D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 15 Electric Circuit

15 Electric Circuit

Practice 15.1 (p. 36) (c)

1 (a) No, the connection of the ammeter is not
proper. The ammeter is wrongly connected
in parallel with the bulb.
(b) No, the connection of the ammeter is not
proper. The negative terminal of the
7 By Q = It,
ammeter is wrongly connected to the
720 = I × 60 × 60
positive terminal of the battery. Also, the
I = 0.2 A
positive terminal of the ammeter is
The size of the current is 0.2 A.
wrongly connected to the negative
8 By Q = It,
terminal of the battery.
Q = 20 × 10−3 × 0.1 = 2 × 10−3 C
2 D
2 × 10−3 C of charge passes through a cow.
3 (a) The current is doubled.
Since 1C of charge is a flow of 6 × 1018
(b) The current is halved.
electrons per second,
4 By Q = It,
number of electrons passing through the cow
Q = 1.8 × 60 × 60
= 2 × 10−3 × 6 × 1018 = 1.2 × 1016
= 6480 C
6480 C of charge can be driven to flow
Practice 15.2 (p. 42)
through the battery.
1 B
5 (a) The reading is 0.49 A. The full-scale
2 A
reading is 1 A.
3 C
(b) The reading is 67 mA. The full-scale
4 By E = QV,
reading is 100 mA.
36 = 360 × V
6 (a) & (b)
V = 0.1 V
The voltage across the bulb is 0.1 V.
5 In 1 minute, by E = QV,
360 = Q × 3
Q = 120 C
The amount of charge flows through a 3-V
battery in 1 minute is 120 C.

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D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 15 Electric Circuit

6 The sentence is not correct. It should be 5 By V = IR,

corrected as: ‘The voltage of a cell is 2 V’ 220 = 3 × R
means that 2 J of energy is provided to every R = 73.3 Ω
1 C of charge. The overall resistance of the computer is
7 (a) Since the cells are connected in series, 73.3 Ω.
total voltage = 1.5 + 1.5 = 3 V 6 By V = IR,
(b) Since the cells are connected in parallel, V = 0.35 × 17
total voltage = 1.5 V = 5.95 V
8 By E = QV, The MP3 player requires 5.95 V to operate.
10 = Q × 10
9 8 5.95
It thus needs ≈ 4 AA dry cells.
1.5
Q = 10 C
7 (a) The current is halved.
By Q = It,
(b) The current is halved.
10 = I × 0.1
8 By V = IR,
I = 100 A
V = 10 × 10–3 × 1 × 103
The size of the current of a lightning flash is
= 10 V
100 A.
The voltage across the resistor is 10 V.
9 By Q = It,
9 (a) By V = IR,
Q = 0.5 × 4 × 60 × 60
220 = 11 × R
= 7200 C
R = 20 Ω
By E = QV,
The resistance of the heating element is
E = 7200 × 5
20 Ω when operated at the rated voltage.
= 36 000 J
(b) By V = IR,
The amount of energy transferred to the
110 = I × 20
battery is 36 000 J.
I = 5.5 A
The current flowing through the heating
Practice 15.3 (p. 52)
element is 5.5 A. The kettle cannot
1 A
function normally in 110-V mains.
2 A
3 C
4 By V = IR,
5 = I × 20
I = 0.25 A
The current through a 20-Ω resistor is 0.25 A.

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D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 15 Electric Circuit

10 (a) & (b) Practice 15.4 (p. 61)

1 A
2 C
By V = IR,
voltage across 3-Ω resistor V3-Ω = 0.5 × 3
= 1.5 V
voltage across 1-Ω resistor V1-Ω = 0.5 × 1
= 0.5 V
⇒ Voltage across 2-Ω resistor = 2 V
V 2
Current passing 2-Ω resistor = = = 1 A
R 2
Total current in the circuit = 1.5 A
Ohm's law is not applicable beyond the ⇒ Voltage across R = 6 − 2 = 4 V
V 4
point '•'. R= = = 2.67 Ω
I 1.5
It is because the voltage across the wire is
3 C
no longer directly proportional to the
4 D
current passing through it. 1 1 1
(c) By V = IR, 5 (a) = +
R 1 1
V 1
(i) R = = =5Ω R = 0.5 Ω
I 0.2
The equivalent resistance is 0.5 Ω.
The resistance of the wire is 5 Ω.
1 1 1 1
V 6 (b) = + +
(ii) R = = =6Ω R 1 1 1
I 1.0
R = 0.33 Ω
The resistance of the wire is 6 Ω.
The equivalent resistance is 0.33 Ω.
11 Since the volume of the wire remains
1 1 1 1 1
unchanged as 10 × 2 = 20 mm3 after being (c) = + + +
R 1 1 1 1
stretched, the new cross-sectional area will be R = 0.25 Ω
halved as 1 mm2 if the length has been The equivalent resistance is 0.25 Ω.
doubled.
By R ∝ 1/A, halving the cross-sectional area
results in the resistance being four times as the
original. Thus the new resistance will be 4R.

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D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 15 Electric Circuit

6 Let the resistance of each resistor be 1 Ω. 9 (a) Total resistance in the circuit
For (1): The equivalent resistance R = 2 + 10 = 12 Ω
−1 V
1 1 1 By I = ,
= 1 +  + +  = 1.33 Ω R
1 1 1
6
For (2): The equivalent resistance R I= = 0.5 A
−1
12
1 1  Current of 0.5 A passes the 2-Ω light bulb.
= 1 +  +  = 1.67 Ω
1 2 
(b) Since there is a short circuit,
For (3): The equivalent resistance R total resistance in the circuit = 2 Ω
−1
 1 1 V
= 1+  +  + 1 = 2.5 Ω By I = ,
 1 1 R
The ascending order is (1), (2), (3). 6
I = =3A
2
7 Since the bulbs are connected in series, current
Current of 3 A passing the 2-Ω light bulb.
passing them is the same. And, by
10 (a) Equivalent resistance = 2 + 2 + 2 = 6 Ω
V = IR, their voltage ratio is RX : RY : RZ. −1
1 1
(a) (i) Current ratio = 1 : 1 : 1 (b) Equivalent resistance =  +  = 1.5 Ω
6 2
(ii) Voltage ratio = 1 : 2 : 3
(b) (i) Current ratio = 1 : 1 : 1 (c) Equivalent resistance
−1
1 1 
(ii) Voltage ratio = 3 : 4 : 12 = 3 + +  +3=9Ω
6 2+2+ 2
(c) (i) Current ratio = 1 : 1 : 1
11 (a) Current flowing through 5-Ω resistor I A1
(ii) Voltage ratio = RX : RY : RZ
8 Since the bulbs are connected in parallel, = 0.6 A
voltage across them is the same. And, By V = IR, the voltage across PQ
V = I A1 R5 - Ω = 0.6 × 5 = 3 V
by I = , the ratio of the current passing them
R (b) Current flowing through 10-Ω resistor
1 1 1 VPQ
is : : . 3
R X RY RZ = = = 0.3 A
R10 - Ω 10
(a) (i) Current ratio = 6 : 3 : 2
The reading of ammeter A2 is 0.3 A.
(ii) Voltage ratio = 1 : 1 : 1
(c) Current flowing through 2-Ω resistor
(b) (i) Current ratio = 4 : 3 : 1
= 0.9 A
(ii) Voltage ratio = 1 : 1 : 1
Voltage across 2-Ω resistor
1 1 1
(c) (i) Current ratio = : : = IR = 0.9 × 2 = 1.8 V
R X RY RZ
Voltage of the battery
(ii) Voltage ratio = 1 : 1 : 1
= VPQ + V2-Ω = 3 + 1.8 = 4.8 V

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D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 15 Electric Circuit

12 (a) Equivalent resistance of the circuit R 13 (a) (i) The reading of the voltmeter remains
−1
1 1  unchanged.
= 3 + + 
 4 12  (ii) The reading of the ammeter A1
=6Ω increases.
V (iii) The reading of the ammeter A2
By I = ,
R remains unchanged.
current drawn from the battery (b) The voltage across PQ remains
= current through 3-Ω resistor
unchanged.
6
= = 1A 14 (a) The statement is incorrect. The current
6
⇒ Voltage across 3-Ω resistor = 3 V through all three bulbs connected in series

⇒ Voltage across 4-Ω / 12-Ω resistor is the same.

=6−3=3V (b) The statement is correct.

(c) The statement is incorrect. If the equivalent
Similarly,
current through 4-Ω resistor resistance of three identical bulbs
V 3 connected in series is 3 Ω, the resistance of
= = = 0.75 A
R 4 each bulb is 1 Ω (1 + 1 + 1 = 3 Ω).
current through 12-Ω resistor 15 (a) The statement is incorrect. The voltage
V 3 across every bulb connected in parallel is
= = = 0.25 A
R 12
the same.
Current through 3-Ω, 4-Ω and 12-Ω
(b) The statement is correct.
resistors are 1 A, 0.75 A and 0.25 A (c) The statement is incorrect. If the equivalent
respectively. resistance of three identical bulbs
(b) As shown in the calculation in (a), the connected in parallel is 3 Ω, the resistance
voltage across each resistor is 3 V.  1 1 1  −1 
(c) Since the current flowing through 3-Ω of each bulb is 9 Ω  + +  = 3 Ω  .
 9 9 9  
1
resistor is always A = 4 times as the
0.25
current flowing through 12-Ω resistor, the Revision exercise 15
readings of ammeter A1 will also be four Multiple-choice (p. 66)
times as the readings of ammeter A2. Section A
The reading of ammeter A2 1 B
0.4 2 C
= = 0.1 A
4
3 (HKCEE 2004 Paper II Q31)
4 (HKCEE 2005 Paper II Q39)

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D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 15 Electric Circuit

Section B 2 (a) Resistor Y has a lower resistance. (1A)

5 B (b) If X and Y are connected in series, the
6 B equivalent resistance will be higher than
7 (HKCEE 2005 Paper II Q40) the resistance of X or that of Y alone.(1A)
8 (HKCEE 2005 Paper II Q41) The V–I graph of the combined resistor
9 C will lie in region K. (1A)
(c) If X and Y are connected in parallel, the
Conventional (p. 68) equivalent resistance will be lower than
Section A the resistance of X or that of Y alone.(1A)
1 (a) More charge passes the wire each second. The V–I graph of the combined resistor
(1A) will lie in region M. (1A)
By V = IR, when the voltage increases, the 3 (a) (i) The resistance of the eureka wire
current I flowing through the wire, i.e. the remains unchanged. (1A)
amount of charge passing through the wire (ii) The resistance of the eureka wire
per unit time, increases. (1A) increases. (1A)
(b) Less charge passes the wire each second. (b) The proportional relation is not obeyed
(1A) when the current through the wire is high
Since the resistance of the wire increases enough to heat up the wire sufficiently
with its length, (1A) such that its resistance increases. (1A)
if the length of the wire increases, the 4 (a)
current I flowing through the wire, i.e. the
amount of charge passing through the wire
per unit time, decreases (V = IR).
(c) Less charge passes the wire each second. (1A)
(1A) (b)
Since the resistance of the wire increases
with decreasing diameter, (1A)
if the diameter of the wire decreases, the (1A)
current I flowing through the wire, i.e. the (c)
amount of charge passing through the wire
per unit time, decreases (V = IR).
(1A)
(d)

(1A)

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D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 15 Electric Circuit

5 (a) Equivalent resistance between AB 7 (a) The voltage at the power cable is very
−1
 1 1 high. (1A)
= +  =4Ω (1M + 1A)
 3 + 4 + 1 8 If a metallic balloon is in touch with a live
(b) Equivalent resistance of the whole resistor cable and an earthed object, a very large
network = 5 + 4 + 16 = 25 Ω (1M + 1A) current would flow from the cable to the
(c) Voltage in parallel branches is the same. object through the metallic balloon. A
Voltage across the 8-Ω resistor between short circuit is therefore formed. (1A)
AB This overheats the cable and causes
equivalent resistance between AB electricity failure. (1A)
=
equivalent resistance of the network
(For effective communication.) (1C)
× voltage of the battery
(b) Plastic is an insulating material. (1A)
4 (1M+1A)
= × 12.5 = 2 V The plastic shoes prevent current from
25
flowing through the electricians even if
(d) By V = IR, (1M)
they touch high-voltage power cables
2=I×8
accidentally. (1A)
I = 0.25 A (1A)
8 (a) A bird standing on a power transmission
The current passing through 8-Ω resistor
cable will not get an electric shock. (1A)
between AB is 0.25 A.
It is because the voltage across the points
6 When S is open, current of 1 A passes 4-Ω
where the bird stands is small. (1A)
resistor and R2. The voltage across R2 is 8 V.
V By V = IR, the current passing the body of
By I = , (1M)
R the bird is very small and the bird will not
8 get an electric shock. (1A)
R2 = = 8 Ω (1A)
1 (b) When a kite is entangled with a high-
When S is closed, total current drawn from the voltage power transmission cable, the
battery is 1.5 A. The voltage across R2 is 6 V. voltage between the cable and the Earth,
V
By I = , equivalent resistance of R1 and R2 where the person stands, is huge. (1A)
R
6 By V = IR, the current passing the body of
= =4Ω (1A)
1.5 the person is very large and may kill that
And, the equivalent resistance person. (1A)
−1 −1
 1 1   1 1 If the wire of the kite touches two power
=  +  =  +  (= 4 Ω)
  R 8
 R1 R2   1  transmission cables at the same time, it
can cause short-circuit and result in
⇒ R1 = 8 Ω (1A)
disastrous effects. (1A)
The values of R1 and R2 are both 8 Ω.

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D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 15 Electric Circuit

9 (a) (b) It is because the ammeter in circuit (i)

gives the sum of the current passing the
unknown resistor and the voltmeter, (1A)
while the ammeter in circuit (ii) measures
the current passing the unknown resistor
only. (1A)
Circuit (ii) gives a more accurate result.
(1A)
(Correct connection of ammeter.) (1A)
The reasons are as follows:
(Correct connection of voltmeter.) (1A)
Since the voltmeter readings measured in
Measure the current I through the wire by
circuits (i) and (ii) are equal to the voltage
the ammeter, (1A)
across the battery, R is much larger than
when a known voltage V is applied across
1 Ω (the resistance of the ammeter). (1A)
the wire. (1A)
Hence, the voltage in circuit (ii) is roughly
The resistance is calculated using the
equal to that across the unknown resistor.
formula R = V/I. (1A)
(1A)
(b) The resistance of a wire of uniform cross-
Also, in circuit (i), the ammeter reading is
sectional area and its length are in direct
larger than the actual current passing
proportion. (1A)
through the unknown resistor. (1A)
(c) (i) Wire P has higher resistance. (1A)
Hence, circuit (ii) gives a more accurate
(ii) Wire Q is thicker.
result.
(1A)
(c) Circuit (i) should be used. (1A)
l
For a wire, its resistance R ∝ , It is because the resistance of the unknown
A
where l is its length and A is its cross- resistor is much smaller than that of the

sectional area. (1A) voltmeter and only negligible amount of

Since Q always has a smaller current would pass the voltmeter. (1A)

resistance for all lengths of the wire, Then the readings of the ammeter and the

Q is thicker. (1A) voltmeter in circuit (i) would be close to

the actual current passing and the actual

Section B voltage across the unknown resistor. (1A)

V If circuit (ii) is used instead, since the
10 (a) By R = , (1M)
I resistance of the unknown resistor is
12 comparable to that of the ammeter, the
circuit (i): R = = 500 Ω (1A)
24 × 10 − 3 voltage measured would be much larger
12
circuit (ii): R = = 1000 Ω (1A) than the actual voltage across the unknown
12 × 10 − 3
resistor. (1A)
11 (a) Consider a simple circuit in which a cell is

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D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 15 Electric Circuit

connected to an unknown resistor T. 12 Let x be the number of identical bulbs; Rb be

To measure the current passing T, an the resistance of each bulb.
ammeter is connected in series with T. The equivalent resistance of the circuit if the
(1A) bulbs are connected in series = xRb (1A)
It is known that the total resistance of the The equivalent resistance of the circuit if the
circuit is the sum of the resistance of the bulbs are connected in parallel = Rb/x (1A)
ammeter and T. (1A) By V = IR,
If the resistance of the ammeter is not very for the connection in series:
small, after connecting the ammeter, the 10 = 0.01 × xRb
total resistance of the circuit will be larger Rb = 1000/x.............................................(1)
V for the connection in parallel:
and, by I = , the current flowing in the
R
10 = 1 × Rb/x
circuit will be smaller than the expected
Rb = 10x..................................................(2)
value. (1A)
(1M)
Hence, the resistance of an ammeter
Substituting (1) into (2), we have:
should be very small. 1000
= 10 x
(b) Consider a simple circuit in which two x
resistors, T and U, are connected in series x 2 = 100
to a cell. x = 10
To measure the voltage across T, a The number of bulbs is 10. (1A)
voltmeter is connected in parallel to it. 13 (a)
(1A)
It is known that the equivalent resistance
of T and the voltmeter is
(RT
−1
+ Rvoltmeter −1 ) −1
, where RT and

Rvoltmeter are the resistance of T and

voltmeter respectively. (1A)
If the resistance of the voltmeter is not
(Correct connection of ammeter: '+' and '−'
very large, after connecting the voltmeter,
terminals.) (2A)
the equivalent resistance will be smaller
(Correct connection of voltmeter: '+' and
than the resistance of T and the voltage
'−' terminals.) (2A)
across T will be different from the
(Correct connection with 5 wires.) (1A)
expected value. (1A)
Hence, the resistance of a voltmeter
should be very large.

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D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 15 Electric Circuit

V 14 (HKCEE 2005 Paper I Q9)

(b) R = , where R, V and I are resistance of
I
15 (HKCEE 2001 Paper I Q10)
the resistor, voltmeter reading and
16 (a) (i) Since the lamps are connected in
ammeter reading respectively. (1A)
series, the circuit will be broken if
(c) The resistance of an ammeter should be
one of the lamps breaks. (1A)
very small while that of a voltmeter should
(ii) The light dims. (1A)
be very large. (1A)
(iii) When more lamps are connected, the
(d) The experimental value will be lower than
total resistance of the circuit
the actual value. (1A)
increases and the voltage across each
If the resistance of X is comparable to that
lamp decreases. (1A)
of the voltmeter, the current measured by
This makes the lamps dimmer.
the ammeter is larger than the actual
(b) (i) If a filament breaks, the current can
current passing X as a fraction of the
pass through the resistor connected in
current measured passes the voltmeter.
parallel to the filament and the circuit
(1A)
is still complete. (1A)
And, since the ammeter has much smaller
(ii) The other lamps will be much
resistance than the voltmeter and X, the
dimmer. (1A)
equivalent resistance of X and the
Since the lamps are connected in
voltmeter is still much larger than the
series and the resistance of R is much
resistance of the ammeter and the voltage
larger than that of a filament, the
measured is still close to the voltage of the
voltage across each filament is much
battery. (1A)
smaller than that across the resistor of
By V = IR, (1A)
the broken lamp. Hence, the lamps
the resistance calculated is lower than the
will be very dim. (1A)
actual resistance of X.
(e)

(Correct connection of ammeter.) (1A)

(Correct connection of voltmeter.) (1A)

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D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 15 Electric Circuit

Physics in articles (p. 73)

(a) He is incorrect. (1A)
Even if a piece of metal is not connected to a
battery, free electrons inside the metal move
rapidly. (1A)
Since free electrons collide with positive ions
inside the metal, they change their moving
directions and their overall displacement, not
distance travelled, is zero. (1A)
(b) They are opposite. (1A)
(c) When a current passes through a piece of
metal, electrons are accelerated by the electric
field and gain kinetic energy. (1A)
Then electrons transfer the kinetic energy
gained to ions in collisions. This increases the
internal energy of the metal and produces the
heating effect. (1A)

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