
6 I1  3
 I1  3 / 6  0.5 A

Q 85. What shunt resistance (in ohm) is required to make

the 1.00 mA, 20 galvanometer into an ammeter with a
range of 0 to 50.0 mA ?
Answer: 0.41
Solution:
Here the full deflection current and galvanometer
resistance and range of ammeter are given as
ig  1.00 mA  103 A
Answer: 0.50
Solution: RG  20,

In the given circuit we circulate currents I1 and I 2 in the iR  50.0 103 A

two loops as shown in figure. We know
 ig
RS  
  3
10 (20)
 RG 
 i  ig
    
50.0  103  103 
 Rs  0.408

Q 86. An electric circuit is shown in figure. Calculate the

potential difference (in V) across the resistor of 400 ,
as will be measured by the voltmeter V of resistance
400 .

Writing KVL equation for I1

4.5  3I 2  6  I1  I 2   0
 9 I1  6 I 2  4.5
 6 I1  4 I 2  3
Writing KVL equation for I 2
6  I 2  I1   10 I 2  3  0

Solving gives Answer: 6.67

Solution:
CURRENT ELECTRICITY 23

Due to resistance of voltmeter which is in parallel with

400 resistance the branch resistance will be 200 and
this makes the circuit as a balanced Wheatstone bridge.
Thus the middle branch of 100 resistance can be
removed and the circuit will be modified as shown in
figure.

When voltameter is not connected the current in the

circuit is given as
E
i
r  R1  R2

5 5 1
i   A
20  50  40 110 22
Potential difference across resistance R1 is given as
The potential difference across the 200 resistance
which is read by the voltmeter is given as V1  i  R1

200 1
V  10   6.67 V  V1   50  2.27 V
200  100 22
When the voltmeter is connected across R1 then the
Q 87. A battery of EMF 5V and internal resistance 20 voltmeter resistance is taken in parallel with R1 thus total
is connected with a resistance R1  50 and a resistance resistance is of this part of circuit is given as
R2  40. A voltmeter of resistance 1000 is used to 1000  50
R'   47.62
measure the potential difference across R1 . What 1000  50
percentage error is made in the reading. Current in the circuit is given as
Answer: 2.6 5 5
i   A
Solution: 20  40  47.62 107.62
The circuit is shown in figure-3.270. Potential difference measured by voltmeter
5
V2   47.62  2.21 V
107.62
Percentage error in reading is given as
2.27  2.21
e  100.  2.6%
2.27
Q 88. An ammeter and a voltmeter are connected in
series to a battery with an e.m.f. E  6.0 V . When a
certain resistance is connected in parallel with the
voltmeter, the reading of the latter decrease   2.0
times, whereas the readings of the ammeter increase the
CURRENT ELECTRICITY 24

same number of times. Find the voltmeter readings (in Substituting the values we have
V) after the connection of the resistance. (2  1)6.0 6
V    2V
22  1 3
Q 89. A galvanometer having a coil of resistance 100
gives a full scale deflection when a current of one milli-
ampere is passed through it. What is the value of
resistance (in ohm) which can convert this galvanometer
into ammeter giving a full scale deflection for a current of
10A ?
Answer: 0.01
Solution:
In this case a shunt resistance S should be connected in
parallel with galvanometer so we have
S 103
Answer: 2 
S G 10
Solution
We consider that the initial readings of ammeter is I and S 1
 
that of voltmeter is V. When R is connected in parallel S  100 10000

with the voltmeter then we consider I  is the reading of S

1

99.99
ammeter and V1 is that of voltmeter. As it is given that
Current in the shunt resistance is given as
 V i  10  0.001  9.999 A
I    I and V   if I1 is the current entering voltmeter
Power dissipated in the shunt is given as
then we use 1
P  i 2 S  (9.999) 2 
 
V   I   I1 R . 99.99
For the whole circuit we can write  P  0.9999 W
This is less than one watt so the above shunt can be

E  I  RA  I   I1 R  safely used.
 E  I ' RA  V '
Q 90. In the meter bridge circuit shown in figure, find the
length (in cm) AC at null deflection in galvanometer.
When no resistance is connected,
E  IRA  V

From equations- (1) and (2).

I E V 1 E  V '
  
I ' E V '  E V '

 E  V    E   2V 

 
V   2  1   ( E  1)

 1
V  E.
 2 1
CURRENT ELECTRICITY 25

Answer: 53.57
Solution:
In a meter bridge null deflection occurs at balancing
state of Wheatstone bridge for which we use
5 2
 
x 75  x
 5(75  x)  2 x
 7 x  5  75
5  75
x  53.57 cm
7
Q 91. Figure shows a 200 cm potentiometer wire AB
with resistance 15 , find the balancing length (in cm) for
a 3V cell.

Answer: 37.5
Solution:
Current in primary circuit of above potentiometer is
given as
2 2
i  A
10  15 25
Potential gradient in wire is given as
VPQ 2 / 25 10 1
   V / cm
100 100 125
Answer: 40 In secondary circuit potential difference across points P
Solution: and C is given as
Current in primary circuit of above potentiometer is VPC  0.3  1  0.3 V
given as If balancing length for VPC on wire is I then we use
20 VPC   I
i  1A
20
VPC 0.3
Potential difference across wire AB is given as l  
 1 / 125
VAB  iRAB  15 V
 VPC  125  0.3  37.5 cm
Potential gradient on wire is given as
VAB 15 Q 93. A battery has an open circuit potential difference of
   0.075 V / cm
L 200 6 V between its terminals. When a load resistance of
If l1 is the balancing length we use 60 is connected across the battery, the total power
dissipated by the battery is 0.4 W. What should be the
3
3   l1  l1   40 cm load resistance R(in ohm), so that maximum power will
0.075
be dissipated in R.
Q 92. Figure shows a potentiometer with length of wire
Answer: 30
1m and resistance 10 . In this system find length (in
Solution:
cm) PC when galvanometer shows null deflection.
Figure shows the situation described in question. Here r
is the internal resistance of the battery and E its EMF.
 CURRENT ELECTRICITY 26

Power supplied by the battery in this case is given as

E2
P
Rr
Substituting the values gives
(6) 2
0.4 
60  r
 r  30
Maximum power is dissipated in the circuit when
external resistance is equal to net internal resistance
which gives
Rr
 R  30