Frequently Asked Questions [FAQ]

In this segment, we will be discussing some of the most frequently asked questions associated with electricity. While
going through this section always keep in mind that different questions can have the same answer.
Frequently asked questions in SECTION A
1. The resistance of a length of copper wire is 6 Ω. A second piece of copper wire has twice the length and
twice the cross-sectional area. What is the resistance of the second piece of copper wire?
Answer: 6 Ω. While dealing with question like these, always recall the equation that relates quantities in the
question. Since there’s no mention of current or voltage, it would be a fruitless attempt to relate the question
with those quantities. Another hint in the question was the materials for both wires were the same.
2. A 100 W lamp connected to the 230 V mains is replaced by a lamp which has twice the resistance. What is
the power of the new lamp?
Answer: 50W. Whenever you relate a question with an equation, try to identify the quantities that are
constant. Since the question clearly mentions that the lamp is connected with the mains, the voltage must be
constant. Now, to relate power with resistance (with voltage constant) the best equation would be…..?
3. The graphs show the variation of potential difference V with the current I for three components

The three components are a metal wire at constant temperature, a filament lamp and a diode. Identify the
components.
Answer: L is a filament bulb, M is a diode and N is the metal wire at constant temperature.
HINT: Always identify the axes carefully or you might find the question/answer misleading.
4. The graphs show possible variations of power P with potential difference V

Which graph is correct for a resistor that obeys Ohm’s law?

Answer: D is the correct answer. Hint: the question says for a resistor that obeys Ohms law and it’s pretty
obvious that the resistance remains constant. Now you’re left with power and voltage. Recall the equation. The
equation will be analogous to y = ax2
5. The battery in the circuit has negligible internal resistance and an e.m.f. of 12 V

What is the potential difference across the parallel combination?

Answer: The answer is 4V. The best way to analyze this is by
considering the resistors in the parallel combination as a single
resistor. Since they are identical and connected in parallel, the
total resistance will be 100 Ω. Now consider the two resistors
in series with one another, one 100 (combined) and the other 200
Now it’s known that the voltage is shared among the
components according to the ratio of their resistances. Therefore
if the voltage across the 100Ω resistor is V, the voltage across
the 200Ω resistor should be 2V. Moreover, V + 2V = 12, since
they are in series. Solve the equation to find V.

6. In the circuit shown, the battery has negligible internal

resistance. L, M and N are identical lamps.

The filament of lamp M breaks. Identify changes in the

brightness of lamps L and N

Answer: The brightness of L will increase and N will decrease.

This question has to be analysed in two separate steps. Firstly,
with M out of the picture, the voltage across L will increase.
Therefore it will be brighter than before. Now, L and N are both
connected in series. An increase in L’s voltage means the
voltage across N must decrease. Therefore its brightness will
decrease.

7. A student plots a graph of the potential difference across the terminals of the cell against the current through the cell

Which of the quantity gives the internal

resistance of the cell?
Answer: This question has two possible
answers – The magnitude of the gradient
of the graph OR the negative of the
gradient of the graph. Don’t get confused
with the wording.
This question is often accompanied by
asking how to find the emf of the cell. The
answer is y-intercept.
8. A negative temperature coefficient thermistor is connected as shown in the circuit diagram.

The cell has a negligible internal resistance. What will be the effect of
decreasing the temperature of the thermistor?
Answer: The thermistor is the only component in the circuit. Therefore
irrespective of the change in its resistance, the voltage across it will always be
equal to the emf. In simpler terms, the voltage across it will always remain
constant. However, as the temperature decreases, the resistance increases,
which reduces the current in the circuit.

9. A steady potential difference is applied across a variable resistor that is kept at a constant temperature.

Which graph which represents the relationship between the resistance R of the variable resistor and the current I through it?
Answer: This question might seem pretty tricky but it’s actually a very basic question. You’ve been asked to
identify the relationship between R and I when V is constant! All you have to do is recall the equation V = IR.
Since V remains constant, I and R are inversely proportional to each other. Therefore A should be the answer.
10. The diagram shows a uniform wire XY across which a potential difference V0 is applied
Which expression correctly shows the output potential
difference across XZ?

Answer:

Again, the key to cracking this question is step by step

analysis. According to the equation

resistance is directly proportional to the length of a

conductor. The rest is the concept of potential divider.

11. Two wires of the same material are connected in series with a potential difference across them. Wire A has
twice the cross-sectional area of wire B. What will be the drift velocities in A and B?

Answer: The moment you see the word drift in a question, recall the transport equation at once.
According to the transport equation I = nAve, since the two wires are connected in series, I must be constant.
The question clearly mentions that the wires are made out of the same material. Therefore n will also remain
constant. The charge of an electron e is always constant. Therefore, in this specific scenario, A and v are
inversely proportional. Therefore the speed of wire A (with twice the area) will have half the speed of B
12. The diagram shows the energy transfer for an electric motor.

Which equation represents the efficiency of the motor?

Answer: This is a very common question and an easy one indeed. A motor has to convert electrical energy to
mechanical energy. Therefore electrical energy is the input and mechanical energy is the output. The answer
should be E3 / E1

This question might have variations. For instance, instead of mechanical energy, the question might interpose
gravitational energy of an object pulled up using an electrical pulley run by a motor. Either way, always
remember that the electrical energy is the input and the mechanical energy is the output.
13. The diagrams show connected wires that carry currents I1, I2, I3 and I4.
The currents are related by the equation I1 + I2 = I3 + I4.
Which diagram applies for this equation?

Answer: This question might seem a bit tricky but its actually quite easy if you correctly identify the law
associated with this problem - Kirchoff’s law, which states that sum of current entering a point is equal to sum
of current leaving that point. The only option that seems to fit the description is C
Frequently asked questions in SECTION B
Q is the question, A is the answer and I is the interpretation
Some of the topics that had been discussed in details in the Electricity handout had been deliberately left out
here. Nevertheless the question will be mentioned
Basic Components

Q: Explain why voltmeters are connected in parallel and have a very high resistance [see handout]
Q: Explain why ammeters are connected in series have a very low (negligible) resistance [see handout]

Transport Equation and Behaviour of Materials

The following questions are interrelated. Try to figure out the connection/distinction between them
Q: Explain why the temperature of a filament bulb increases when it is switched on. [3]
A: Potential difference causes the flow of current and therefore the electrons have more frequent collisions with
the lattice ions which increase lattice ion vibrations. Energy is dissipated due to resistance in the form of heat.
I: This question cannot be confused with the one that asks why the resistance of metals increases. The question
specifically asks about the increase in temperature and the answer has to address that.
Q: Explain why the current in an NTC material increases (even when the potential difference is constant)
A: The flow of current causes a heating effect. Number of charge carriers increases, which in turn reduces the
resistance. According to V = IR, voltage remaining constant, as resistance decreases, current increases.
Q: Explain the shape of the V-I graph of for a metal.
A: The flow of current causes a heating effect which increases the lattice ion vibrations. This increases the
resistance and the rate of increase of current decreases.
Q: Explain the shape of the V-I graph of for an (NTC) thermistor
A: The flow of current causes a heating effect. As the thermistor heats up, the charge carrier density increases
and the rate of increase of current increases.
Q: With reference to the equation I = nqvA, explain what happens to the resistance of the thermistor when its
temperature increases. [see handout]
Questions Associated with Resistance
Q: Calculating the resistance of a material from information given about its resistivity, length and cross
sectional area.
A/I: These questions have nothing to with current or voltage. Always use the equation R = ρ l/A
Q: A car battery has an e.m.f. of 12 V and an internal resistance of 3.0 × 10–3Ω. For the starter motor to turn the
engine, the battery must provide a current of 400 A. Calculate the terminal potential difference across the
terminal of the battery.
A: e.mf = V + Ir. Therefore V = e.m.f –Ir.
V= 12 V – 3 × 10 -3 Ω× 400 A
terminal p.d. = 10.8 V
Q: Explain why thick wires are used for very large currents.
A: Thick wires have large cross sectional area. According to R = ρ l/A, larger cross sectional area means a
smaller resistance and therefore less work done against resistance. This ensures less energy dissipation in the
form of heat.
Q: Explain what happens to the power output if a power supply has an internal resistance
A: Internal resistance will reduce the current in the circuit. Thus the power output will decrease as P=I2R
I: Here R is the resistance of the appliance, which can be thought of as constant. Since, I decreases, the power
output will also decrease. These questions will also ask what happens if the internal resistance increases. The
answer remains pretty much the same.
Q: Explain why it is more useful to know the resistivity and not the resistance of wires while sampling.
A: Resistivity is the property of a material which remains constant for any sample. While Resistance is the
property of a specific sample which is dependent on its dimensions.
Q: Explain why current must be kept low in experiments to measure the resistivity of a material.
A: Current produces a heating effect. A rise in temperature will increase the resistivity.
Q: A stretched wire becomes longer and thinner. Using an equation to justify your answer, explain what effect
stretching a length of wire would have on its resistance
A: According to R = ρ l/A, an increase in length as a wire is stretched, increases the resistance and a decrease in
area as the wire gets thinner, increases the resistance.

Q: variation of terminal pd/lost pd in questions associated with internal resistance.

A: If the load resistance is high, the total circuit current would be low. Therefore, according to Vlost = Ir, the
lost volt across internal resistor would be low as well. This means that the terminal pd would be higher.
MISC
Q: Questions with solar energy/panels. Example –
The solar panel has an efficiency of 15%. The average radiation flux falling on the panel is 210 Wm–2
Assuming that this radiation falls normally on the panel, calculate the area of the panel that would provide an
average power output of 500 W
A/I: The questions mentions that the output power must be 500W and the efficiency is 15%. Therefore first
you’ll have to find out the input power. Output/Input = 15% → 500/Input = 15% → Input = 500/15%
Therefore Input power = 3333W. Now the equation that relates all these quantities is
Radiation flux/Intensity = Power Input/Area
∴ Area = 3333/210 = 15.9m2

Q: A 60W filament light bulb is used as a ceiling light. The bulb is 2.5 m above the floor and is 5.0% efficient
at converting electrical energy into visible light. Calculate the visible light intensity (radiation flux) on the floor
directly below the bulb. Assume that at a distance r from the source the energy is spread over a total area 4πr2
A: 5% of 60 W is 3 W → I = P / 4πr2 → I = 0.038 Wm-2

Q: Calculate the rate at which energy is transferred OR the rate of dissipation of energy
A/I: Don’t let the words fool you. The question basically asks you to calculate the power.

Q: Explain, in terms of energy the difference between (p.d.) and (e.m.f.)

A: p.d. is electrical energy(/coulomb) transferred between two points and e.m.f is the energy(/coulomb)
supplied to a circuit

*This one is a bit tricky*

Q: Determine the resultant e.m.f of the circuit.

I: Look at the connections carefully. As a rule of thumb
remember that when the positive – positive connections
are made, the resultant emf is always the bigger minus
the smaller value of the emfs, because if you consider
the direction of the current, it should be obvious that
both the batteries will drive current in opposite
directions.
A: The resultant emf is 15 V – 7.6 V = 7.4 V