FRANCISCAN ENGINEERING REVIEW PROGRAM ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING – CIRCUIT FUNDAMENTALS September 2020

1. The domestic appliances are connected in parallel quantity is taken into account. For example, if a such series- connected cells are connected in parallel.
due to the following reasons: current flowing towards a point O is assigned Such a connection is called series- parallel grouping.
“positive” sign, then current flowing away from point
(i) The domestic appliances are rated for the same O will be assigned negative sign. Similarly, if a rise in 9. When we require a d.c. supply, we look for a d.c.
voltage (i.e., 230 V) but different powers. When voltage is assigned positive sign, then fall in voltage source other than a battery. Why?
connected in parallel, the performance of each will be assigned negative sign.
appliance becomes independent of the other. Because batteries are costly and require frequent
Thus a 230 V, 250 W TV receiver can be 6. How will you prove the validity of Kirchhoff’s Laws? replacement.
operated independently in parallel with 1 230 V,
100 W lamp. The validity of two Kirchhoff`s laws can be proved as 10. What is the objection to have lamps in a house-
under: lighting circuit connected in series?
(ii) If a break occurs in any one of the branch First law: The sum of currents flowing towards any
circuits, it will have no effect on the other junction is equal to the sum of currents flowing away The lamps in a house- lighting circuit are not connected
branch circuits. from that junction. in series due to the following reasons:
The first law simply says that as many electrons flow
2. Why does a cell possess internal resistance? away from a point as flow towards it. This is true (i) If break occurs in any part of the circuit, no
because electric current is merely flow of electrons current will flow and the entire circuit becomes
When current flows through a cell, it meets and they cannot accumulate at any point in a circuit. useless.
opposition from the electrodes and the electrolyte. This
opposition to current offered by the cell is called its Second law: In any closed circuit or mesh, the (ii) A high supply voltage is required if the lamps (or
internal resistance. algebraic sum of all the electromotive forces (e.m.fs) other devices) are to be connected in series. For
and the voltage drops is equal to zero. example, if five 230 V lamps are to be connected
3. Why is Wheatstone bridge method preferred to The validity of Kirchhoff`s second law can be readily in series, then supply voltage would have to be
voltmeter – ammeter method for measuring established. If we start from any point in a closed 5 x 230= 1150 V. Therefore, series connection is
resistance? circuit and go back to that point after going round the not practicable for lighting circuits.
circuit, there is no increase or decrease in the
Wheatstone bridge method is preferred to voltmeter- potential. This means that the sum of e.m.f.s of all (iii) For efficient operation, only those lamps or
ammeter method for measuring resistance due to the the sources met on the way plus the voltage drops in devices should be connected in series that have
following reasons: the resistances must be zero. the same current rating. However, electrical
(i) The Wheatstone bridge method is independent of devices (e.g., heater, toaster, lamp etc.) have
the fluctuations and variations in the supply 7. Why are cells grouped to form a battery? different current ratings. Obviously, they cannot
voltage. be connected in series for efficient operation.
The e.m.f. and current obtained from a single cell are
(ii) It removes the objectionable feature of generally small. For instance, an ordinary dry cell has 11. Can you measure the emf of a cell with a voltmeter?
voltmeter- ammeter method where the accuracy an e.m.f. of 1.5 V and can deliver about 1/8 ampere
of measurement is limited by the accuracy of continuously. Many occasions arise where higher Not accurately. It is because when voltmeter is
calibration of instruments. voltage or higher current or both are required. To connected across the cell, current starts flowing
meet these needs, a number of cells are suitably through it. This causes a voltage drop across the
4. Why is Wheatstone circuit called a bridge? connected or grouped. The combination of cells thus internal resistance of the cell. Consequently, the
obtained is called a battery. voltmeter will not indicate the e.m.f. of the cell.
The circuit is called a bridge because the Remember e.m.f. of a cell is the voltage across the
galvanometer bridges the opposite junctions of the 8. Which type of grouping of cells will be suitable to open- circuit terminals of the cell i.e., voltage
circuit. obtain a higher current and voltage? across the terminals of the cell when it carries no
current. l
5. What is the meaning of algebraic sum? Series- parallel grouping of cells. To provide a large
voltage, a number of cells are connected in series
The algebraic sum is one in which the sign of the and to produce a large current, a number of sets of

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