CURRENT ELECTRICITY I & II

1. Distinguish between open and closed circuit. (2mk)

2. Distinguish between a primary cell and a secondary cell.

3. Distinguish between electromotive force and potential difference

4. State two advantages and two disadvantage of alkaline cells over lead acid
accumulator.

5. Name two advantages which a lead acid accumulator has over a dry cell

6. Give a reason why it is necessary to leave the caps of the cells open when
charging an accumulator.

7. Give a reason why it is not advisable to smoke a cigarette near a charging

battery. (1mk)

8. State two qualities that are used to determine whether accumulator require
charging or not. (2mk)

9. The figure below shows a simple cell made of copper and zinc electrodes dipped
in dilute sulphuric acid.
Bulb

Zinc plate Copper plate

Dil H2SO4

a) Identify the cathode and the anode. (2 mk)

Cathode……………………….. Anode ………………………..

b) State the two common defects in a simple cell. (2 mk)

c) Explain how the defects in b) are minimized. (2 mk)

10. Give a reason why it is not advisable to arrange cells in parallel unless they have
identical e.m.f. (1mk)
11. The figure below shows the features of a dry Leclanche cell. Name parts A, B, C
and D. (4mk)
A = …………………………....................................
1
B = ……………………………………………………
12. State the use of manganese (IV) oxide in a dry cell (1mk)

13. Calculate the amount of current flowing through a bulb if 720C of charges flow
through it in 4 minutes. (3mk)

14. A battery is rated 120AH. How long will it work if it steadily supplies a current of
4A (2mk)

15. State Ohms Law. (1mk)

16. What is meant by the term “lost voltage”?

(1mk)

17. State two conditions that are necessary for a conductor to obey Ohm’s law.

18. State the factors that affect the resistance of an ohmic conductor. (1mk)

19. What causes electrical resistance in conductors? (1mk)

20. Define a non-ohmic conductor (1mk)

21. Give a reason why fluorescent tubes are preferred to filament bulbs for
domestic lighting. (1mk)

22. A cell drives a current of 3.2A through a 2.8 Ω resistor. When it is connected to
1.6Ω resistor, the current that flows is 5A. Find the EMF and the Internal
resistance (r) for the cell:

23. A student wishes to investigate the relationship between current and voltage for
a certain resistor X. In the space provide, draw a circuit diagram including two
cells, rheostat, ammeter, voltmeter and the resistor X that would be suitable in
obtaining the desired results. Describe how you would use the circuit in (a) (i)
above to determine the resistance of x. (4mk)
24. State the changes in brightness of the bulbs in the circuit diagram as the
switches S1, S2 and S3 are switched on one after the other. (2mks)

S1 2
S2
25. Figure below shows a circuit diagram containing three identical bulbs. Compare
the brightness of the bulbs (2mk)
B1
B3

B2

26. A student set up the circuit shown in Fig. 3. The lamps didn’t light when she
closed the switch S. Suggest a reason for this observation

27. A student was investigating the brightness of bulbs when setup in an electric
circuits. She used identical bulbs and cells. The circuits shown in figure 3(a) and
(b) were what she setup. Which setup was the bulb brightest? Give a reason for
your answer.

(a) (b)
28. The figure below shows a 6V battery connected to an arrangement of resistors.
Determine the current flowing through the 2 Ω resistor. (3mk)
2Ω

6Ω
5Ω
6V

29. In a balanced condition, the resistance of resistors P,Q and R is 150Ω ,100Ωand
120Ω respectively. Find the resistance S. (3mk)
R
P
G
V
Q S

30. Two resistors K and L are placed in the gaps of the metre bridge. Find the
resistance K
K L
180Ω
G
Resistor M
20cm V
0 100cm
3
31. It was noted that for the circuit diagram below, when the switch is open, the
voltmeter gives a reading of 15V, but when the switch is closed the voltmeter
drops to 12V. V

A
R
(a) Give an explanation for the difference in reading on the voltmeter when
the switch is open and when it is closed. (2mk)

(b) If the ammeter gives a reading of 0.5A when the switch is closed, determine the
value of R. (1mk)

(c) Determine the internal resistance of the accumulator (2mk)

32. Use the circuit in fig below to answer the questions that follow.
3Ω

2Ω 3Ω

6Ω

6Ω X 3Ω

24 V

(i) Calculate the total resistance in the circuit. (2mk)

(ii) Calculate effective current in the circuit. (2mk)

(iii) Calculate current through the 2Ω resistor. (2mk)

(iv) Calculate current through the resistor X. (2mk)

33. For a particular bulb, a series of readings of the current through the bulb for
different potential differences across it is taken and plotted as shown.
Current (A)

4
 a) Draw the circuit diagram you would use for the experiment. (2mk)

b) Explain how the resistance of the bulb changes (3mk)

c) How would the resistance of the bulb change if

(I) The length were doubled (2mks)

(II) The diameter were doubled (2mks)

34. Figure 12 shows the variation of voltage against current. Given the equation; E
= V + Ir. Find from the graph.
(i) the e.m.f, E of the cell.
15
(V) (Volts)

(ii) The internal resistance, r, of the

cell.

2 4 IA

35. The graph below shows how the voltage, V, varies with the current, I for a
filament lamp. From the graph, determine the resistance of the lamp when a
current of 0.5A flows. (3mks)

20

15
I (A)

10

5
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 Voltage (V)

1. State two factors which affect heating by an electric current.

5
2. What is power as it relates to electrical energy?

3. Name the device which changes;

(i) Sound to electrical energy

(ii) Electrical energy to kinetic energy

4. The figure shows a simple water heater.

A B
(i) Give a reason why AB is coiled.

(ii) State the property of the material that makes it suitable for its use.

5. An electric heater is found to have a resistance of 950 when operating

normally on a 240V mains. Find the power rating of the heater. (2mk)

6. An electric bulb rated 40W is operating on 240V mains. Determine the

resistance of its filament

7. When a current of 4A flows in a resistor for 20 minutes, 12kJ of electrical energy

is dissipated. Determine the voltage across the resistor.

8. How many 100W electric irons could be safely connected to a 240V moving
circuit fitted with a 13A fuse? (2mk)

9. An electric kettle is rated 3kW, 250V. Determine the resistance of the coil.