ELECTRICITY 1

IB Physics
1.

The graph below shows the current/voltage characteristics of a filament lamp.

24
16
3

C u rre n t / 1 0 A
8
0

6
4
V o lta g e / V

10

The resistance of the filament at 4.0 V is

2.

A.

250 .

B.

4 000 .

C.

8 000 .

D.

64 000 .

A battery is connected in series with a resistor R. The battery transfers 2 000 C of charge
completely round the circuit. During this process, 2 500 J of energy is dissipated in the resistor
R and 1 500 J is expended in the battery.
The emf of the battery is

3.

A.

2.00 V.

B.

1.25 V.

C.

0.75 V.

D.

0.50 V.

The current in the circuit shown below is constant when the switch is closed.
r

R
The energy transfer in the internal resistance r of the battery is 15 J when a charge of 40 C
passes through it. For the same amount of charge, 45 J of energy is transferred in the resistor R.
1

Which of the following gives the emf of the battery?

4.

A.

15
V
40

B.

30
V
40

C.

45
V
40

D.

60
V
40

A battery of emf E and negligible internal resistance is connected to three resistors, each of
resistance R, a voltmeter and a switch, as shown below.
E

The voltmeter has infinite resistance.

What are the readings on the voltmeter when the switch is open and when it is closed?
Switch open

Switch closed

A.

less than E

B.

C.

less than E

D.

5.

In the two circuits X and Y below, each cell has an emf E and negligible internal resistance.
Each resistor has a resistance R.
c irc u it X

c irc u it Y
E

R
The power dissipated in circuit X is P.
The best estimate for the power dissipated in circuit Y is

6.

A.

P
.
4

B.

P
.
2

C.

2P.

D.

4P.

The graph below shows the variation with potential difference V of the current I in an electrical
component.
I

0
0

Which one of the following is a correct statement about the resistance of the component?
A.

For potential differences greater than V0, the resistance is constant.

B.

For potential differences greater than V0, the resistance decreases with increasing
potential difference.

7.

C.

The variation of current with potential difference is linear and so Ohms law is obeyed.

D.

For potential differences less than V0, the resistance is zero.

In the circuit below, the battery has negligible internal resistance. Lamps L, M and N which
have different resistance are connected as shown.

N
Which one of the following is always true?

8.

A.

Lamps L and N have the same current through them.

B.

Lamps L and M have the same current through them.

C.

Lamps L and N have the same potential difference across them.

D.

Lamps L and M have the same potential difference across them.

A resistor of resistance 1.0 is connected in series with a battery. The current in the circuit is
2.0 A.
The resistor is now replaced by a resistor of resistance of 4.0 . The current in this circuit is 1.0
A.

2 .0 A

1 .0

4 .0

The best estimate for the internal resistance of the battery is

A.

1.0 .

B.

2.0 .

C.

4.0 .

D.

5.0 .

9.

The graph below shows the variation with current I of the potential difference V across a
filament lamp.
V / v o lts

1 .2
1 .0
0 .8
0 .6
0 .4
0 .2
0 .0

0 .0

0 .5

1 .0

1 .5

2 .0
I / m A

The resistance of the lamp when I = 1.5 mA is

10.

A.

950 .

B.

400 .

C.

0.95 .

D.

0.40 .

The graph shows the current-voltage (I-V) characteristic of an electrical component.

I

What is the resistance of the component at a potential difference V1 and how does the resistance
change, if at all, between potential differences V0 and V1.

resistance at V1

11.

change between
V0 and V1

A.

(V1 V0 )
I1

no change

B.

(V1 V0 )
I2

decreases

C.

V1
I1

no change

D.

V1
I1

decreases

The circuit contains a battery of e.m.f. 12 V and negligible resistance.

25
12V

15

What is the potential difference across the 25 resistor?

12.

A.

3.0 V

B.

4.5 V

C.

5.0 V

D.

7.5 V

In the circuit shown below, the cell has negligible internal resistance.

Which of the following equations is correct?

6

13.

A.

I1 = 2I2

B.

I1 = 2I3

C.

I2 = 2I3

D.

I3 = 2I1

This question compares the electrical properties of two 12 V filament lamps.

A lamp is designed to operate at normal brightness with a potential difference of 12 V across its
filament. The current in the filament is 0.50 A.
(a)

For the lamp at normal brightness, calculate

(i)

the power dissipated in the filament.

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

the resistance of the filament.

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

In order to measure the voltage-current (V-I) characteristics of a lamp, a student sets up the
following electrical circuit.
1 2 V b a tte ry

(b)

On the circuit above, add circuit symbols showing the correct positions of an ideal
ammeter and an ideal voltmeter that would allow the V-I characteristics of this lamp to be
measured.
(2)
7

The voltmeter and the ammeter are connected correctly in the previous circuit.
(c)

Explain why the potential difference across the lamp

(i)

cannot be increased to 12 V.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii)

cannot be reduced to zero.

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)

An alternative circuit for measuring the V-I characteristic uses a potential divider.
(d)

(i)

Draw a circuit that uses a potential divider to enable the V-I characteristics of the
filament to be found.

(3)

(ii)

Explain why this circuit enables the potential difference across the lamp to be
reduced to zero volts.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)

The graph below shows the V-I characteristic for two 12 V filament lamps A and B.

P o te n tia l
d iffe re n c e
/V

la m p A

12

0 .5

la m p B

1 .0
c u rre n t / A

(e)

(i)

Explain why these lamps do not obey Ohms law.

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii)

State and explain which lamp has the greater power dissipation for a potential
difference of 12 V.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(3)

The two lamps are now connected in series with a 12 V battery as shown below.
1 2 V b a tte ry

la m p A

(f)

(i)

la m p B

State how the current in lamp A compares with that in lamp B.

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

Use the V-I characteristics of the lamps to deduce the total current from the battery.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(4)

(iii)

Compare the power dissipated by the two lamps.

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 25 marks)

10

14.

This question is about electric circuits.

Susan sets up the circuit below in order to measure the current-voltage (I-V) characteristic of a
small filament lamp.
A

3 .0 V
V

The supply is a battery that has an emf of 3.0 V and the ammeter and voltmeter are considered
to be ideal. The lamp is labelled by the manufacturer as 3 Volts, 0.6 Watts.

(a)

(i)

Explain what information this labelling provides about the normal operation of the
lamp.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii)

Calculate the current in the filament of the lamp when it is operating at normal
brightness.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)

11

Susan sets the variable resistor to its maximum value of resistance. She then closes the switch S
and records the following readings.
Ammeter reading = 0.18 A

Voltmeter reading = 0.60 V

She then sets the variable resistor to its zero value of resistance and records the following
readings.
Ammeter reading = 0.20 A

(b)

(i)

Voltmeter reading = 2.6 V

Explain why, by changing the value of the resistance of the variable resistance, the
potential difference across the lamp cannot be reduced to zero or be increased to
3.0 V.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii)

Determine the internal resistance of the battery.

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(3)

(c)

Calculate the resistance of the filament when the reading on the voltmeter is
(i)

0.60 V.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

2.6 V.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

12

(d)

Explain why there is a difference between your answers to (c)(i) and (c)(ii).
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(e)

Using the axes below, draw a sketch-graph of the I-V characteristic of the filament
of the lamp. (Note: this is a sketch-graph; you do not need to add any values to the
axes.)
I

(1)

The diagram below shows an alternative circuit for varying the potential difference across the
lamp.
X

3 .0 V

Y
Z

The potential divider XZ has a potential of 3.0 V across it. When the contact is at the position Y,
the resistance of XY equals the resistance of YZ which equals 12 . The resistance of the lamp
is 4 .

13

(f)

Calculate the potential difference across the lamp.

.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(4)
(Total 18 marks)

15.

Electrical circuits
Andrew is set the task of measuring the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of a filament lamp.
The following equipment and information are available.
Information

(a)

Battery

emf = 3.0 V, negligible internal resistance

Filament lamp

marked 3 V, 0.2 A

Voltmeter

resistance = 30 k, reads values between 0.0 and 3.0 V

Ammeter

resistance = 0.1 , reads values between 0.0 and 0.5 A

Potentiometer

resistance = 100

For the filament lamp operating at normal brightness, calculate

(i)

its resistance;
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

its power dissipation.

.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
(1)

14

Andrew sets up the following incorrect circuit.

A
(b)

(i)

Explain why the lamp will not light.

.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii)

State the approximate reading on the voltmeter. Explain your answer.

.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
(2)

(c)

On the circuit diagram below, add circuit symbols to show the correct position of the
ammeter and of the voltmeter in order to measure the I-V characteristics of the lamp.

(2)

15

(d)

On the axes below draw a sketch graph to show the I-V characteristics for this filament
lamp.
I /A
0 .3

0 .2

0 .1

0 .0
0 .0

1 .0

2 .0

3 .0

4 .0

V /V
(4)

(e)

Explain the shape of the graph that you have drawn in (d).
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 14 marks)

16

16.

This question is about electric circuits.

(a)

Define emf and state Ohms law.

emf: .............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
Ohms law:

.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
(2)

(b)

In the circuit below an electrical device (load) is connected in series with a cell of emf 2.5
V and internal resistance r. The current I in the circuit is 0.10 A.
e .m .f . = 2 .5 V

r
I = 0 .1 0 A
lo a d
The power dissipated in the load is 0.23 W.
Calculate
(i)

the total power of the cell;

.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

the resistance of the load;

.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
(2)

(iii)

the internal resistance r of the cell.

.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
(2)

17

(c)

A second identical cell is connected into the circuit in (b) as shown below.

I = 0 .1 5 A
lo a d
The current in this circuit is 0.15 A. Deduce that the load is a non-ohmic device.
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(4)
(Total 11 marks)

18