CURRENT ELECTRICITY

VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. If a wire is stretched to double its original length without loss of mass, how will the resistivity of the
wire be influenced?
2. Does the value of resistance of a wire depend on the potential difference applied across it?
3. What happens if the galvanometer and cell are interchanged at the balance point of the bridge?
Would the galvanometer show any current?
4. Two wires A and B of the same material and having same length have their cross-sectional areas in
the ratio 1:4. What would be the ratio of heat produced in the wires when same voltage is applied?
5. A potential difference V is applied across a conductor of length L. How is the drift velocity affected
when V is doubled and L is halved?
6. Plot a graph showing the variation of resistance of conducting wire as a function of its radius,
keeping the length of the wire and its temperature as constant
7. Two wires A and B of the same material having length in the ratio 1:2 and radii in the ratio 2:1.
What is the ratio of the resistance?
8. Draw a graph showing the variation resistivity with temperature for nichrome
9. What are the factors affecting the internal resistance of a cell?
10. A 100 W and 500W bulb are joined in parallel to the mains. Which bulb will glow brighter?

SHORT ANSWR QUESTIONS

11. Using the concept of drift velocity of charge carriers in a conductor deduce the relationship between
current density and resistivity of the conductor
12. Two bulbs are marked 220V,100W and 220V and 50W respectively. They are connected in series
to 220V mains. Find the ratio of heat generated in them
13. A potential difference of 6V is applied across a conductor of length 0.12m. Calculate the drift
velocity of the electrons, it the electron mobility is 5.6 x 10-6m2v-1s-1
14. Explain why electric power transmitted at high voltages and low currents to distant places
15. The V-I curve for a given metallic wire at two different temperatures T1 and T2 are shown in the
figure. Which temperature is greater and give reason:

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16. A wire when connected to 220V main supply, has power dissipation P1. Now the wire is cut into
two equal pieces which are connected in parallel to the same supply, power dissipation in this case
is P2. Find the ratio P2/P1
17. Three identical cells each of emf 2V and internal resistance 0.2Ω are connected in series to an
external resistor of 7.4 Ω. Calculate the current in the circuit
18. Distinguish between emf and terminal voltage
19. Why alloys like constantan are used for making standard resistors?
20. Distinguish between ohmic and non ohmic devices. Give one example each
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (3 MARK)
21. Three identical resistors, each of resistance R when connected in series with a d c source dissipate
power X. If the resistors are connected in parallel to the same d c source, how much power will be
dissipated?
22. The thickness of a conductor continuously decreases from its one end A to another end B. It is
connected across the terminals of a battery. What will be the effect on the value of?
(I) electric field
(ii) current density
(iii) mobility of the electron
at a point on the conductor as one moves from end A to end B
23. A battery of emf e and internal resistance r is connected to a variable external resistance R. Find
the value of R for which current in the circuit is maximum, terminal potential difference across the
battery is maximum also find the maximum value of current and terminal voltage in each case
24. Derive the condition for balanced Wheatstone’s bridge
25. Prove that when electrical appliances are connected in parallel, the total power consumed is equal
to the sum of the powers of the individual appliances.
26. The resistance of a tungsten filament at 1500C is 133 Ω. What will be its resistance at 5000C?
Given the temperature coefficient of tungsten is 0.0045/0C.
27. A battery of emf 2V and internal resistance 0.1Ω is being charged by a current of 5A. What will be
the direction of current inside the battery? What is the potential difference between the terminals of
the battery?
28. Define drift velocity and derive an expression for drift velocity of electrons in a conductor hence
deduce Ohm’s law
29. State and explain Kirchhoff’s laws. In the electric network shown in the figure, use Kirchhoff’s
rules to calculate the power consumed by the resistance R=4Ω

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30. Using Kirchhoff’s rules determine the value of unknown resistance R in the circuit shown, so that
no current flows through 4Ω resistance. Also find the potential difference between A and D

VERY LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

31. Define the term drift velocity
On the basis of electron drift derive an expression for resistivity of a conductor in terms of number
density of free electrons and relaxation time.
On what factors does resistivity of a conductor depend on
32. Define the terms internal resistance, potential difference and emf. Derive the relation between
internal resistance, emf and terminal potential difference of a cell. Draw a graph showing the
variation of current verses resistance connected to a cell of emf E and internal resistance r
33. Two cells of emf E1 and E2 are and internal resistances r1 and r2 respectively are connected in
series and in parallel. Obtain expressions for the equivalent emf and effective resistance of the
combination in the two cases
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
34. How many electrons pass through a lamp in 1 min if the current is 300mA?
(i) 1.125x1020
(ii) 1.875x10-18
(iii) 1.875x1018
(iv) 1.125x10-20
35. Drift velocity varies with the intensity of electric field as per the relation
(i) VαE

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 (ii) V α 1/E
(iii) V α E2
(iv) V α E-2
36. The current through the 5Ωresistor is

(i) 2A
(ii) 4A
(iii) Zero
(iv) 1A
37. In a Wheatstone bridge circuit, P = 7Ω, Q =8Ω, R = 12 Ω and S = 7 Ω. Find the additional
resistance to be used in series with S, so that the bridge is balanced
(i) 6.72 Ω
(ii) 7.62 Ω
(iii) 2.67 Ω
(iv) 6.27 Ω
38. A cell of emf 2V, when short circuited gives a current of 4A. What is the internal resistance of the
cell in ohm?
(i) 0.5
(ii) 1.0
(iii) 2.0
(iv) 4.0
39. When a current of 0.2 A is drawn from a battery then the potential difference between its terminals
is 20V and when a current of 2A is drawn, then the potential difference drops to 16V. The emf of
the battery is
(i) 15.1V
(ii) 20.4V
(iii) 18.9V
(iv) 23.3V
40. If two identical cells when connected in series or in parallel, supply the same amount of current
through an external resistance of 2Ω, the internal resistance of the cell is
(i) 8Ω
(ii) 2Ω
(iii) 4Ω

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 (iv) 1Ω
41. Kirchhoff’s second law for the electric network is based on
(i) Law of conservation of charge
(ii) Law of conservation of energy
(iii) Law of conservation of angular momentum
(iv) Law of conservation of mass
42. If percentage change in current through a resistor is 1%, then the change in power through it would
be
(i) 1%
(ii) 2%
(iii) 1.7%
(iv) 0.5%
43. In the given circuit, the potential drop across the resistor is

(i) V
(ii) V/2
(iii) V/3
(iv) 2V/3
CASE BASED QUESTIONS
44. The materials can be classified as conductors, semi-conductors and insulators depending on their
resistivities. Metals have low resistivities in the range of 10-8Ωm. At the other end are insulators like
ceramic, rubber and plastics having resistivities 10-18 times greater than metals or more. In between
these two are the semiconductors. These however have resistivities characteristically decreasing with
a rise in temperature. The resistivities of semiconductors can be decreased by adding small amount
of suitable impurities. This last feature is exploited in use of semiconductors for electronic devices.
(a) Which of the following material can be used for heating purpose in electric geyser?
(i) Copper
(ii) Aluminium
(iii) Gold
(iv) Nichrome
(b) The temperature of coefficient of resistance is negative for
(i) Copper
(ii) Gold
(iii) Carbon

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 (iv) Silver
(c) The resistance of a wire at 200C is 20Ω and at 5000C it is 60Ω. At what temperature the
resistance is the temperature is 25Ω
(i) 1600C
(ii) 2500C
(iii) 1000C
(iv) 800C
(d) The product of resistivity and conductivity of a conductor depends on
(i) Area of cross section ‘
(ii) Temperature
(iii) Length
(iv) None of these
( e) Nichrome and copper wires of same length and same radius are connected in series .
current I is passed through them. The wire that heated up more is
(i) Nichrome
(ii) Copper
(iii) Bothe will be heated to the same temperature
(iv) Can’t be predicted
45. An electric cell is source of energy that maintains a continuous flow of charge in a circuit. it
changes chemical energy into electrical energy. It has two electrodes – positive and negative.
Electric cell has to do some work in maintaining the current through a circuit. The work done by
the cell in moving unit positive charge through the whole circuit is called the emf of the cell.
(a) When two electrodes of a cell are immersed in an electrolytic solution the charges are
exchanged between
(i) Positive electrode and electrolyte only
(ii) Negative electrode and electrolyte only
(iii) Both electrodes and electrolyte
(iv) Directly between two electrodes
(b) The current flowing in the sell is
(i) I = E /(R+r)
(ii) I = E/R
(iii) I=E/r
(iv) I = (R+r)/E

(c) The maximum current that can be drawn from a cell is for
(i) R = infinity
(ii) R = finite non-zero resistance

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 (iii) R=0
(iv) R =r
(d) When R is infinite, then potential difference V between P and N is
(i) E
(ii) 2E
(iii) E/2
(iv) E/4
46. An electrical appliances (geysers) uses a lot of electric energy when it is operated. The electrical
energy consumed is dependent on the time for which a specific appliance of fixed power rating is
used. The commercial unit of electric energy is KWh (I unit). Different electric appliances have
different power consumption which is mentioned in the device clearly.
(a) A bulb is rated 60W, 220V.It signifies
(i) It consumes 60J in one second
(ii) It consumes 220J in one second
(iii) It has 60W energy
(iv) None of the above
(b) Which of the following does not represent electric power?
(i)VI
(ii) I2R
(iii) V2/R
(iv) I2V
(c) The electric bulbs P and Q having resistance ratio 1:2 will consume power in the ratio when V is
constant
(i) 1:2
(ii) 2:1
(iii) 1:4
(iv) 4:1
(d) An electric heater consumes 1.5KW power. If it is used every day for 2 hours, then the electric
energy used in January is
(i) 90unit
(ii) 92unit
(iii) 93unit
(iv) 95 unit
47. A single cell provides a feeble current. In order to get higher current in a circuit we use
combination of cells . Cells can be joined in series and in parallel and in a mixed way. Two cells
are said to be connected in series when negative of one cells in connected to the positive of the
other cell and so on .Cells are said to be connected in parallel when positive terminal of each cell is

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 connected to one point and negative terminal of each cell is connected to another point .In mixed
grouping of cells certain number of cells are joined in series and all such rows are connected in
parallel with each other
(a) To draw the maximum current from a combination of cells, how should the cells be
Grouped

(i) Parallel
(ii) Series
(iii) mixed combination
(iv) Depends upon the relative value of internal and external resistance
(b) The total emf of the combination of cells, when n identical cells each of emf E are connected
in parallel
(i) E
(ii) nE
(iii) E/n
(iv) 2nE
( c) Two cells out of n number of cells each of internal resistance r are connected in series , then total
resistance of the cells is
(i) nr
(ii) nr-2r
(iii) nr -4r
(iv) r
(d) Two identical but non-ideal batteries are connected in parallel. Consider the following statements
I. The equivalent emf is smaller than either of the two emfs
II. The equivalent internal resistance is smaller than the resistance of the two internal resistance
(i) Both I and II are correct
(ii) I is correct and II is not correct
(iii) II is correct but I is wrong
(v) Both I and II are wrong
48. Wheatstone bridge, also known as the resistance bridge, is the setup that is used for measuring the
unknown resistance. It was invented by Samuel Hunter Christie in 1833 and was later popularized by Sir
Charles Wheatstone in 1843.
A Wheatstone bridge comprises four arms which are termed as resistors, and among which the ratio of two
resistors is kept at a fixed value and the two arms left, that is, the remaining arms are balanced, one of them
can be varied while the other arm is an unknown resistor.

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Then through the method of balancing or null condition, the unknown resistance is calculated. The circuit
of the Wheatstone bridge provides the exact measurement of the resistance. There are many variations of
the Wheatstone bridge that are utilised for the AC circuits.
(a) Why the Wheatstone bridge is more accurate than the other methods of measuring resistance?
(i) It has four resistor arms
(ii) It is based on Kirchhoff’s laws
(iii) It does not involve ohm’s law
(iv) It is null method
(b) In a balanced Wheatstone’s bridge network, the resistance in arms Q and S are interchanged. As a
result of this
(i) galvanometer and cell must be interchanged to balance
(ii) galvanometer shows null deflection
(iii) Network is not balanced
(iv) network is still balanced
(c) In a Wheatstone bridge circuit P= 5Ω, Q =6Ω, R = 10Ω and S = 5Ω. What is the additional resistance
to be used in series with S, so that the bridge is balanced
(i) 5Ω
(ii) 7 Ω
(iii) 10 Ω
(iv) 9 Ω
(d) Five equal resistors each of R are connected in a network as shown in the figure. The equivalent
resistance between the points A and B is

(a) R
(b) 2R
(c) R/2
(d) 4R.

Assertions & Reasons Questions

Following questions consider two statements: one labelled as statement-1 and another as statement-2. Study
both statements and mark your answer using the codes given blow.

A. Both Statement-1 and Statement-2 are true and Statement-2 is correct explanation of Statement-1.

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B. Both Statement-1 and Statement-2 are true and Statement-2 is not a correct explanation of Statement-1.
C.Statement-1 is true but statement-2 is false.
D.Statement-1 is false and statement-2 is true.
E. Statement-1 is false and also statement-2 is true.

Question-1
Statement-1 Free electrons in conductor are always in state of continuous random motion.
Statement-2 The random motion of free electrons is due to thermal energy of the conductor.

Question-2
Statement-1 Drift velocity of electrons in a conductor increase on increasing the temperature of the
conductor.
Statement-2 On increasing the temperature of a conductor, resistivity of the conductor increases.

Question-3
Statement-1 For metals relaxation time for electrons decreases with increase in temperature.
Statement-2 With the increase in temperature, number of collision per unit time that electrons made with
lattice ion also increases.

Question-4
Statement-1 Fuse wire has high resistance and low melting point.

.Statement-2 Fuse wire is for small current flow only.

Question-5
Statement-1 Power rating of resistance is not so important when used in a circuit.
Statement-2 The resistance value changes with temperature.

Question-6
Statement-1 The potentiometer A is more sensitive than the potentiometer B as per the graph shown.

Statement-2 Potential gradient of a potentiometer decides its sensitivity proportionally.

Question-7
Statement-1 After a long use, a potentiometer is declared to be less sensitive.

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 Statement-2. The potential gradient of a potentiometer depends on the area of cross section of the wire
used.

Question-8
Statement-1 In meter bridge experiment, a high resistance is always connected
in series with a galvanometer.
Statement-2 As resistance increases current through the circuit increases.
Question-9
Statement-1 In a balanced Wheatstone’s bridge no current runs across the galvanometer.
Statement-2. The terminals of the path across which the galvanometer is connected are at the same
potential.

Question-10
Statement-1 Kirchhoff’s junction law follows from conservation of charge.
Statement-2. Kirchhoff’s loop law follows from conservative nature of electric field.

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