Saturday X-tra X-Sheet: 19

Electric circuits
Key Concepts

This lesson focuses on the following:

• Potential Difference
• Current
• The resistance of a conductor
• Ohm’s Law and circuit calculations

Terminology & definitions

• Potential difference – the work done in moving a charge from a point of low
potential to a point of high potential in an electric field.
• Electric current – the number of charge passing a point in a second.
• Resistance – the ability of a conductor to impede the movement of charge given
by the ratio of the potential difference across a conductor and the current passing
through it.
• Ohm’s Law – the current through a conductor between two points is directly
proportional to the potential difference across the two points, and, inversely,
proportional to the resistance of the conductor, provided the temperature remains
constant.
• Internal resistance – the extent to which an energy source, like a battery,
impedes the flow of charge within itself.

X-planation of key concepts and terminologies

The potential difference in a circuit is denoted by the letter V. It is defined as the
energy needed to move a charge from one point to another in an electric field. It is
measured in volts (V). One volt equals one joule per coulomb (J.C-1) as found from the
W
following equation: V = .
Q
Electric current is the movement of charge. The letter, I , is used as a symbol for
electric current. It is defined as the number of charge passing appoint in a unit time
Q
according to the following equation: I = .
t
Electric current is measured in amperes (A). One ampere equals one coulomb per
second (C.s-1).

Ohm’s law states that the current in a conductor is directly proportional to the
potential difference across the ends, provided the temperature remains
constant. The resistance of a conductor is the extent to which a conductor impedes
the flow of charge. From Ohm’s law, the resistance is given as the ratio of the potential
difference (V) and the current (I). Ohm’s law can be stated mathematically in this way:
V
I= .
R

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From Ohm’s law, it can also be said that that a graph of potential difference versus
current must be a straight line passing through the origin. The resistance could then
be found by calculating the gradient of such a straight line.

Ohm’s law is applied in the analysis of electric circuits. In a circuit, resistors can be
connected in two ways: series and parallel. Resistors 1 and 2 are connected in series
in diagram 1 and connected in parallel in diagram 2:

Diagram 1 Diagram 2

R1
R1 R2

R2

V V
V

The current through resistors in series is the same, but the potential difference across
each of the resistors is not the same. When the potential differences between various
resistors in series is added, the total potential difference in a circuit is found (V1 + V2 =
VT). For that reason resistors in series are said to be potential difference dividers. The
potential difference across a set of resistors connected in parallel is the same.
However, the current in the various resistors is not the same. When the current in
each of the resistors in parallel is added together, the total current in the circuit is
found (I1 + I2 = IT). For that reason resistors in parallel are said to be current dividers.

Total resistance in a circuit where resistors are connected in series, is found by adding
together the resistance of each of the resistors (RT = R1 + R2 + …). Total resistance in
a circuit where resistors are connected in parallel, is found as follows:
1 1 1
= + + ... . In a situation where both parallel and series combination of
RT R1 R 2
resistors is given, the parallel connection has to be worked out first and added to the
series connection to obtain the total resistance of the circuit. The internal resistance of
a source of energy is always in series with the rest of the circuit. Energy sources such
as cells/batteries, would always have some internal resistance. We use small letter r
to represent internal resistance. The total energy output of the cell/battery responsible
for moving charges from one point to another is called the electromotive force (emf). It
is found by using the formula: emf = I(R + r ) .

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 X-ample Questions

Two cells are connected in series to form a battery. Two light bulbs, L1 and L2 are
connected in series and, together with an ammeter, are connected to the battery. The
resistance of L1 is 2 Ω and the ammeter reading is 2,5 A. A voltmeter is connected
across L2 and reads 2V.

1.1 Calculate the resistance of L2.

1.2 Calculate the potential difference across L1.
1.3 What is the total potential difference across the circuit?

2. Consider the following circuit diagram and answer the questions below:

3V

1. What is the total current in the circuit?

2. Which resistor will have the biggest potential difference across its ends?
3. Calculate the value of the potential difference across the resistor you
chose in 2.

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 3. A 6 Ω and a 2 Ω resistors are connected in parallel. A 2,5 Ω resistor is connected
in series to the combination. The resistors are connected to a 12 V battery as
shown in the diagram.

Calculate
3.1 the total resistance of the circuit.
3.2 the current in the 2,5 Ω resistor.
3.3 the current in the 2 Ω resistor.

4. A battery of emf 16 V and internal resistance r is connected to a circuit as shown

in the diagram below.

15V R

3A

When the switch, S, is open, a current of 3 A is recorded on the ammeter and the
reading of the voltmeter is 15 V. the resistors labeled R are identical.

4.1 Calculate the resistance of the identical resistors R.

4.2 Calculate the internal resistance r.
4.3 Calculate the reading on the ammeter when the switch S is closed.

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X-ercise (From Physical Sciences P1: February/March 2010)

The circuit diagram below shows a battery, with an internal resistance r, connected to
three resistors, M, N, and Y. The resistance of N is 2 Ω and the reading on voltmeter V
is 14 V. The reading on ammeter A is 2 A and the reading on ammeter A is 1 A. (The
1 2
resistance of the ammeters and the connecting wires may be ignored.)

2Ω

1.1 How does the resistance of M compare with that of N? Explain how you
arrived at the answer.
1.2 If the emf of the battery is 17 V, calculate the internal resistance of the battery.

1.3 Calculate the potential difference across resistor N.

1.4 Calculate the resistance of Y.

Answers
1.1 Equal 2 A divides equally at T (and since IM = 1 A it follows that IN = 1 A)
1.2 r = 1,5 Ω
1.3 VN = 2 V
1.4 RY = 6 Ω