Current Electricity
Current Electricity
CONTENTS
KEY CONCEPTS
EXERCISE - I
EXERCISE - II
EXERCISE-III
ANSWER KEY
CURRENT ELECTRICITY
1. ELECTRIC CURRENT :
Electric charges in motion constitute an electric current. Any medium having practically free electric
charges , free to migrate is a conductor of electricity. The electric charge flows from higher potential
energy state to lower potential energy state. Positive charge flows from higher to lower potential and
negative charge flows from lower to higher. Metals such as gold, silver, copper, aluminium etc. are good
conductors.
2. ELECTRIC CURRENT IN A CONDUCTOR :
In absence of potential difference across a conductor no net current flows through a corss section.
When a potential difference is applied across a conductor the charge carriers (electrons in case of
metallic conductors) flow in a definite direction which constitutes a net current in it . These electrons are
not accelerated by electric field in the conductor produced by potential difference across the conductor.
They move with a constant drift velocity . The direction of current is along the flow of positive charge (or
opposite to flow of negative charge). i = nvdeA, where Vd = drift velocity .
3. CHARGE AND CURRENT :
The strength of the current i is the rate at which the electric charges are flowing. If a charge Q coulomb
passes through a given cross section of the conductor in t second the current I through the conductor is
Q Coulomb Q
given by I = = = ampere .
t sec ond t
dq
Ampere is the unit of current . If i is not constant then i = , where dq is net charge transported at
dt
a section in time dt.
In a current carrying conductor we can define a vector which gives the direction as current per unit
normal, cross sectional area.
I
Thus J = n or I = J · S
S
Where n is the unit vector in the direction of the flow of current.
For random J or S, we use I = J ds
4. RELATION IN J, E AND D :
In conductors drift vol. of electrons is proportional to the electric field in side the conductor
as – d = E
where is the mobility of electrons
I
current density is given as J = = ne d
A
= ne(E) = E
1
where = ne is called conductivity of material and we can also write = resistivity
of material. Thus E = J. It is called as differential form of Ohm's Law.
7. LAW OF RESISTANCE :
The resistance R offered by a conductor depends on the following factors :
l
R L (length of the conductor) ; R (cross section area of the conductor)
A
l
at a given temperature R = .
A
Where is the resistivity of the material of the conductor at the given temperature . It is also known as
specific resistance of the material .
Here we assume that the dimensions of resistance does not change with temperature if expansion
coefficient of material is considerable. Then instead of resistance we use same property for
resistivity as = 0 (1 + )
The materials for which resistance decreases with temperature, the temperature coefficient of
resistance is negative.
Where is called the temperature co-efficient of resistance . The unit of is K 1 of ºC 1 reciprocal of
resistivity is called conductivity and reciprocal of resistance is called conductance (G) . S.I. unit of G is
ohm.
9. OHM'S LAW :
Ohm's law is the most fundamental of all the laws in electricity . It says that the current through the cross
section or the conductor is proportional to the applied potential difference under the given physical
condition . V = R I . Ohm's law is applicable to only metalic conductors .
II - Law (Loop analysis) :The algebric sum of all the voltages in closed
circuit is zero.
IR + EMF = 0 in a closed loop . The closed loop can be traversed
in any direction . While traversing a loop if higher potential point is
entered, put a + ve sign in expression or if lower potential point is
entered put a negative sign .
V1 V2 +V3 V4 = 0. Boxes may contain resistor or battery or any other element (linear or non-linear).
It is also known as KVL (Kirchhoff's voltage law) .
11. COMBINATION OF RESISTANCES :
A number of resistances can be connected and all the
complecated combinations can be reduced to two different types,
namely series and parallel .
(i) RESISTANCE IN SERIES :
When the resistances are connected end toend then they are said to be in series . The current
through each resistor is same . The effective resistance appearing across the battery .
R = R1 + R2 + R3 + ................ + Rn and
V = V1 + V2 + V3 + ................ + Vn .
The voltage across a resistor is proportional to the resistance
R1 R2
V1 = V;V2 = V ; etc
R 1R 2 .........R n R 1R 2 .........R n
(ii) RESISTANCE IN PARALLEL :
A parallel circuit of resistors is one in which the same voltage is applied across all the
components in a parallel grouping of resistors R1, R2, R3, ........, Rn .
CONCLUSIONS :
(a) Potential difference across each resistor is same .
(b) I = I1 + I2 + I3 + .......... In .
1 1 1 1 1
(c) Effective resistance (R) then .......... .
R R1 R 2 R 3 Rn
(d) Current in different resistors is inversally
proportional to the resistance .
1 1 1 1
I1 : I2 : ........... In = : : :..........: .
R1 R 2 R 3 Rn
G1 G2
I1 = I , I2 = I , etc .
G1G 2 .........G n G1G 2 .........G n
I
where G = = Conductance of a resistor .
R
12. EMF OF A CELL & ITS INTERNAL RESISTANCE :
If a cell of emf E and internal resistance r be connected with a resistance R the total resistance of
the circuit is (R + r) .
E E
I= ; VAB = where
R r R r
E = Terminal voltage of the battery .If r 0, cell is Ideal & V E .
13. GROUPING OF CELLS :
(i) CELLS IN SERIES :
Let there be n cells each of emf E , arranged in series.Let r be the internal resistance of each cell.
nE
The total emf = n E . Current in the circuit I = .
R nr
nE
If nr << R then I = Series combination should be used .
R
E
If nr >> R then I = Series combination should not be used .
r
(ii) CELLS IN PARALLEL :
If m cells each of emf E & internal resistance r be connected in parallel and if this
combination be connected to an external resistance then the emf of the circuit = E .
r
Internal resistance of the circuit = .
m
E mE
I= = .
R m
r mR r
mE
If mR << r ; I = Parallel combination should be used .
r
E
If mR >> r ; I = Parallel combination should not be used .
R
mr
R= = internal resistance of battery .
n
nE mE
Imax = .
2r 2R
WHEAT STONE NETWORK :
When current through the galvanometer is zero (null point or balance
P R
point) = . When PS > QR; VC < VD & PS <QR ; VC > VD or
Q S
PS = QR products of opposite arms are equal. Potential difference
between C & D at null point is zero . The null point is not affected by
resistance of G & E. It is not affected even if the positions of G & E are
inter changed. ICD (QR PS) .
14. POTENTIOMETER :
A potentiometer is a linear conductor of uniform cross-section with a steady current set up in it. This
maintains a uniform potential gradient along the length of the wire . Any potential difference which is less
then the potential difference maintained across the potentiometer wire can be measured using this . The
E1 I1
potentiometer equation is .
E 2 I2
15. AMMETER :
It is a modified form of suspended coil galvanometer it is used to measure
current . A shunt (small resistance) is connected in parallel with
Ig R g
galvanometer to convert into ammeter . S = ; An ideal ammeter
II g
has zero resistance . where
Ig = Maximum current that can flow through the galvanometer .
I = Maximum current that can be measured using the given ammeter .
16. VOLTMETER :
A high resistance is put in series with galvanometer . It is used to measure potential difference .
Vo
Ig = .
R g R
R , Ideal voltmeter .
H = I Rdt
2
0 to t is:
0
Q.2 In the circuit shown in figure potential difference between point A and B is 16 V. Find the current passing
through 2 resistance.
Q.4 Find the equivalent resistance of the circuit between points A and B shown in
figure is: (each branch is of resistance = 1)
Q.5 Find the current through 25V cell & power supplied by
20V cell in the figure shown.
Q.6 If a cell of constant E.M.F. produces the same amount of the heat during the same time in two independent
resistors R1 and R2, when they are separately connected across the terminals of the cell, one after the
another, find the internal resistance of the cell.
Q.7 Find the effective resistance of the network (see figure) between the points A and B.
Where R is the resistance of each part.
Q.8 In the circuit shown in figure, all wires have equal resistance r. Find the
equivalent resistance between A and B.
Q.11 In the circuit shown in figure the reading of ammeter is the same
with both switches open as with both closed. Then find the
resistance R. (ammeter is ideal)
Q.12 If the switches S1, S2 and S3 in the figure are arranged such that
current through the battery is minimum, find the voltage across
points A and B.
Q.13 The figure shows a network of resistor each heaving value 12.
Find the equivalent resistance between points A and B.
Q.16 In the figure shown for gives values of R1 and R2 the balance point for
Jockey is at 40 cm from A. When R2 is shunted by a resistance of 10 ,
balance shifts to 50 cm. find R1 and R2. (AB = 1 m):
Q.2(a) The current density across a cylindrical conductor of radius R varies according to the equation
r
J = J 0 1 , where r is the distance from the axis. Thus the current density is a maximum Jo at the
R
axis r = 0 and decreases linearly to zero at the surface r = R. Calculate the current in terms of Jo and the
conductor’s cross sectional area is A = R2.
(b) Suppose that instead the current density is a maximum Jo at the surface and decreases linearly to zero at
r
the axis so that J = J0 . Calculate the current.
R
Q.3 What will be the change in the resistance of a circuit consisting of five
identical conductors if two similar conductors are added as shown by
the dashed line in figure.
Q.4 The current I through a rod of a certain metallic oxide is given by I = 0.2 V5/2, where V is the potential
difference across it. The rod is connected in series with a resistance to a 6V battery of negligible internal
resistance. What value should the series resistance have so that :
(i) the current in the circuit is 0.44
(ii) the power dissipated in the rod is twice that dissipated in the resistance.
Q.5 A piece of resistive wire is made up into two squares with a common side of length 10 cm. A currant
enters the rectangular system at one of the corners and leaves at the diagonally opposite corners. Show
that the current in the common side is 1/5th of the entering current. What length of wire connected
between input and output terminals would have an equivalent effect.
Q.8 Three equal resistance each of R ohm are connected as shown in figure. A
battery of 2 volts of internal resistance 0.1 ohm is connected across the
circuit. Calculate R for which the heat generated in the circuit is maximum.
Q.9 A person decides to use his bath tub water to generate electric power to run a 40 watt bulb. The bath
tube is located at a height of 10 m from the ground & it holds 200 litres of water. If we install a water
driven wheel generator on the ground, at what rate should the water drain from the bath tube to light
bulb? How long can we keep the bulb on, if the bath tub was full initially. The efficiency of generator is
90%.(g = 10m/s–2)
Q.12 A rod of length L and cross-section area A lies along the x-axis between x = 0 and x = L. The material
obeys Ohm’s law and its resistivity varies along the rod according to (x) = 0 e–x/L. The end of the rod
at x = 0 is at a potential V0 and it is zero at x = L.
(a) Find the total resistance of the rod and the current in the wire.
(b) Find the electric potential in the rod as a function of x.
(a) (b)
Q.16 An enquiring physics student connects a cell to a circuit and measures the current drawn from the
cell to I1. When he joins a second identical cell is series with the first, the current becomes I2. When
the cells are connected are in parallel, the current through the circuit is I3. Show that relation between
the current is 3 I3 I2 = 2 I1 (I2 + I3)
2
Q.19 Find the current through resistance in the figure shown.
3
Q.20 A galvanometer having 50 divisions provided with a variable shunt s is used to measure the current when
connected in series with a resistance of 90 and a battery of internal resistance 10 . It is observed
that when the shunt resistance are 10, 50, respectively the deflection are respectively 9 & 30 divisions.
What is the resistance of the galvanometer? Further if the full scale deflection of the galvanometer movement
is 300 mA, find the emf of the cell.
Q.21 In the primary circuit of potentiometer the rheostat can be varied from 0 to 10. Initially it is at minimum
resistance (zero).
(a) Find the length AP of the wire such that the galvanometer shows zero
deflection.
(b) Now the rheostat is put at maximum resistance (10) and the switch S is
closed. New balancing length is found to 8m. Find the internal resistance r
of the 4.5V cell.
Q.22 A galvanometer (coil resistance 99 ) is converted into a ammeter using a shunt of 1and connected as
shown in the figure (i). The ammeter reads 3A. The same galvanometer is converted into a voltmeter by
connecting a resistance of 101 in series. This voltmeter is connected as shown in figure(ii). Its reading
is found to be 4/5 of the full scale reading. Find
(a) internal resistance r of the cell
(b) range of the ammeter and voltmeter
(c) full scale deflection current of the galvanometer
EXERCISE # III
Q.2(i) A steady current flows in a metallic conductor of nonuniform cross-section. The quantity /quantities
constant along the length of the conductor is / are :
(A) current, electric field and drift speed (B) drift speed only
(C) current and drift speed (D) current only
(ii) The dimension of electricity conductivity is _________.
(iii) Find the emf (E) & internal resistance (r) of a single battery which is equivalent to a parallel combination
of two batteries of emfs V1 & V2 & internal resistances r1 & r2 respectively with their similar polarity connected
to each other
Q.4 In the circuit shown, P R, the reading of the galvanometer is same with
switch S open or closed. Then
(A) IR = IG (B) IP = IG (C) IQ = IG (D) IQ = IR
Q.5 The effective resistance between the points P and Q of the electrical
circuit shown in the figure is
(A) 2 Rr / (R + r) (B) 8R(R + r)/(3R + r)
(C) 2r + 4R (D) 5 R/2 + 2r
Q.6 A 100 W bulb B1, and two 60 W bulbs B2 and B3, are connected to a
250 V source, as shown in the figure. Now W 1, W2 and W3 are the
output powers of the bulbs B1, B2 and B3 respectively. Then
(A) W1 > W2 = W3
(B) W1 > W2 > W3
(C) W1 < W2 = W3
(D) W1 <W2 < W3
Q.7 A thin uniform wire AB of length l m, an unknown resistance X
and a resistance of 12 are connected by thick conducting
strips, as shown in figure. A battery and a galvanometer (with a
sliding jockey connected to it) are also available. Connections
are to be made to measure the unknown resistance X using the
principle of Wheatstone bridge. Answer the following question.
(a) Are there positive and negative terminals on the galvanometer?
(b) Copy the figure in your answer book and show the battery and the galvanometer (with jockey) connected
at appropriate points.
(c) After appropriate connections are made, it is found that no deflection takes place in the galvanometer
when the sliding jockey touches the wire at a distance of 60 cm from A. Obtain the value of resistance X.
Q.8 Arrange the order of power dissipated in the given circuits, if the same current is passing through all
circuits and each resistor is 'r'
(I) (II)
(III) (IV)
(A) P2 > P3 > P4 > P1 (B) P3 > P2 > P4 > P1 (C) P4 > P3 > P2 > P1 (D) P1 > P2 > P3 > P4
Q.11 Six equal resistances are connected between points P, Q and R as shown
in the figure. Then the net resistance will be maximum between
(A) P and Q
(B) Q and R
(C) P and R
(D) any two points
Q.12 In an RC circuit while charging, the graph of ln I versus time is as shown by the
dotted line in the adjoining diagram where I is the current. When the value of the
resistance is doubled, which of the solid curves best represents the variation of
ln I versus time?
(A) P (B) Q (C) R (D) S
Q.13 For the post office box arrangement to determine the value of unknown resistance,
the unknown resistance should be connected between
(A) B and C (B) C and D
(C) A and D (D) B1 and C1
Q.14 Draw the circuit for experimental verification of Ohm's law using a source of variable D.C. voltage, a
main resistance of 100 , two galvanometers and two resistances of values 106 and 10–3 respectively.
Clearly show the positions of the voltmeter and the ammeter.
Q.16 An uncharged capacitor of capacitance 4µF, a battery of emf 12 volt and a resistor of 2.5 M are
connected in series. The time after which vc = 3vR is (take ln2 = 0.693)
(A) 6.93 sec. (B) 13.86 sec. (C) 20.52 sec. (D) none of these
Q.17 A galvanometer has resistance 100and it requires current 100A for full scale deflection. A resistor
0.1is connected to make it an ammeter. The smallest current required in the circuit to produce the full
scale deflection is
(A) 1000.1 mA (B) 1.1 mA (C) 10.1 mA (D) 100.1 mA
Q.6
(k 1)
(i) ;
2 k
(ii)
(k 1) k V0 2
Q.7
( 2 ) a r
k ( k 1) R3 8
Q.8 0.3 Q.9 4/9 kg/sec., 450 sec
Q.10 (i) Vab = – 12 V, (ii) 3 amp from b to a Q.11 11 6 2
0L 1 V0 A e V (e x / L e 1 )
Q.12 R= 1 ; I = ;V= 0
A e 0 L e 1 1 e 1
Q.13 ; for Imax f = 0, 1 ; Imin f = 1/2 Q.14 7.2 m Q.15 (a) 5/7 R, (b) 9R/14
r R 0 (f f 2 )
22 5
Q.17 – V Q.18 eff = Q.19 1A Q.20 233.3; 144V Q.21 (a) 6 m, (b) 1
9 4
Q.22 (a) 1.01 W, (b) 0-5A, 0-10V, (c) 0.05 A
EXERCISE # III
V1r2 V2 r1 r1 r2
Q.1 20/3 V Q.2 (i) D; (ii) M–1L–3T3A2; (iii) , Q.3 D
r1 r2 r1 r2
Q.4 A Q.5 A Q.6 D
Q.10 Battery should be connected across A and B. Out put can be taken across the terminals A and C or B and C
Q.11 A Q.12 B Q.13 C
Voltmeter
106
G1
100
Ammeter
G2
Q.14 10-3
Q.15 B Q.16 B Q.17 D
E
Q.18 This is true for r1= r2; So R2 given most accurate value Q.19 A