ELECTRIC CIRCUITS

chapter
Section 20.1 Electromotive Force and Current
Section 20.2 Ohm’s Law
 1. Which one of the following situations results in a conventional electric current that flows westward?
(a) a beam of protons moves eastward (d) a beam of electrons moves eastward
(b) an electric dipole moves westward (e) a beam of neutral atoms moves westward
(c) a beam of electrons moves westward

 2. Complete the following statement: The electromotive force is

(a) the maximum potential difference between the terminals of a battery.
(b) the force that accelerates electrons through a wire when a battery is connected to it.
(c) the force that accelerates protons through a wire when a battery is connected to it.
(d) the maximum capacitance between the terminals of a battery.
(e) the maximum electric potential energy stored within a battery.

 3. How many electrons flow through a battery that delivers a current of 3.0 A for 12 s?
(a) 4 (c) 4.8 × 1015 (e) 2.2 × 1020
(b) 36 (d) 6.4 × 10 18

 4. A 10-A current is maintained in a simple circuit with a total resistance of 200 Ω. What net
charge passes through any point in the circuit during a 1-minute interval?
(a) 200 C (c) 500 C (e) 1200 C
(b) 400 C (d) 600 C

 5. Which one of the following combinations of units is equivalent to the ohm?

(a) V/C (c) J/s (e) W/A
(b) A/J (d) J⋅ s/C2

 6. The potential difference across the ends of a wire is doubled in magnitude. If Ohm’s law is
obeyed, which one of the following statements concerning the resistance of the wire is true?
(a) The resistance is one half of its original value.
(b) The resistance is twice its original value.
(c) The resistance is not changed.
(d) The resistance increases by a factor of four.
(e) The resistance decreases by a factor of four.

 7. Which one of the following circuits has the largest resistance?

(a) (b) (c)

10 A 40 A 10 A

2V 8V 10 V
(d) (e)

75 A 5A

15 V 20 V

 9. When a light bulb is connected to a 4.5 V battery, a current of 0.16 A passes through the bulb
filament. What is the resistance of the filament?
(a) 440 Ω (c) 9.3 Ω (e) 0.72 Ω
197 Chapter 20 Electric Circuits

(b) 28 Ω (d) 1.4 Ω

Section 20.3 Resistance and Resistivity

 10. Which one of the following statements concerning resistance is true?
(a) The resistance of a semiconductor increases with temperature.
(b) Resistance is a property of resistors, but not conductors.
(c) The resistance of a metal wire changes with temperature.
(d) The resistance is the same for all samples of the same material.
(e) The resistance of a wire is inversely proportional to the length of the wire.

 11. Which one of the following statements concerning superconductors is false?

(a) Below its critical temperature, the resistivity of a superconductor is zero Ω-m.
(b) Critical temperatures for some superconductors exceed 100 K.
(c) All materials are superconducting at temperatures near absolute zero kelvin.
(d) A constant current can be maintained in a superconducting ring for several years without an emf.
(e) Superconductors are perfect conductors.

 12. Determine the length of a copper wire that has a resistance of 0.172 Ω and cross-sectional area
of 1 × 10–4 m2. The resistivity of copper is 1.72 × 10–8 Ω⋅ m.
(a) 0.1 m (c) 100 m (e) 10 000 m
(b) 10 m (d) 1000 m

 14. Which one of the wires carries the smallest current when they are connected to identical
batteries?
(a) wire E (c) wire C (e) wire A
(b) wire D (d) wire B

 15. Of the five wires, which one has the smallest resistance?
(a) wire A (c) wire C (e) wire E
(b) wire B (d) wire D

 16. Which one of the five wires has the largest resistance?
(a) wire A (c) wire C (e) wire E
(b) wire B (d) wire D

Section 20.4 Electric Power

 17. Complete the following statement: The unit kilowatt ⋅ hour measures
(a) current. (c) power. (e) voltage.
(b) energy. (d) potential drop.

 18. Which one of the following quantities can be converted to kilowatt ⋅ hours (kWh)?
(a) 2.0 A (c) 5.8 J (e) 6.2 C/V
(b) 8.3 V (d) 9.6 W

 19. The current through a certain heater wire is found to be fairly independent of its temperature. If the
current through the heater wire is doubled, the amount of energy delivered by the heater in a given
time interval will
(a) increase by a factor of two. (d) decrease by a factor of four.
(b) decrease by a factor of two. (e) increase by a factor of eight.
(c) increase by a factor of four.
Physics, 7e TEST BANK 198

 20. A 4-A current is maintained in a simple circuit with a total resistance of 2 Ω. How much energy
is delivered in 3 seconds?
(a) 3 J (c) 12 J (e) 96 J
(b) 6 J (d) 24 J

 21. A 40-W and a 60-W light bulb are designed for use with the same voltage. What is the ratio of
the resistance of the 60-W bulb to the resistance of the 40-W bulb?
(a) 1.5 (c) 2.3 (e) 3.0
(b) 0.67 (d) 0.44

 22. A 5-A current is maintained in a simple circuit that consists of a resistor between the terminals
of an ideal battery. If the battery supplies energy at a rate of 20 W, how large is the resistance?
(a) 0.4 Ω (c) 2 Ω (e) 8 Ω
(b) 0.8 Ω (d) 4 Ω

 23. A computer monitor uses 2.0 A of current when it is plugged into a 120 V outlet. The monitor
is never turned off. What is the yearly cost of operating the monitor if the cost of electricity is
$0.12/kWh?
(a) $14 (c) $98 (e) $250
(b) $21 (d) $170

 24. A resistor dissipates 1.5 W when it is connected to a battery with a potential difference of 12 V.
What is the resistance of the resistor?
(a) 0.13 Ω (c) 18 Ω (e) 96 Ω
(b) 220 Ω (d) 8.0 Ω

Section 20.5 Alternating Current

 25. An ac current has an rms value of 3.54 A. Determine the peak value of the current.
(a) 1.25 A (c) 3.75 A (e) 7.08 A
(b) 2.50 A (d) 5.00 A

 26. A 220-Ωresistor is connected across an ac voltage source V = (150 V) sin [2π(60 Hz)t].
What is the average power delivered to this circuit?
(a) 51 W (c) 280 W (e) 550 W
(b) 110 W (d) 320 W

 27. A lamp uses an average power of 55 W when it is connected to an rms voltage of 120 V.
Which entry in the following table is correct for this circuit?
lamp resistance R (Ω) Irms (A)
(a) 260 0.46
(b) 22 3.8
(c) 130 0.65
(d) 170 0.57
(e) 38 1.2

 28. When a 1500-W hair dryer is in use, the current passing through the dryer may be represented
as
I = (17.7 A) sin (120πt). What is the rms current for this circuit?
(a) 17.7 A (c) 85.7 A (e) 8.85 A
(b) 12.5 A (d) 25.0 A
199 Chapter 20 Electric Circuits

Questions 29 through 33 pertain to the situation described below:

+ 10
The figure shows variation of
the current through the heating I (A)
element with time in an iron
when it is plugged into a t
standard 120 V, 60 Hz outlet.
t1 t2
– 10

 29. What is the peak voltage?

(a) 10 V (c) 120 V (e) 240 V
(b) 60 V (d) 170 V

 30. What is the rms value of the current in this circuit?

(a) 1.4 A (c) 11 A (e) 18 A
(b) 7.1 A (d) 14 A

 31. What is the resistance of the iron?

(a) 24 Ω (c) 17 Ω (e) 1.8 Ω
(b) 7.1 Ω (d) 12 Ω

 32. If t1 = 0.050 s, what is the value of t2? Note: The origin for the graph is not necessarily at t = 0 s.
(a) 0.067 s (c) 0.10 s (e) 61 s
(b) 0.079 s (d) 0.60 s

 33. What is the approximate average power dissipated in the iron?

(a) 450 W (c) 850 W (e) 1700 W
(b) 600 W (d) 1200 W

Section 20.6 Series Wiring

 34. Which one of the following statements concerning resistors in series is true?
(a) The voltage across each resistor is the same.
(b) The current through each resistor is the same.
(c) The power dissipated by each resistor is the same.
(d) The rate at which charge flows through each resistor depends on its resistance.
(e) The total current through the resistors is the sum of the current through each resistor.

 35. Two wires, A and B, and a variable resistor, R, are connected in series to a battery. Which
one of the following results will occur if the resistance of R is increased?
(a) The current through A and B will increase.
(b) The voltage across A and B will increase.
(c) The voltage across the entire circuit will increase.
(d) The power used by the entire circuit will increase.
(e) The current through the entire circuit will decrease.

 36. Three resistors, 50-Ω, 100-Ω, 200-Ω, are connected in series in a circuit. What is the equivalent
resistance of this combination of resistors?
(a) 350 Ω (c) 200 Ω (e) 29 Ω
(b) 250 Ω (d) 120 Ω
 37. A 4.5-V battery is connected to two resistors connected in series as
4.5 V 68 Ω
68 Ω
Physics, 7e TEST BANK 200

shown in the drawing. Determine the total power dissipated in the resistors.
(a) 0.033 W (d) 0.60 W
(b) 0.090 W (e) 4.7 W
(c) 0.15 W

 38. Two 15-Ωand three 25-Ωlight bulbs and a 24 V battery are connected in a series circuit. What is
the current that passes through each bulb?
(a) 0.23 A
(b) 0.51 A
(c) 0.96 A
(d) 1.6 A
(e) The current will be 1.6 A in the 15-Ωbulbs and 0.96 A in the 25-Ωbulbs.

Section 20.7 Parallel Wiring

 39. Complete the following statement: A simple series circuit contains a resistance R and an ideal
battery. If a second resistor is connected in parallel with R,
(a) the voltage across R will decrease.
(b) the current through R will decrease.
(c) the total current through the battery will increase.
(d) the rate of energy dissipation in R will increase.
(e) the equivalent resistance of the circuit will increase.

 40. Some light bulbs are connected in parallel to a

120 V
120 V source as shown in the figure. Each bulb
dissipates an average power of 60 W. The
circuit has a fuse F that burns out when the F
current in the circuit exceeds 9 A. Determine
the largest number of bulbs, which can be used in this circuit without burning out the fuse.
(a) 9 (c) 25 (e) 36
(b) 17 (d) 34
2Ω

 41. Two resistors are arranged in a circuit that carries a 15 A

total current of 15 A as shown in the figure. Which
one of the entries in the following table is correct? 4Ω

Current through 2-Ωresistor Voltage across 4-Ωresistor

(a) 5A 10 V
(b) 5A 20 V
(c) 10 A 20 V
(d) 15 A 15 V
(e) 10 A 10 V

 42. What is the total power dissipated in the two

resistors in the circuit shown? 10 V 10 Ω
(a) 10 W (d) 67 W
(b) 15 W (e) 670 W 20 Ω
(c) 33 W

 43. Three resistors, 6.0-Ω, 9.0-Ω, 15-Ω, are connected in parallel in a circuit. What is the equivalent
resistance of this combination of resistors?
(a) 30 Ω (c) 3.8 Ω (e) 0.34 Ω
(b) 10 Ω (d) 2.9 Ω
201 Chapter 20 Electric Circuits

Section 20.8 Circuits Wired Partially in Series and Partially in Parallel

 44. Five resistors are connected as shown. What is I
the equivalent resistance between points A and
4.0 Ω 3.0 Ω
B? A 4.0 Ω
(a) 6.8 Ω (d) 2.1 Ω
(b) 9.2 Ω (e) 16 Ω B
(c) 3.4 Ω 2.0 Ω 3.0 Ω

 45. Jason’s circuit has a 24-Ωresistor that is connected in series to two 12-Ω resistors that are
connected in parallel. JoAnna’s circuit has three identical resistors wired in parallel. If the
equivalent resistance of Jason’s circuit is the same as that of JoAnna’s circuit, determine the
value of JoAnna’s resistors.
(a) 90 Ω (c) 30 Ω (e) 12 Ω
(b) 48 Ω (d) 24 Ω

Questions 46 through 48 pertain to the statement and diagram below:

2.0 Ω
Three resistors are connected as I
shown in the figure. The potential
difference between points A and B
is 26 V. A 3.0 Ω B

4.0 Ω
 46. What is the equivalent resistance between the points A and B?
(a) 3.8 Ω (c) 5.1 Ω (e) 9.0 Ω
(b) 4.3 Ω (d) 6.8 Ω

 47. How much current flows through the 3-Ωresistor?

(a) 2.0 A (c) 6.0 A (e) 10.0 A
(b) 4.0 A (d) 8.7 A

 48. How much current flows through the 2-Ωresistor?

(a) 2.0 A (c) 6.0 A (e) 10.0 A
(b) 4.0 A (d) 8.7 A

Questions 49 through 51 pertain to the statement and diagram below:

Four resistors and a 6-V battery are 10 Ω

arranged as shown in the circuit 6V
20 Ω
diagram. 60 Ω
30 Ω

 49. Determine the equivalent resistance for this circuit.

(a) 50 Ω (c) 29 Ω (e) 12 Ω
(b) 120 Ω (d) 5 Ω
 50. The smallest current passes through which resistor(s)?
(a) the 10-Ωresistor (d) the 60-Ωresistor
(b) the 20-Ωresistor (e) It is the same and the smallest in
(c) the 30-Ωresistor the 30-Ωand 60-Ωresistors.

 51. The largest potential difference is across which resistor(s)?

(a) the 10-Ωresistor (d) the 60-Ωresistor
(b) the 20-Ωresistor (e) It is the same and the largest for
(c) the 30-Ωresistor the 30-Ωand 60-Ωresistors.
Physics, 7e TEST BANK 202

Questions 52 through 55 pertain to the statement and diagram below:

60 Ω
Three resistors are placed in a
circuit as shown. The potential 10 Ω
difference between points A and B A 30 Ω B
is 30 V.

 52. What is the equivalent resistance between the points A and B?

(a) 10 Ω (c) 30 Ω (e) 100 Ω
(b) 20 Ω (d) 50 Ω

 53. What is the potential drop across the 10-Ωresistor?

(a) 10 V (c) 30 V (e) 100 V
(b) 20 V (d) 60 V

 54. What is the potential drop across the 30-Ωresistor?

(a) 10 V (c) 30 V (e) 100 V
(b) 20 V (d) 60 V

 55. What is the current through the 30-Ωresistor?

(a) 0.3 A (c) 0.7 A (e) 2 A
(b) 0.5 A (d) 1 A

Section 20.9 Internal Resistance

 56. A non-ideal battery has a 6.0-V emf and an internal resistance of 0.6 Ω. Determine the terminal
voltage when the current drawn from the battery is 1.0 A.
(a) 5.0 V (c) 5.4 V (e) 5.8 V
(b) 6.0 V (d) 6.6 V

 57. A battery has a terminal voltage of 12 V when no current flows and an internal resistance of 2 Ω.
The battery is placed in series with a 1-Ωresistor. Which one of the entries in the following
table is correct?
Terminal voltage Current through the 1-Ω resistor
(a) 4V 4A
(b) 4V 12 A
(c) 12 V 4A
(d) 12 V 12 A
(e) 18 V 3A

 58. A battery is manufactured to have an emf of 24.0 V, but the terminal voltage is only 22.0 V
when the battery is connected across a 7.5-Ωresistor. What is the internal resistance of the
battery?
(a) 3.2 Ω (c) 1.2 Ω (e) 0.68 Ω
(b) 0.27 Ω (d) 0.75 Ω

Section 20.10 Kirchhoff’s Rules

16 Ω
 59. Three resistors are connected in a circuit as shown. 8.0 Ω
Using Kirchhoff’s rules, determine the current in one of
the 16-Ωresistors. 16 Ω –
24 V
(a) 0.50 A (d) 1.3 A +
203 Chapter 20 Electric Circuits

(b) 0.75 A (e) 2.0 A

(c) 1.0 A

 60. Three resistors and two 10.0-V batteries

are arranged as shown in the circuit 40 Ω 10 Ω
diagram. Which one of the following
entries in the table is correct?
Power Delivered Power
Delivered V1 V2
by Battery 1 by Battery 2 12 Ω
(a) 2.5 W 2.5 W
(b) 4.0 W 1.0 W
(c) 1.0 W 1.0 W
(d) 1.0 W 4.0 W
(e) 4.0 W 4.0 W

 61. Three resistors and two batteries are connected as 18 V

shown in the circuit diagram. What is the
magnitude of the current through the 12-V
16 Ω 25 Ω
battery?
(a) 0.15 A
(b) 0.82 A 12 V
(c) 0.30 A
(d) 0.67 A 18 Ω
(e) 0.52 A

 62. Determine the power dissipated by the 40-Ω 18 V

resistor in the circuit shown.
(a) 3.6 W (d) 14 W
4.0 Ω 40 Ω 10 Ω
(b) 4.5 W (e) 27 W
(c) 9.0 W

Questions 63 through 67 pertain to the statement and diagram below:

3.6 Ω 3.5 Ω
A
Five resistors are connected as
shown in the diagram. The
potential difference between 1.8 Ω
points A and B is 25 V.
2.4 Ω 5.1 Ω
B

 63. What is the equivalent resistance between the points A and B?

(a) 1.5 Ω (c) 7.5 Ω (e) 11 Ω
(b) 4.8 Ω (d) 9.4 Ω

 64. What is the current through the 3.6-Ωresistor?

(a) 1.3 A (c) 6.9 A (e) 25 A
(b) 3.3 A (d) 7.5 A

 65. What is the current through the 1.8-Ωresistor?

(a) 2.8 A (c) 5.6 A (e) 14 A
(b) 3.3 A (d) 6.9 A
Physics, 7e TEST BANK 204

 66. How much energy is dissipated in the 1.8-Ωresistor in 4.0 seconds?

(a) 18 J (c) 55 J (e) 93 J
(b) 28 J (d) 64 J

 67. What is the potential drop across the 3.5-Ωresistor?

(a) 2.0 V (c) 8.0 V (e) 25 V
(b) 5.0 V (d) 17 V

Questions 68 through 71 pertain to the statement and diagram below:

A 3.2 Ω 4.1 Ω
Five resistors are connected as
shown in the diagram. The 2.7 Ω 2.4 Ω
potential difference between
points A and B is 15 V.
3.6 Ω B

 68. What is the equivalent resistance between the points A and B?

(a) 1.5 Ω (c) 8.7 Ω (e) 11.1 Ω
(b) 4.8 Ω (d) 10.4 Ω

 69. What is the current in the 3.6-Ωresistor?

(a) 1.3 A (c) 2.9 A (e) 15 A
(b) 1.7 A (d) 3.5 A

 70. What is the current in the 2.7-Ωresistor?

(a) 12 A (c) 2.2 A (e) 1.2 A
(b) 0.8 A (d) 0.4 A

 71. What amount of energy is dissipated in the 2.7-Ωresistor in 9.0 seconds?

(a) 15 J (c) 29 J (e) 52 J
(b) 24 J (d) 36 J

Section 20.12 Capacitors in Series and Parallel

 72. Which one of the following statements is true concerning capacitors of unequal capacitance
connected in series?
(a) Each capacitor holds a different amount of charge.
(b) The equivalent capacitance of the circuit is the sum of the individual capacitances.
(c) The total voltage supplied by the battery is the sum of the voltages across each capacitor.
(d) The total positive charge in the circuit is the sum of the positive charges on each capacitor.
(e) The total voltage supplied by the battery is equal to the average voltage across all the capacitors.

 73. Three parallel plate capacitors, each having a capacitance of 1.0 µF are connected in parallel.
The potential difference across the combination is 100 V. What is the equivalent capacitance
of this combination?
(a) 0.3 µ F (c) 3 µF (e) 30 µF
(b) 1 µF (d) 6 µF

 74. Three parallel plate capacitors, each having a capacitance of 1.0 µF are connected in parallel.
205 Chapter 20 Electric Circuits

The potential difference across the combination is 100 V. What is the charge on any one of the
capacitors?
(a) 30 µC (c) 300 µC (e) 3000 µC
(b) 100 µC (d) 1000 µC

 75. A 3.0-µF capacitor is connected in series with a 4.0-µF capacitor and a 48-V battery. What
quantity of charge is supplied by the battery to charge the capacitors?
(a) 3.4 × 10–4 C (c) 3.0 × 10–5 C (e) 1.8 × 10–6 C
(b) 7.3 × 10 C
–4
(d) 8.2 × 10 C–5

 76. What is the equivalent capacitance of the combination of

capacitors shown in the circuit?
(a) 0.37 µF (d) 0.67 µF 100 V 1.0 µF 1.0 µF
(b) 3.3 µF (e) 2.1 µF
(c) 4.6 µF

1.0 µF

 77. How much energy is stored in the combination of capacitors

shown?
(a) 0.01 J (d) 0.04 J 4 µF 2 µF
100 V
(b) 0.02 J (e) 0.05 J
(c) 0.03 J

 78. A battery supplies a total charge of 5.0 µC to a circuit that consists of a series combination of
two identical capacitors, each with capacitance C. Determine the charge on either capacitor.
(a) 5.0 µC (c) 1.5 µC (e) 0.50 µC
(b) 2.5 µC (d) 1.0 µC

 79. When two capacitors are connected in series, the equivalent capacitance of the combination is 100
µF. When the two are connected in parallel, however, the equivalent capacitance is 450 µF. What
are the capacitances of the individual capacitors?
(a) 200 µF and 250 µF (d) 150 µF and 300 µF
(b) 125 µF and 325 µF (e) 80 µF and 370 µF
(c) 175 µF and 275 µF
Questions 80 through 82 pertain to the situation described below:
A 10.0-µF capacitor is charged so that the potential difference between its plates is 10.0 V.
A 5.0-µF capacitor is similarly charged so that the potential difference between its plates is 5.0 V.
The two charged capacitors are then connected to each other in parallel with positive plate
connected to positive plate and negative plate connected to negative plate.
 80. How much charge flows from one capacitor to the other when the capacitors are connected?
(a) 17 µC (c) 67 µC (e) zero coulombs
(b) 33 µC (d) 83 µC

 81. What is the final potential difference across the plates of the capacitors when they are
connected in parallel?
(a) 5.0 V (c) 7.5 V (e) 10 V
(b) 6.7 V (d) 8.3 V

 82. How much energy is dissipated when the two capacitors are connected together?
(a) 33 µJ (c) 63 µJ (e) 560 µJ
(b) 42 µJ (d) 130 µJ
Physics, 7e TEST BANK 206

Section 20.13 RC Circuits

 83. A simple RC circuit consists of a 1-µF capacitor in series with a 3000-Ωresistor, a 6-V battery,
and an open switch. Initially, the capacitor is uncharged. How long after the switch is closed
will the voltage across the capacitor be 3.8 V?
(a) 3 × 109 s (c) 3 × 10−9 s (e) 0.003 s
(b) 3 s (d) 3 × 10−8 s

Questions 84 and 85 pertain to the statement and diagram below:

The figure shows a simple RC circuit S R
consisting of a 100.0-V battery in
series with a 10.0-µF capacitor and a
resistor. Initially, the switch S is open 100.0 V
and the capacitor is uncharged. Two
seconds after the switch is closed, the 10.0 µF
voltage across the resistor is 37 V.

 84. Determine the numerical value of the resistance R.

(a) 0.37 Ω (c) 5.0 × 104 Ω (e) 4.3 × 105 Ω
(b) 2.70 Ω (d) 2.0 × 105 Ω

 85. How much charge is on the capacitor 2.0 s after the switch is closed?
(a) 1.1 × 10−3 C (c) 3.7 × 10−4 C (e) 6.6 × 10−4 C
(b) 2.9 × 10 C
−3
(d) 5.2 × 10 C −4

Questions 86 through 88 pertain to the situation described below:

An uncharged 5.0-µF capacitor and a resistor are connected in series to a 12-V battery and an open
switch to form a simple RC circuit. The switch is closed at t = 0 s. The time constant of the
circuit is 4.0 s.
 86. Determine the value of the resistance R.
(a) 15 Ω (c) 8.0 × 105 Ω (e) 8.0 × 108 Ω
(b) 60 Ω (d) 8.0 × 10 Ω
7

 87. Determine the maximum charge on the capacitor.

(a) 6.0 × 10–5 C (c) 1.5 × 10–5 C (e) 5.5 × 10–5 C
(b) 9.5 × 10–5 C (d) 4.8 × 10–5 C

 88. What is the charge remaining on either plate after one time constant has elapsed?
(a) 7.4 × 10–5 C (c) 1.2 × 10–5 C (e) 2.2 × 10–5 C
(b) 5.5 × 10 C
–5
(d) 3.8 × 10 C –5

Questions 89 through 91 pertain to the situation described below:

The figure shows a simple RC circuit consisting of a 10.0-µF capacitor in

series with a resistor. Initially, the switch is open as suggested in the
figure. The capacitor has been charged so that the potential difference R
10 µF
between its plates is 100.0 V. At t = 0 s, the switch is closed. The
capacitor discharges exponentially so that 2.0 s after the switch is closed,
the potential difference between the capacitor plates is 37 V. In other Switch
words, in 2.0 s the potential difference between the capacitor plates is
reduced to 37 % of its original value.
207 Chapter 20 Electric Circuits

 89. Calculate the electric potential energy stored in the capacitor before the switch is closed.
(a) 0.01 J (c) 0.03 J (e) 0.05 J
(b) 0.02 J (d) 0.04 J

 90. Determine the potential drop across the resistor R at t = 2.0 s (i.e., two seconds after the switch
is closed).
(a) zero volts (c) 63 V (e) 100 V
(b) 37 V (d) 87 V

 91. Determine the numerical value of the resistance R.

(a) 1.0 × 105 Ω (c) 5.0 × 105 Ω (e) 2.5 × 106 Ω
(b) 2.0 × 10 Ω
5
(d) 1.0 × 106 Ω

Questions 92 through 95 pertain to the situation described below:

C2
An RC circuit consists of a resistor with resistance 1.0 kΩ, 1.0 kΩ
a 120-V battery, and two capacitors, C1 and C2, with
capacitances of 20.0 µF and 60.0 µF, respectively.
Initially, the capacitors are uncharged; and the switch is C1
closed at t = 0 s.
Switch 120 V

 92. What is the current through the resistor a long time after the switch is closed? Recall that
current is the charge per unit time that flows in a circuit.
(a) 0.60 A (c) 0.24 A (e) zero amperes
(b) 0.12 A (d) 0.48 A

 93. What is the time constant of the circuit?

(a) 1.0 × 10−2 s (c) 6.0 × 10−2 s (e) 3.0 × 10−1 s
(b) 2.0 × 10 s−2
(d) 8.0 × 10−2 s

 94. How much charge will be stored in each capacitor after a long time has elapsed?
Charge on C1 Charge on C2
(a) 2.4 × 10 C−3
7.2 × 10−3 C
(b) 1.8 × 10−3 C 1.8 × 10−3 C
(c) 6.0 × 10 C−3
2.0 × 10−3 C
(d) 9.6 × 10 C−3
9.6 × 10−3 C
(e) zero coulombs zero coulombs

 95. Determine the total charge on both capacitors two time constants after the switch is closed.
(a) 1.3 × 10−3 C (c) 4.7 × 10−3 C (e) 8.3 × 10−3 C
(b) 2.2 × 10 C
−3
(d) 6.1 × 10 C
−3