Chapter9pp082 089 PDF

OCR (A) specifications: 5.2.
1a,b,c,d,e
Chapter 9
Electric current
Worksheet
Worked examples
Practical 1: Conduction in an electrolyte
Practical 2: Measuring tiny currents
End-of-chapter test
Marking scheme: Worksheet
Marking scheme: End-of-chapter test
Worksheet
Intermediate level
1 State the SI unit for electric charge.
2 Explain what is meant by electric current.
3 Name the charged particles responsible for electric current:
[1]
[1]
in a metal wire connected to a battery;
[1]
in a solution during electrolysis.
[1]
4 Explain what is meant by conventional current.

5 Calculate the charge flow at a point in a wire carrying a current of 1.2 A for
[1]
3.0 minutes.
[3]
6 Calculate the current for a calculator battery delivering a charge

of 3.8 103 C in 120 s.
[3]
Higher level
elementary charge e = 1.6 1019 C
7 A solar cell delivers an average current of 80 mA over a 6-hour period. Calculate

the total charge that flows from the solar cell.
[3]
8 A resistance wire carries a current of 2.0 A. Calculate the number of electrons

flowing past a point in the wire per second.
[3]
9 During a thunderstorm, a lightning strike has a current of 9000 A and transfers

a charge of 18 C to the ground. Calculate:
a
the duration of the lightning strike;
[3]
the number of electrons transferred to the ground.
[2]
Extension
10 A cell provides a constant current to a
Current (A)
circuit. The diagram shows the graph

of current against time.
a
Calculate the flow of charge Q in a

time t when the current is I.
[1]
Justify the statement: the

area under a current against
time graph is equal to the
charge flow.
t
Time (s)
[1]
c Given that the information in b is always true for any graph of current against
time, estimate the total charge delivered by a cell when the current varies as
shown in the graph below.
[2]
I (A)
1.2
0
0
9 Electric current
600
650
t (s)
Total: Score:
26
Cambridge University Press 2005
83
Worked examples
Example 1
A table lamp is operated for a period of 5.0 minutes. Calculate the charge flow through
the lamp given that the current in the lamp is 0.24 A.
The charge flow Q is given by:
Q = It
I = 0.24 A
t = 5.0 60 = 300 s
You must always convert the time into seconds.
Therefore:
Q = 0.24 300
Q = 72 C
Example 2
When switching on a car engine, the battery transfers a charge of 150 C in a time
interval of 850 ms. Calculate the current delivered by the battery and the number
of electrons transferred during this time.
The current is equal to the rate of flow of charge. Therefore:
I=
Q
t
Q = 150 C
I=
t = 0.850 s
It is important to convert milliseconds into seconds.
150
= 177 A
0.850
I 180 A
Each electron has a charge equal to e (1.6 1019 C). The total charge flow is a multiple
of this charge. Therefore, the number N of electrons is given by:
N=
charge flow
e
N=
150 C
= 9.38 1020 electrons
1.6 1019 C
N 9.4 1020 electrons
Tip
The value of the elementary charge e is given on page 2 of all examination papers.
There is no need to remember its value.
84
9 Electric current
Practical 1
Conduction in an electrolyte
Safety
Be careful when handling the ammonium hydroxide solution it is an irritant.
Teachers and technicians should follow their school and departmental safety policies
and should ensure that the employers risk assessment has been carried out before
undertaking any practical work.
Apparatus
optical imaging pins

digital ammeter
microscope slide
crocodile clips
filter paper
ammonium hydroxide solution

crystals of potassium permanganate
stopwatch
24 V d.c. supply
connecting leads
Introduction
The conduction of ions in an electrolyte is shown diagrammatically in figure 9.4 on page
85 of Physics 1. However, it is impossible to see the migration of the ions in a beaker. The
experimental arrangement shown below may be used to demonstrate that electric
current in an electrolyte is due to the slow movement of ions. In this experiment you
also have the opportunity to determine the actual mean drift velocity of the ions.
Procedure
d.c. supply
+
negative ions travel

towards positive
electrode
optical pin
+
crystals
crocodile clip
filter paper soaked in
ammonium hydroxide
solution
1
2
3
4
crystals of potassium
permanganate
microscope slide
Set up the circuit as shown in the diagram.

Clip the filter paper and optical pins onto the microscope slide with the
crocodile clips.
Soak the filter paper with the ammonium hydroxide solution.
Place a few crystals of potassium permanganate on the soaked filter paper (midway
between the two pins).
Switch on the supply. The ammeter shows that there is an immediate flow of
electric current. A purple stain (negative manganate ions) travels slowly towards
the positive electrode.
The actual velocity of the ions is very slow. The mean drift velocity of the ions may
be determined by measuring the length of the purple stain over a period of time.
Make appropriate measurements and estimate the mean drift velocity of the ions.
Guidance for teachers

In trials, the following results were obtained using a 24 V supply:
length of purple stain = 1.0 cm
time = 6.0 min
mean drift velocity 3 105 m s1
9 Electric current
85
Practical 2
Measuring tiny currents
Safety
A coulombmeter is an extremely sensitive instrument and can be permanently damaged
if the input charge is large. Under no circumstances should the cell be connected directly
to the coulombmeter. The 20 M resistor is vital in keeping the current very small. It is
also important to keep the time interval small. Teachers and technicians should follow
their school and departmental safety policies and should ensure that the employers
risk assessment has been carried out before undertaking any practical work.
Apparatus
1.5 V cell
switch
coulombmeter
20 M resistor
stopwatch
Introduction
We use an ammeter to measure current. In this experiment, you will use a coulombmeter
Q
and the equation I = to determine a very small current in a resistor, using the
t
arrangement shown in the diagram.
Procedure
VITAL SAFETY RESISTOR
20 M
nC
coulombmeter
S
1
2
3
4
Set up the circuit as shown in the diagram.

Reset the coulombmeter to zero.
Close the switch S for a short time interval t. Record the value of t. The flow of
charge Q in this time interval is measured by the coulombmeter.
Determine the current in the resistor using the equation:
I=
Q
t
Guidance for teachers

In trials, the following results were obtained using a 1.5 V cell:
t 2.1 s
86
Q 150 nC
I 7 108 A
9 Electric current
End-of-chapter test
Answer all questions.
elementary charge e = 1.6 1019 C
1
2
State the SI unit for electric current.
[1]
The diagram below shows an electrical circuit.
3
4
Indicate with an arrow the direction of the flow of electrons in the circuit.
[1]
The ammeter reading is 60 mA. Calculate the flow of charge through the
filament lamp over a time period of 300 s.
[3]
An electric fan is supplied by a constant current of 0.14 A. Calculate the time

for which it is operated when the total charge flow is 170 C.
[2]
A girl walking on a carpet acquires a static charge. When she touches a metal tap, a
small electric spark jumps between her and the tap. A charge of 24 C is transferred
by the spark in 1.2 ms. Calculate:
a
the average current due to the electric spark;
[2]
the number of electrons transferred to the tap.
[2]
Total: Score:
11
9 Electric current
87
Marking scheme
Worksheet
1 Coulomb (C) [1]
2 Electric current is the flow of charged particles. [1]
3 a Electrons [1]
b
Ions [1]
4 Conventional current is the flow of positive charges moving towards the negative
electrode. [1]
5 Q = It [1]; Q = 1.2 (3.0 60) [1]; Q = 216 C 220 C [1]

6 I = Q [1]
t
I=
3.8 103
[1]
120
I 3.2 105 A [1]
7 Q = It [1]; Q = 0.080 (6.0 3600) [1]; Q = 1.73 103 C 1.7 103 C [1]
8 Charge per second = 2.0 C s1 [1]
Number of electrons per second =
2.0 C s1
[1]
1.6 1019 C
= 1.25 1019 s1 1.3 1019 s1 [1]
9 a t = Q [1]; t = 18 [1]; t = 2.0 103 s (2.0 ms) [1]

I
9000
Number of electrons =
18 C
[1]
1.6 1019 C
= 1.13 1020 1.1 1020 [1]
10 a Q = It [1]
88
Area under graph = area of rectangle = It [1]
1
Area (1.2 600) + ( 1.2 50) [1];
2
charge = 750 C [1]
9 Electric current
Marking scheme
End-of-chapter test
1
2
Ampere (A) [1]

a
Direction of arrow from negative to positive. [1]
electron
flow
Q = It [1];
t =
Q = 0.060 300 [1];
Q = 18 C [1]
Q
170
, t =
[1]
I
0.14
t =1.2 103 s (20 minutes) [1]
24 106
Q
, I=
[1];
t
1.2 103
I=
Number of electrons =
I = 2.0 102 A [1]
24 106 C
[1]
1.6 1019 C
= 1.5 1014 [1]
9 Electric current
89

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OCR (A) specifications: 5.2.

in a metal wire connected to a battery;

in a solution during electrolysis.

4 Explain what is meant by conventional current.

6 Calculate the current for a calculator battery delivering a charge

7 A solar cell delivers an average current of 80 mA over a 6-hour period. Calculate

8 A resistance wire carries a current of 2.0 A. Calculate the number of electrons

9 During a thunderstorm, a lightning strike has a current of 9000 A and transfers

the duration of the lightning strike;

the number of electrons transferred to the ground.

circuit. The diagram shows the graph

Calculate the flow of charge Q in a

Justify the statement: the

Cambridge University Press 2005

You must always convert the time into seconds.

It is important to convert milliseconds into seconds.

N 9.4 1020 electrons

Cambridge University Press 2005

optical imaging pins

ammonium hydroxide solution

negative ions travel

Set up the circuit as shown in the diagram.

Guidance for teachers

Cambridge University Press 2005

VITAL SAFETY RESISTOR

Set up the circuit as shown in the diagram.

Guidance for teachers

Cambridge University Press 2005

State the SI unit for electric current.

The diagram below shows an electrical circuit.

An electric fan is supplied by a constant current of 0.14 A. Calculate the time

the average current due to the electric spark;

the number of electrons transferred to the tap.

Cambridge University Press 2005

5 Q = It [1]; Q = 1.2 (3.0 60) [1]; Q = 216 C 220 C [1]

I 3.2 105 A [1]

= 1.25 1019 s1 1.3 1019 s1 [1]

9 a t = Q [1]; t = 18 [1]; t = 2.0 103 s (2.0 ms) [1]

= 1.13 1020 1.1 1020 [1]

Area under graph = area of rectangle = It [1]

Cambridge University Press 2005

charge = 750 C [1]

Ampere (A) [1]

Direction of arrow from negative to positive. [1]

Q = 0.060 300 [1];

t =1.2 103 s (20 minutes) [1]

I = 2.0 102 A [1]

= 1.5 1014 [1]

Cambridge University Press 2005

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