PRACTICE QUESTIONS FOR CURRENT

ELECTRICITY(PYQs)

1. Define mobility of a charge carrier. What is its relation with relaxation time?
2. Define the term ‘mobility’ of charge carriers. Write its S.I. unit.
3. When an electron drift in a metal from lower to higher potential, does it mean that all
the free electrons of the metal are moving in the same direction?
4. Show on a graph, the variation of resistivity with temperature for a typical
semiconductor.
5. A resistance R is connected across a cell of emf E and internal resistance r. A
potentiometer now measures the potential difference between the terminals of the cell
as V. Write the expression for ‘r’ in terms of E, V and R.
6. State the two Kirchhoff’s rules used in electric networks. How are there rules
justified?
7. A cell of emf 'E' and internal resistance ‘r’ is connected across a variable resistor 'R'.
Plot a graph showing variation of terminal voltage 'V' of the cell versus the current 'I'.
Using the plot, show how the emf of the cell and its internal resistance can be
determined.
8. Derive a relation between the internal resistance, emf and terminal potential
difference of a cell from which current I is drawn. Draw V vs I graph for a cell and
explain its significance.
9. (a) Define the term ‘conductivity’ of a metallic wire. Write its SI unit.
(b) Using the concept of free electrons in a conductor, derive the expression for the
conductivity of a wire in terms of number density and relaxation time. Hence obtain
the relation between current density and the applied electric field E.
10. Plot a graph showing the variation of current density (j) versus the electric field (E)
for two conductors of different materials. What information from this plot regarding
the properties of the conducting material, can be obtained which can be used to select
suitable materials for use in making (i) standard resistance and (ii)connecting wires in
electric circuits?
Electron drift speed is estimated to be of the order of mm /s. Yet large current of the
order of few amperes can be set up in the wire. Explain briefly.
11. Two cells of different emfs and internal resistances are connected in parallel with one
another. Derive the expression for the equivalent emf and equivalent internal
resistance of the combination.
12. Using Kirchhoff’s rules, obtain the balance condition in terms of the resistances of
four arms of Wheatstone bridge. Give one practical application that is based on this
principle.
13. How is the drift velocity in a conductor affected with the rise in temperature?
14. Show, on a plot, variation of resistivity of (i) a conductor, and (ii) a typical
semiconductor as a function of temperature. Using the expression for the resistivity in
terms of number density and relaxation time between the collisions, explain how
resistivity in the case of a conductor increases while it decreases in a semiconductor,
with the rise of temperature.
15. Obtain the expression for the current flowing through a conductor having number
density of the electrons n, area of cross-section A in terms of the drift velocity v d.
16. Why is the terminal voltage of a cell generally less than the emf of the cell?
17. Name the charge carriers for the flow of current in a (i) conductor and (ii) electrolyte.
18. Under what condition will the current in a wire be the same when connected in series
and in parallel of n identical cells each having internal resistance r and external
resistance R?
19. How does the mobility of electrons in a conductor change, if the potential difference
applied across the conductor is doubled, keeping the length and temperature of the
conductor constant?
20. Two bulbs are rated (P1, V) and (P2, V). If they are connected (i) in series and (ii) in
parallel across a supply V, find the power dissipated in the two combinations in terms
of P1 and P2.
21. Two identical cells of emf 1.5 V each joined in parallel, supply energy to an external
circuit consisting of two resistances of 7 Ω each joined in parallel. Avery high
resistance voltmeter reads the terminal voltage of cells to be 1.4 V. Calculate the
internal resistance of each cell.
22. (a) The potential difference applied across a given resistor is altered so that the heat
produced per second increases by a factor of 9. By what factor does the applied
potential difference change?
(b) In the figure shown, an ammeter A and a resistor of 4 Ω are connected to the
terminals of the source. The emf of the source is 12 V having an internal resistance of
2 Ω. Calculate the voltmeter and ammeter readings.

23. When 5 V potential difference is applied across a wire of length 0.1 m, the drift
speed of electrons is 2.5 x 10-4 m/s. If the electron density in the wire is 8 x 1028 m-3,
calculate the resistivity of the material of the wire.
24. Estimate the average drift speed of conduction electrons in a copper wire of cross-
sectional area 2.5 x 10-7 m2 carrying a current of 2.7 A. Assume the density of
conduction electrons to be 9 x 1028 m-3.
25. Nichrome and Copper wires of same length and same radius are connected in series.
Current I is passed through them. Which wire gets heated up more? Justify your
answer.
26. A set of ‘n’ identical resistors, each of resistance ‘R’ when connected in series have
an effective resistance ‘X’. When they are connected in parallel, their effective
resistance becomes ‘Y’. Find out the product of X and Y.
27. A wire of resistance R, length l and area of cross-section A, is cut into two parts,
having their lengths in the ratio 1 : 2. The shorter wire is now stretched till its length
becomes equal to that of the longer wire. If they are now connected in parallel, find
the net resistance of the combination.
28. A wire of resistance R, length l and uniform area of cross-section A is stretched till its
length becomes double. It is then cut into three pieces of equal length which are
connected in parallel. Find the net resistance of the combination in terms of the
resistance R.
29. Two electric bulbs P and Q have their resistances in the ratio of 1 : 2. They are
connected in series across a battery. Find the ratio of the power dissipation in these
bulbs.
30. A 10 V cell of negligible internal resistance is connected in parallel across a battery of
emf 200 V and internal resistance 38 Ω as shown in the figure. Find the value of
current in the circuit.

MCQs Practice
1. In the following figure, the equivalent resistance between A and B is:
(a) (17/24)  (b) (4/3) 
(c) 29  (d) (24/17) 

2. The value of current I in the given circuit is:

(a) 3 A (b) 13 A (c) 23 A (d) -3 A

3. Three 2 ohm resistors are connected to form a triangle. The resistance between
any two corners is:
(a) 6 ohm (b) 2 ohm (c) (3/4) ohm (d) (4/3) ohm
4. You are given several identical resistances each of value R = 10 . and each capable
of carrying a maximum current of one ampere. It is required to make a suitable
combination of these resistances of 5  which can carry a current of 4 ampere. The
minimum number of resistances of the type R that will be required for this job is:
(a) 4 (b) 10 (c) 8 (d) 20
5. A current of 2 ampere flows in a system of conductors as shown in the
following figure The potential difference (VA – VB) will be (in volt):
(a) +2 (b) +1 (c) –1 (d) -2

6. When a resistance of 2 ohm is connected across the terminals of a cell, the current is
0.5 amp. When the resistance is increased to 5 ohm, the current is 0.25 amp. The
e.m.f. of the cell is:
(a) 1.0 volt (b) 2.0 volt (c) 1.5 volt (d) 2.5 volt
7. Resistances of 1, 2 and 3 ohm are connected in the form of a triangle. If a 1.5 volt cell
of negligible internal resistance is connected across the 3 ohm resistor, the current
flowing through this resistance will be:
 (a) 0.25 amp (b) 0.5 amp (c) 1.0 amp (d) 1.5 amp
8. Drift speed of electrons is of the order of:
(a) zero (b) 10-2 cm/sec (c) 105 m/sec (d) 100 m/sec
9. Five identical lamps, each of resistance 1100 ohm are connected to 220 volt as shown
in the following figure. The reading of an ideal ammeter A is:

220 220 220 220

(a)  5 amp (b)  3 amp (c)  1 amp (d)  2 amp
1100 1100 1100 1100
10. A technician has only two resistance coils. By using these singly, in series or in
parallels, he is able to obtain the resistances of 3 ohm, 4 ohm,12 ohm and 16 ohm.
Then the resistance of the two coils are:
(a) 6 ohm and 10 ohm (b) 4 ohm and 12 ohm
(c) 7 ohm and 9 ohm (d) 4 ohm and 16 ohm
11. In a circuit containing two unequal resistors connected in parallel:
(a) the current is the same in both the resistors
(b) a large current flows through the large resistor
(c) the voltage drop across both the resistances is the same
(d) the smaller resistance has smaller conductance
12. A cell of e.m.f. E is connected across a resistance r. The potential difference between
the terminals of the cell is found to be V. The internal resistance of the cell must be:
2(E  V)V 2( E  V ) r (E  V)r
(a) (b) (c) (d) (E – V)r
r E V
13. A primary cell has e.m.f. 2 volt. When short-circuited it gives a current of 4 amp. Its
internal resistance in ohm will be:
(a) 0.5 (b) 2 (c) 5 (d) 8
14. If a copper wire is stretched to make it 0.1% longer, then the percentage change in
resistance is approximately:
(a) 0.1% (b) 0.2% (c) 0.4% (d) 0.8%
15. A cell of e.m.f. E and internal resistance r is connected in series with an external
resistance nr. Then the ratio of the terminal potential difference to e.m.f. is:
(a) (l/n) (b) l/(n + 1) (c) n/(n +1) (d) (n + l)/n
16. Three equal resistors, each equal to R are connected as shown in the adjoining figure;
then the equivalent resistance between points A and B is:
 (a) R (b) 3R (c) R/3 (d) 2R/3
17. Five equal resistors, each equal to R are connected as shown in the following figure;
then the equivalent resistance between points A and B is:
(a) R (b) 5R (c) R/5 (d) 2R/3

18. The resistances in the following figure are in ohm. Then the effective
resistance between the points A and B is:
(a) 3  (b) 2  (c) 6  (d)
36 

19. Kirchhoff's current law is based on the law of conservation of:

(a) charge (b) energy (c) momentum (d) sum of mass
and energy
20. Kirchhoff's second law is based on the law of conservation of:
(a) charge (b) energy (c) momentum (d) sum of mass
and energy
21. A cell of e.m.f. E volt, internal resistance r ohm is supplying a current of I amp to an
external circuit, then the terminal potential difference, is:
(a) E (b) E – Ir (c) E + Ir (d) E  Ir
22. A cell of e.m.f. E volt, internal resistance r ohm is being charged with a current of I
amp, then the terminal potential difference is:
(a) E (b) E – Ir (c) E + Ir (d) E  Ir
23. The terminal potential difference of a cell when connected through an external
resistance equal to its internal resistance is:
(a) E (b) zero (c) E/2 (d) E/3
24. The terminal potential difference of a cell is greater than its e.m.f., when it is:
(a) being charged (b) on open circuit
(c) being discharged (d) being either charged or discharged
25. The terminal potential difference of a cell when short-circuited is:
(a) E (b) E/2 (c) zero (d) E/3
26. Five cells, each of e.m.f. E and internal resistance r are connected in series. If due to
over sight, one cell is connected wrongly, then the equivalent e.m.f. and internal
resistance of the combination, is:
(a) 5E and 5r (b) 3E and 3r (c) 3E and 5r (d) 5E and 3r
27. In the following figure, the reading of an ideal voltmeter V is zero. Then the relation
between R, r1 and r2 is:

r1r2
(a) R = r2 – r1 (b) R = r1 + r2 (c) R = r1 + r2 (d) R =
r2  r1

28. A circuit whose resistance R is connected to n similar cells. If the current in the circuit
is the same whether the cells are connected in series or in parallel, then the internal
resistance r of each cell is given by:
(a) r = (R/n) (b) r = nR (c) r = R (d) r = (l/R)
29. A potential difference is applied across the ends of a metallic wire. If the potential
difference is doubled, the drift velocity:
(a) will be doubled
(b) will be halved
(c) will be quadrupled
(d) will remain unchanged
30. Unit of resistance is:

(a) Volt/amp (b) Volt2/amp (c) Volt/amp 2 (d) Volt

31. The resistor R1 dissipates power P when connected to a battery. If a resistor R 2 is
inserted in series with R1, the power dissipated by R1:
(a) increases (b) decreases (c) remains the same
(d) may decrease or increase depending on the values of R 1 and R2
32. A wire of resistance R is cut into n equal parts. These parts are then connected in
parallel. The equivalent resistance of the combination will be:

(a) nR (b) R/n (c) n/R (d) R/n 2

33. The masses of three wires of copper are in the ratio of 1 : 3 : 5 and their lengths are in
the ratio 5 : 3 : 1. The ratio of their electrical resistance is:
(a) 1 : 3 : 5 (b) 5 : 3 : 1 (c) 1 : 15 : 125 (d) 125 : 15 : I
34. The current carrying wire is:
(a) negatively charged (b) positively charged (c) neutral
(d) sometimes positively and sometimes negatively charged
35. When there is an electric current through a conducting wire along its length, then an
electric field must exist:
 (a) outside the wire but normal to it (b) outside the wire but around it
(c) inside the wire but parallel to it (d) inside the wire but normal to it
36. A current flows in a wire of circular cross-section with the free electrons travelling

with a mean drift velocity v . lf an equal current flows in a wire of twice the radius,
new mean drift velocity is:
  
(a) v (b) v /2 (c) v /4 (d) none of these

37. If n, e,  and m are representing electron density, charge, relaxation time and mass of
an electron respectively, then the resistance of a wire of length l and cross-sectional
area A is given by:
(a) 2ml/ne2A (b) 2mA/ne2l (c) ne2A/2ml (d) ne2A/2ml
38. A wire of resistance R is stretched till its radius is half of the original value. Then the
resistance of the stretched wire is:
(a) 2R (b) 4 R (c) 8 R (d) 16 R
39. The ampere-sec stands for the unit of:
(a) power (b) current (c) energy (d) charge
40. Through a metallic conductor electric current is thought to be a movement of:
(a) ions (b) amperes (c) electrons (d) protons
41. The particles that conduct electricity through a solution of an electrolyte are called:
(a) electrons (b) protons (c) ions (d) atoms
42. In metals the time of relaxation of electrons:
(a) increases with increasing temperature
(b) decreases with increasing temperature
(c) does not depend on temperature
(d) changes suddenly at 400 K
43. A steady current is passing through a linear conductor of non-uniform cross-section.
The net quantity of charge crossing any cross-section per second is:
(a) independent of area of cross-section
(b) directly proportional to the length of conductor
(c) directly proportional to the area of cross-section
(d) inversely proportional to the length of conductor
44. The temperature of a metal wire rises when an electric current passes through it because:
(a) collision of metal atoms with each other releases heat energy
(b) collision of conduction electrons with each other releases heat energy
(c) when the conduction electrons fall from higher energy level to lower energy level
heat energy is released
(d) collision of conduction electrons with the atoms of metal give them energy which
appears as heat
45. The specific resistance of a wire:
(a) varies with its length
(b) varies with its cross-section
(c) varies with its mass
(d) does not depend upon its length, cross-section and mass
1. B
2. B
3. D
4. D
5. B
6. C
7. B
8. B
9. B
10 B
.
11 C
.
12 C
.
13 A
.
14 B
.
15 C
.
16 C
.
17 A
.
18 B
.
19 A
.
20 B
.
21 B
.
22 C
.
23 C
.
24 A
.
25 C
.
26 C
27 B
28 C
29 A
30 A
31 B
32 D
33 D
34 C
35 C
36 C
37 A
38 D
39 D
40 C
41 C
42 B
43 A
44 D
45 D