AP PHYSICS 2 CLASS 5: DC CIRCUIT ANALYSIS, PART 1

For all multiple-choice questions, please answer them directly on the Classkick interface by clicking on the selection
box. The printed copy is for reference only.

Questions 1–5: The figure shows current as a function of electric potential difference for a resistor and bulb.

1. Are the devices ohmic?

Resistor Bulb
(A) Ohmic Ohmic
(B) Ohmic Non-Ohmic
(C) Non-Ohmic Ohmic
(D) Non-Ohmic Non-Ohmic
2. If the resistor and bulb are connected in parallel to a 10.0 V battery, what is the total current passing through the
system?
(A) 0.5 A
(B) 0.7 A
(C) 1.0 A
(D) 1.7 A

3. With the resistor and bulb still connected in parallel to the 10.0 V battery, what is the total power dissipated by
the bulb and resistor?
(A) 0.042 W
(B) 10 W
(C) 17 W
(D) 24 W

4. What is the equivalent resistance of the bulb and resistor while still connected in parallel to the 10.0 V battery?
(A) 0.17 Ω
(B) 5.9 Ω
(C) 17 Ω
(D) 24 Ω

5. The bulb and resistor are removed and reconnected in series to the 10.0 V battery. What is the total current
passing through the system?
(A) 0.41 A
(B) 0.50 A
(C) 1.0 A
(D) 1.7 A
Questions 6–7: Two batteries and two resistors are connected in a circuit, as shown in the figure. The currents
through 𝑅1 , 𝑅2 , and 𝜀 2 are shown.

6. Which of the following is a proper application of conservation laws to this circuit? Select two answers.
(A) 𝜀 1 − 𝐼 1 𝑅1 − 𝐼 2 𝑅2 = 0
(B) 𝜀 2 − 𝜀 1 − 𝐼 1 𝑅1 = 0
(C) 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 − 𝐼3 = 0
(D) 𝐼2 + 𝐼3 − 𝐼1 = 0

7. The resistors 𝑅1 and 𝑅2 have the same resistance. If the potential differences of the batteries are 𝜀1 = 9 V and
𝜀 2 = 6 V, which resistor will have the most current passing through it?
(A) 𝑅1
(B) 𝑅2
(C) 𝑅1 and 𝑅2 have the same current.
(D) It is not possible to determine the currents through the resistors without more information.

Questions 8–9: Four identical resistors of resistance Rare connected to a battery, as shown in the figure. Ammeters
𝐴1 and 𝐴2 measure currents of 1.2 A and 0.4 A, respectively.

8. What are the currents measured by ammeters 𝐴3 and 𝐴4 ?

𝐴3 𝐴4
(A) 0.4 A 0.4 A
(B) 0.8 A 0.4 A
(C) 0.4 A 1.2 A
(A) 0.8 A 1.2 A
9. What is the equivalent resistance of the circuit?
1
(A) 𝑅
4
4
(B) 𝑅
3
 5
(C) 𝑅
2
(D) 4𝑅

10. A student is given a battery with an unknown emf (𝜀) and an internal resistance of 𝑟. The student sets up a circuit
with a known resistor and switch, as shown in the figure. Which measurements should the student make to find
the values of both 𝜀 and 𝑟? Select two answers.

(A) With the switch open, measure the potential difference between points 1 and 2 and the current at point 1.
(B) With the switch closed, measure the potential difference between points 1 and 2 and the current at point 1.
(C) With the switch open, measure the potential difference between points 1 and 2. Close the switch and
measure the current at point 1.
(D) With the switch open, measure the potential difference between points 1 and 2. Close the switch and
measure the potential difference between points 1 and 2.
For all free-response (problem-solving) questions, we recommend that you do all your work on a separate piece of
paper, and upload them onto Classkick as an image or PDF file. The printed copy (downloaded from the school
website) is for reference only.

11. A group of students is given several long, thick, cylindrical conducting rods of the same unknown material
with various lengths and diameters and asked to experimentally determine the resistivity of the material using
a graph. The available equipment includes a voltmeter, an ammeter, connecting wires, a variable-output DC
power supply, and a metric ruler.
(a) Describe a procedure the students could use to collect the data needed to create the graph, including the
measurements to be taken and a labeled diagram of the circuit to be used. Include enough detail that another
student could follow the procedure and obtain similar data.
Draw a labeled diagram here.

Write your procedure here.

(b) Describe how the data could be graphed in a way that is useful for determining the resistivity of the material.
Describe how the graph could be analyzed to calculate the resistivity.
The students are now given a rectangular rod of the material, as shown below, whose dimensions are not known.
The students are asked to experimentally determine the resistance of the rod. They obtain the data in the table
below for the potential difference Δ𝑉 across the rod and the current 𝐼 in it.

Δ𝑉 (V) 6.0 5.0 3.5 2.5 2.0 1.5

𝐼 (A) 0.078 0.070 0.044 0.036 0.027 0.018

(c) On the axes below, plot the data so that the resistance of the rectangular rod can be determined from a
best-fit line. Label and scale the axes. Use the best-fit line to determine the resistance of the rod, clearly
showing your calculations.

After completing their calculations, the students begin to consider the factors that might have produced uncer-
tainties in their results.
(d) The students realize that they did not take into account the internal resistance of the power supply. Briefly
describe how this would affect their value of the resistance of the rectangular rod. Explain your reasoning.

(e) The students realize that they did not take into account a possible change in the temperature of the cylindrical
rods. Should the students be concerned about this? Explain why or why not.
12. Four lightbulbs are connected in a circuit with a 24 V battery as shown above.
(a) i. Determine the average potential energy change of an electron as it moves from point 𝑍 to point 𝑋.

ii. Indicate whether the electron gains or loses potential energy as it moves from point 𝑍 to point 𝑋.

Gains energy Loses energy

(b) Calculate the equivalent resistance of the circuit.

(c) Calculate the magnitude of the current through point 𝑌 .

(d) Indicate on the diagram the direction of the current through point 𝑌 .

(e) Rank the bulbs in order of brightness, with 1 being the brightest. If any bulbs have the same brightness,
give them the same ranking.

Bulb A Bulb B Bulb C Bulb

D