Page |1

Class-XII Subject-Physics Chapter-Current Electricity

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q1) Write the relation between terminal voltage and emf of a cell, when current is drawn.
Q2) The plot of variation of potential difference across a combination of three identical cells in series, versus
current is shown below. Find the internal resistance and emf of each cell.

Q3) The storage battery of a car has an emf of 12 V. If the internal resistance of the battery is 0.4 Ω, what is the
maximum current that can be drawn from the battery?
Q4) A battery of emf 10 V and internal resistance 3 Ω is connected to a resistor. If the current in the circuit is 0.5 A,
what is the resistance of the resistor? What is the terminal voltage of the battery when the circuit is closed?
Q5) Define the term conductivity of a conductor. On what factors does it depend?
Q6) Define the term drift velocity of an electron.
Q7) Why are alloys such as constantan and managanin used for making standard wire resistors?
Q8) Give an example of a material each for which temperature coefficient of resistivity is
(i) positive, (ii) negative.
Q9) A steady current flows in a metallic conductor of non- uniform cross-section.
Which of these quantities is constant along the conductor: current, current density, electric field, drift speed?
Q10) Figure shows a plot of current ‘I’ flowing through the cross-section of a wire versus the time ‘t’.
Use the plot to find the charge flowing in 10s through the wire.

Q11) Define the term ‘mobility’ of charge carriers. Write its S.I. unit.
Q12) A conductor of length L is connected to a d.c. source of emf ‘𝜺’. If the length of the conductor is tripled by
stretching it, keeping ‘𝜺’ constant, explain how its drift velocity would be affected.
Q13) V – I graph for a metallic wire at two different temperatures 𝐓𝟏 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝟐 is as shown in the figure.
Which of the two temperatures is higher and why?

Q14) Draw a graph showing the variation of current versus voltage for a material GaAs. Identify the region of
 Page |2

(i) negative resistance (ii) where Ohm’s law is obeyed.

Q15) I– V graph for two identical conductors of different materials A and B is shown in the figure.
Which one of the two has higher resistivity?

Q16) Two wires, one of copper and the other of manganin, have same resistance and equal thickness.
Which wire is longer? Justify your answer.
Q17) Distinguish between emf and terminal voltage of a cell.
Q18) Define the term relaxation time in a conductor.
Q19) Two conducting wires X and Y of same diameter but different materials are joined in series across a battery.
If the number density of electrons in X is twice that in Y, find the ratio of drift velocity of electrons in the
two wires.
Q20) A 10 V battery of negligible internal resistance is connected a 200 V battery and a resistance of 38 ohm.
Find the value of current in circuit.

Q21) Write the nature of free electrons in a conductor in presence of an external electrical field and in absence of an
external electric field.
Q22) How does the random motion of free electrons in a conductor get affected when a potential difference is
applied across its ends?
Q23) How does one explain increase in resistivity of a metal with increase of temperature?
Q24) A battery of emf 12 V and internal resistance 2 ohm, is connected to a 4 ohm resistor as in figure below.
(a) Show that the voltmeter, when placed across cell and across resistor, gives same reading.
(b) Why is voltmeter connected in parallel and ammeter connected in series in circuit?

Q25) A cylindrical metallic wire is stretched to increase its length by 5%.

Calculate the percentage change in its resistance.
Q26) Two cells of emfs 1.5 V and 2.0 V having internal resistances 0.2 ohm and 0.3 ohm respectively are connected
in parallel. Calculate the emf and internal resistance of the equivalent cell.

Q27) Two cells of E.M.F. 10 V and 2 V and internal resistances 10 Ω and 5 Ω respectively, are connected in parallel
 Page |3

as shown. Find the effective voltage across R.

Q28) A metal rod of square cross-sectional area A having length l has current I flowing through it when a potential
difference of V volt is applied across its ends (figure I). Now the rod is cut parallel to its length into two
identical pieces and joined as shown in figure II. What potential difference must be maintained across the
length 2l so that the current in the rod is still I?

Q29) A variable resistor R is connected across a cell of emf E and internal resistance r as shown in the figure.
Draw a plot showing the variation of terminal voltage V (i) as a function of current I, (ii) as a function of R.

Q30) Using the concept of drift velocity of charge carriers in a conductor, deduce the relationship between current
density and resistivity of the conductor.
Q31) Calculate the current drawn from the battery by the network of resistors shown in the figure.

Q32) State the two Kirchhoff’s rules used in electric networks. How are these rules justified?
Q33) Use Kirchhoff’s rules to obtain conditions for the balance condition in a Wheatstone bridge.
Q34) An external resistance R is connected across a cell of emf ‘E’ and internal resistance ‘r’. It is found that when
R is 4 ohm, the current is 1 A and when R is increased to 9 ohm, the current reduces to 0.5 A.
Find the values of the emf E and internal resistance r.

Q35) Two metallic wires of the same material have the same length but cross-sectional areas are in the ratio 1:2.
 Page |4

They are connected (i) in series and

(ii) in parallel.
Compare the drift velocities of electrons in the two wires in both the cases (i) and (ii).
Q36) Use Kirchhoff’s rules to determine the potential difference between the points A and D when no current
flows in the arm BE of the electric network shown in the figure.

Q37) Derive an expression for the resistivity of a good conductor, in terms of the relaxation time of electrons.
Q38) Explain how the average velocity of free electrons in a metal at constant temperature, in an electric field,
remain constant even though the electrons are being constantly accelerated by this electric field?
Q39) “The I-V characteristics of a resistor are observed to deviate from a straight line for higher values of current “.
Why?
Q40) Calculate the temperature at which the resistance of a conductor becomes 20% more than its resistance at
27℃. The value of the temperature coefficient of resistance of the conductor is 2 × 10−4 𝐾 −1.
Q41) An electric appliance uses an alloy for its heating element. When a negligibly small current passes
through it, its resistance at room temperature (27.0 °C) is found to be 75 Ω. When the appliance is connected
to a 225 V supply, the current settles, after a few seconds, to a steady value of 2.5 A. What is the steady
temperature of the alloy element? The temperature coefficient of resistance of given alloy averaged over
the temperature range involved, is 2 × 10−4 ℃−1.
Q42) The resistance of the platinum wire of a platinum resistance thermometer at the ice point is 5 Ω and at steam
point is 5.39 Ω. When the thermometer is inserted in a hot bath, the resistance of the platinum wire
is 5.795 Ω. Calculate the temperature of the bath.
Q43) At room temperature (27 °C) the resistance of a heating element is 100 Ω. What is the temperature of the
element if the resistance is found to be 117 Ω, given that the temperature coefficient of the material of the
resistor is 1.70 × 10–4 °𝐶 –1 .
Q44) A negligibly small current is passed through a wire of length 15 m and uniform cross-section 6.0 × 10–7 𝑚2,
and its resistance is measured to be 5.0 Ω. What is the resistivity of the material at the temperature of the
experiment?
Q45) A silver wire has a resistance of 2.1 Ω at 27.5 °C, and a resistance of 2.7 Ω at 100 °C.
Determine the temperature coefficient of resistivity of silver
Q46) Plot a graph showing temperature dependence of resistivity for a typical semiconductor.
How is this behavior explained?
Q47) How does a current density in a conductor, vary with increase in:
(a) potential gradient? (b) temperature (c) area of cross section (d) length
Assume that other factors remain constant in each case.
Q48) Two cells of emf 𝐄𝟏 and 𝐄𝟐 having internal resistances 𝐫𝟏 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝟐 are connected in parallel. Find the expression
for the emf and internal resistance of an equivalent cell, which can replace this combination.
Q49) Two wires X and Y have same resistivity but their cross sectional areas are in ratio 2 : 3., and lengths in
ratio 1 : 2. They are connected first in series, and then in parallel to a dc source.
Determine the ratio of drift speeds of electrons in two wires for two cases.
Q50) Derive the expression for drift velocity of free electrons. How does drift velocity of electrons vary with
temperature increase? Explain.
Q51) Write the mathematical relation for the resistivity of a material in terms of relaxation time, number density and
 Page |5

mass and charge of charge carriers in it. Explain, using this relation, why the resistivity of a metal increases
and that of a semi-conductor decreases with rise in temperature.
Q52) In the two electric circuits shown in the figure, determine the readings of ideal ammeter (A) and the
ideal voltmeter (V).

Q53) In the circuit shown in the figure, find the current through each resistor.

Q54) A potential difference V is applied across a conductor of length L and diameter D. How is the drift velocity, v,
of charge carriers in the conductor affected when:
(i) V is halved, (ii) L is doubled and (iii) D is halved?
Justify your answer in each case.
Q55) Plot a graph showing the variation of current density (j) versus the electric field (E) for two conductors of
different materials. What information from this plot regarding the properties of the conducting material, can be
obtained which can be used to select suitable materials for use in making:
(a) standard resistance and
(b) connecting wires in electric circuits?
Q56) “Electron drift speed is estimated to be of the order of 𝑚𝑚/𝑠, Yet large current of the order of few amperes
can be set up in the wire”. Explain briefly.
Q57) (a) The electron drift arises due to the force experienced by electrons in the electric field inside the
conductor. But force should cause acceleration.
Why then do the electrons acquire a steady average drift speed?
(b) If the electron drift speed is so small, and the electron’s charge is small, how can we still obtain large
amounts of current in a conductor?
(c) When electrons drift in a metal from lower to higher potential, does it mean that all the ‘free’ electrons
of the metal are moving in the same direction?
(d) Are the paths of electrons straight lines between successive collisions (with the positive ions of the metal)
in the: (i) absence of electric field,
(ii) presence of electric field?

Q58) Define the electric resistivity of a conductor. Plot a graph showing the variation of resistivity with temperature
 Page |6

in the case of a:
(a) conductor,
(b) semiconductor.
Briefly explain, how the difference in the behavior of the two can be explained in terms of number density of
charge carriers and relaxation time.
Q59) When a metallic conductor is subjected to a certain potential V across its ends, discuss briefly how the
phenomenon of drift occurs. Hence define the term ‘drift velocity’ of charge carriers and show that the current
density j is related to the applied electric field E by the relation, 𝑗 = 𝜎𝐸.
Q60) A 16 ohm resistance wire is bent to form a square. A source of emf 9 V is connected across one of its sides as
shown. Calculate the current drawn from the source. Find the potential difference between the ends C and D.
If now the wire is stretched uniformly to double the length and once again the same cell is connected in the
same way, across one side of the square formed, what will now be the potential difference across one of its
diagonals?

Q61) Determine the current in each branch of the network shown in Figure.

Q62) A number of identical cells, n, each of emf E, internal resistance r connected in series are charged by a
d.c. source of emf E, using a resistor R.
(i) Draw the circuit arrangement.
(ii) Deduce the expressions for (a) the charging current and
(b) the potential difference across the combination of the cells.

Q63) 12 cells, each of emf 1.5V and internal resistance 0.5 ohm, are arranged in m rows each containing n cells
 Page |7

connected in series, as shown. Calculate the values of n and m for which this combination would send
maximum current through an external resistance of 1.5 ohm.

Q64) Write any two factors on which internal resistance of a cell depends. The reading on a high resistance
voltmeter, when a cell is connected across it, is 2.2 V. When the terminals of the cell are also connected to a
resistance of 5 Ω as shown in the circuit, the voltmeter reading drops to 1.8 V.
Find the internal resistance of the cell.
Q65) State Kirchhoff’s rules. Use these rules to write the expressions for the currents 𝑰𝟏 , 𝑰𝟐 and 𝑰𝟑 in the circuit
diagram shown.

Q66) Assuming A to be at zero potential, use Kirchoff’s laws to find the potential at B.

Q67) Two heating elements of resistances R1 and R 2 when operated at constant voltage V, consume powers 𝑃1 and
P2 respectively. Deduce the expressions for power of their combination when they are connected in series and
when in parallel across same voltage V.

Q68) A battery of 10 V and negligible internal resistance is connected across the diagonally opposite corners of a
 Page |8

cubical network consisting of 12 resistors each of resistance 1 Ω. Determine the equivalent resistance of the
network and the current along each edge of the cube.

Q69) In the circuit shown, R1 = 4 Ohm, R 2 = R 3 = 15 Ohm and R 5 = 30 Ohm and E= 10 V.

Calculate equivalent resistance of circuit and current in each resistor.

Q70) A conductor of length l is connected to a dc source of emf E. If this conductor is replaced by another
conductor of same material and same area of cross section, but of length 3l, how will drift velocity change?
Q71) Find out the potential difference across each cell and rate of energy dissipation in R.

Q72) In the electric network shown in the figure, use Kirchhoff’s rules to calculate the power consumed by the
resistance R = 4 ohm.

Q73) Determine the current in each branch of the network shown in figure.
 Page |9

Q74) Calculate the value of resistance R in the circuit, so that the current in circuit is 0.2 A.
Find the potential difference between points B and E?

Q75) Using Kirchhoff’s rules determine the value of unknown resistance R in the circuit so that no current flows
through 4 ohm resistance. Also, find the potential difference between A and D.

Q76) (a) Plot a graph showing variation of voltage vs the current drawn from the cell. How can one get information
from this plot about the emf of the cell and its internal resistance?
(b) Two cells of emf’s E1 and E2 and internal resistance r1 and r2 are connected in parallel. Obtain the
expression for the emf and internal resistance of a single equivalent cell that can replace this combination?
Q77) (a) Six lead-acid type of secondary cells each of emf 2V and internal resistance 0.015 Ω are joined in series
to provide a supply to a resistance of 8.5 Ω. What are the current drawn from the supply and its terminal
voltage?
(b) A secondary cell after long use has an emf of 1.9 V and a large internal resistance of 380 Ω.
What maximum current can be drawn from the cell? Could the cell drive the starting motor of a car?
Q78) Describe the formula for the equivalent EMF and internal resistance for the parallel combination of two cells
with EMF E1 and E2 and internal resistances r1 and r2 respectively. What is the corresponding formula for
the series combination?
Two cells of EMF 1V, 2V and internal resistances 2 ohm and 1 ohm respectively are
connected in (i) series, (ii) parallel.
What should be the external resistance in the circuit so that the current through the resistance be the same in
the two cases? In which case more heat is generated in the cells?

Q79) Using Kirchhoff’s rules, calculate the current in arm AC in given circuit.
 P a g e | 10

Q80) Find the magnitude and direction of current in 1 ohm resistor in given circuit.

Q81) A cell of unknown emf E and internal resistance r, two unknown resistances 𝐑 𝟏 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑 𝟐 (𝐑 𝟐 > 𝐑 𝟏 ) and a
perfect ammeter are given. The current in the circuit is measured in five different situations:
(i) Without any external resistance in the circuit, (ii) With resistance 𝑹𝟏 only,
(iii) With resistance 𝑹𝟐 only, (iv) With both 𝐑 𝟏 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑 𝟐 used in series combination and
(v) With 𝐑 𝟏 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑 𝟐 used in parallel combination.
The current obtained in the five cases are 0.42A, 0.6A, 1.05A, 1.4A, and 4.2A, but not necessarily in that
order. Identify the currents in the five cases listed above and calculate E, r, 𝐑 𝟏 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑 𝟐 .
Q82) (a) Draw the V-I characteristics for a cell. How can you calculate internal resistance of cell from this graph?
(b) Is current density vector or scalar quantity? Deduce the relation between current density and potential
difference across a current carrying conductor of length l, area of cross section A and number density of
free electrons n.
Q83) (a) In the circuit shown in the figure, find the total resistance of the circuit and the current in the arm AD.

(b) When electrons drift in a metal from lower to higher potential, does it mean that all the free electrons of
the metal, are moving in same direction?
(c) Estimate the average drift speed of conduction electrons in a copper wire of cross-sectional
area 1.0 × 10−7 𝑚2 carrying a current of 1.5 A. Assume the density of conduction electrons to
be 9 × 1028 𝑚−3.
Q84) A storage battery of emf 8 V and internal resistance 0.5 Ω is being charged by a 120 V dc supply using a
series resistor of 15.5 Ω. What is the terminal voltage of the battery during charging?
What is the purpose of having a series resistor in the charging circuit?
Q85) (a) A low voltage supply from which one needs high currents must have very low internal resistance. Why?
(b) A high tension (HT) supply of, say, 6 kV must have a very large internal resistance. Why?