ST HILDAS PHYSICS

YEAR 11

CLASS NOTES & QUESTIONS

ELECTROSTSATICS &
ELECTRIC CIRCUITS

NAME:_______________________

YEAR 11 PHYSICS
ST HILDA’S
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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

ELECTRIC CHARGE
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Van Der Graaf Generator

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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

So what happens when someone touches the dome?

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Try and explain the earthing effect in terms of movement of charge.

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What would happen if this earthing occurred near a gas leak?

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CONDUCTORS & INSULATORS

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Use the diagram opposite to try and explain this phenomenon.

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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

DETECTING & DEFINING CHARGE

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So what happens when the rod touches the electroscope (es)?
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ELECTROSTATIC INDUCTION
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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

Induction can also occur with a balloon sticking to a wall or on hair.

How does this work?
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QUESTIONS: Qu 1-6 Walding, Page 452

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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

COULOMBS LAW
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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

QUESTIONS: Qu 1-6 Walding Page 452

ELECTRIC FIELDS
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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

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RULES:
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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

EXAMPLE
The diagram opposite shows two point charges A and B separated
by a distance of 15 cm.
a. Determine the magnitude and direction of the electric field at a
point X midway between the two charges.
b. Determine the point between the charges at which the electric
field strength is zero.

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ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
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EXAMPLE
Consider the diagram opposite, with charges A and
B of –6.5 μC and +8.3 μC respectively, in space. If
these charges are separated by a distance of 10
cm, find the potential at the midpoint between
their centres.
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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

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EXAMPLE
In a Millikan-type experiment a suspended negatively charged latex sphere has a mass
of 5.7 × 10–7 g and is held at rest between the plates with potential difference V of 280
volts.
If the plates are separated by a distance of 4.0 mm:
a. draw a diagram of the apparatus in cross-section and label the plate polarity
correctly;
b. calculate the electric field strength;
c. calculate the charge on the latex sphere in both coulombs and elementary charges.

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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

QUESTIONS: Qu 10-14 Walding, Page 459

APPLICATIONS OF ELECTROSTATICS

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READ: Applications, Page 460-463

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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS

Part 2

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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

CHARGES IN MOTION
NOTES:

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EQUATION:
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EXAMPLE:
A particular type of metal has an estimated 1 × 1023 free electrons per metre of its length. If this metal
carries an electric current of 1.4 amps, estimate the drift velocity of the electrons through the metal.
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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

EMF & VOLTAGE

NOTES:
EQUATION:
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RESISTANCE
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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

EXERCISES
1. (a) Write a definition for voltage.
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(b) Write an equation which summarises or represents this definition.
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2. (a) Write a definition for electric current.

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(b) Write an equation which summarises or represents this definition.
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3. In the circuit shown, the voltmeter reading is 12V

and the reading on the ammeter is 0.3A. A

(a) Determine the number of Coulombs of electrical

charge that flow through the lamp every second.
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(b) How much energy will be drained from the battery in 10 seconds? V
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4. A light bulb is connected to a 20V supply.

(a) How much electrical energy is carried by each coulomb of charge that flows from the
battery?
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(b) If the current flowing is 2A, how much energy is supplied to the bulb every second?
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5. The resistance of a resistor is 200 Ohms. What current will pass through it in a circuit when the voltage
across the resistor is 10V.
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6. Draw the symbol for a rheostat and explain its function in a circuit.
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7. (a) What form of energy do most resistors convert electrical energy into? ___________ _____
(b) What effect does this energy release have on the resistance value of the resistor?
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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

8. Use Ohm’s law to complete the following table.

Voltage 12 V 20 V 240 V 120 mV

Current 2A 0.2 A 8A 35 mA

Resistance 30 Ω 2 kΩ 1200 Ω 0.05 Ω

9. In an Ohm’s law experiment a water-cooled resistor was connected in series with a power supply and an
ammeter. A voltmeter was connected to measure the voltage drop across the resistor.
The readings on the two meters were recorded.

Voltage (V) 2 6 11 16 22 25
Current (I) 0.2 0.5 0.9 1.3 1.8 2.0

(a) Draw a circuit diagram (b) Draw a graph of V vs I

(c) Calculate the slope of the graph.

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(d) What is the meaning of the slope and what is its unit? _____
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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

INTERNAL RESISTANCE
NOTES:

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EXAMPLE 1:
A student tested an old torch cell with a voltmeter. The terminal voltage is 1.5V. This is the EMF of the
cell (assuming that the voltmeter draws a negligible current. But when connected to a lamp, the cell
fails to make it glow.
When the cell is connected to the lamp, its terminal voltage is 0.50V and it delivers a current of 0.20A.
Calculate the internal resistance of the cell.
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NOTES: SERIES:
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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

__________________________________ PARALLEL:

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EXAMPLE 2:

The circuit diagram alongside shows two identical lamps connected in parallel to a battery. The arrows
show the direction of conventional current.
The meter readings are: Ammeter = 0.50A Voltmeter = 2.4V
a. What is the voltage of the battery?
b. What is the current through each lamp?
c. What resistance does each lamp have?
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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

EXERCISES
1. The diagrams below show various arrangements of resistors. For each arrangement, calculate
the effective or total resistance and write it in the box below. The resistance values are in
Ohms.

5 8 2 8 9 5 5 8
5
9 8 9 8 6

A
2. In the circuit opposite, the battery has a voltage of 20V.
(a) Calculate the effective resistance of the circuit.
5 8 3 2
(b) Calculate the current flowing through the circuit.
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(c) Calculate the voltage across the 8 Ohm resistor.
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(d) Calculate the voltage across the 2 Ohm resistor.
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(e) Calculate the power consumed in the 8 Ohm resistor.
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3. In the circuit opposite the battery has a voltage of 9V. A

(a) Calculate the effective resistance of the circuit.
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(b) Calculate the current flowing through the battery. 15
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(c) Calculate the current flowing through each of the resistors
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(d) Calculate the power delivered by the battery.
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4. In the circuit on the right the battery voltage is 20V.
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10

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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

(a) Calculate the effective resistance of the circuit.

(b) Calculate the current flowing through the battery.

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Calculate the voltage reading on the voltmeter.
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(d) Calculate the Voltage across the 10 Ohm resistor.
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(e) Calculate the power output of the battery.
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(f) Calculate the power consumed by the 6 Ohm resistor.
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5. In the circuit on the right the battery voltage is 40V.
(a) What is the effective resistance of the circuit?
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20 15
(b) Determine the reading on the voltmeter.

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QUESTIONS 1- 10
PAGE 479 WALDING

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ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

CIRCUITS
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EXAMPLE 1:
The diagram shows a junction in a circuit. Calculate the current I. 2A
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EXAMPLE 2: 1A
The diagram on the power point shows part of a circuit. Calculate the EMF of
the battery.
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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

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EXAMPLE 3:
The diagram on the power point shows a circuit containing two batteries, three resistors and an
ammeter of negligible resistance.
The reading on the ammeter is 0.75A.
Calculate the value of:
a. I1
b. I2
c. ε
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EXERCISES

1. In the circuit shown, calculate

(a) the total resistance of the circuit.
15V
18

(b) the current drawn from the battery.

35

15
(c) the potential difference across the 18 Ohm resistor.
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2. When a battery is used in a circuit, current also flows through the battery. The chemicals inside
the battery have resistance and this will affect the current. Describe what happens when a
battery “goes flat”.
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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

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3. (a) The resistance inside a voltage source is called its resistance.

(b) A text book statement read as follows. “The potential difference across the terminals of
a battery in a circuit is the same as its Emf if the circuit resistance is high”. Explain why
this statement is true.
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(c) A battery has an EMF of 9.0 V and a resistance of 0.82 Ohms.

9.0V
It is connected into a circuit as shown with a variable resistor.
Calculate the voltage across the variable resistor if it has a
resistance of 5 Ohms.
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4. In the circuit shown, a 15 V battery has an internal resistance 15V

of 2.0 Ohms. It is connected to an 8.0 Ohm resistor. 2.0
Calculate the current in the circuit.

8.0
Calculate the actual voltage supplied by the battery to the 8.0 Ohm resistor.

5. For the following two circuits, calculate the unknown currents.

(a) 15V __________________________________________
I1 I2 12
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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

QUESTIONS 11- 12
PAGE 487 WALDING

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ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

ELECTRICAL ENERGY & POWER

NOTES:
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EXAMPLE:
If electricity costs 18c per kWh, how much does it cost to run a 1KW fire for 8 hours?
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EXERCISES

1. Complete the following chart relating to electrical power in circuits.

Power 100 W 2 kW
Energy change 20 kJ 300 J 16.5 kJ
Time 2 min 30 s 250 s 10 s
Voltage 240 V 40 V 12 110 V
Current 5A 0.5 0.2 A
Resistance 330 Ω 22 Ω

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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11
A
2. The circuit on the right is called a voltage divider circuit.
Although there is a special voltage divider equation, it is not 9
required for the Achievement Standard.
The circuit details can still easily be solved by using the more
basic Ohm’s Law equation in two steps. 15 V
The battery voltage is 20 V.
(a) Calculate the current in the circuit.
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(b) Calculate the reading on the voltmeter

3. In this more complicated voltage divider situation the battery

A
voltage is 25 V.
(a) Calculate the effective resistance of the circuit. 15

(b) Calculate the current reading on the ammeter.

9 6 V
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(c) Calculate the reading on the voltmeter.

4. In this voltage divider circuit the top resistor is replaced by a

rheostat and the bottom resistor is a light bulb as shown. A
The battery voltage is 20V.
(a) As the rheostat resistance is increased what will happen to..
(i) the current reading on the ammeter.

(ii) the brightness of the bulb. X V

(iii) the reading on the voltmeter.

(b) If the reading on the ammeter is 0.5 A when the reading on the voltmeter is 14 V, calculate..
(i) the resistance of the light bulb

(ii) the voltage across the rheostat.

5. A component called a Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) is sensitive

A
to light intensity. Its resistance is low when the light falling on it is
LDR
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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

bright and its resistance goes up as the light intensity fades.

A circuit is constructed like the one in Q4 but the rheostat is
replaced by an LDR. The light bulb is arranged so that the light
it produces cannot fall on the LDR and affect it.
The circuit diagram is shown on the right.

(a) Would the light bulb be glowing most brightly when the
surroundings are dark or when the surroundings are well lit. Explain your answer.

(b) Will the current reading be a maximum or a minimum when the circuit is in the dark?
Explain your answer.

QUESTIONS 13- 16
PAGE 488 WALDING

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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

HOUSEHOLD ELECTRICITY
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Lights
Live wire Fuse = 8A
R
E
T
E
M
Main Power pts
Service fuse Fuse = 15A
Switch
70A Air con
Fuse = 20A
Stove
Neutral Fuse = 35A
To all circuits

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 ST HILDAS PHYSICS
YEAR 11

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EARTHING
NOTES:

Switch
Fuse Element
A
N
E Metal case

Power TOASTER
point

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QUESTIONS 17- 39
PAGE 497-500 WALDING

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