Physics Factsheet

www.curriculumpress.co.uk Number 62

Answering AS Questions on Circuits

This Factsheet looks at some common types of questions involving Example
electrical circuits that appear in AS level examination papers. Several ideas Calculate the equivalent resistance of the following combination of
and equations will be used that have already been covered in previous resistors.
Factsheets, however this Factsheet will concentrate on practising how to 5.00Ω
use the equations when answering questions.
4.00Ω
Calculating the equivalent resistance 2.00Ω
The equivalent resistance of a combination of resistors is the size of the single
resistor that could be used to replace the entire combination and still offer 1 1 1 1
the same resistance to the flow of charge. = + +
Rtotal R1 R2 R3
1 1 1
(i) Resistors in series = + + = 0.2 + 0.25 + 0.5 = 0.95
5 4 2
Resistors that are connected in series offer only one path of conducting 1
material for the charge in the circuit to follow. Rtotal = = 1.05Ω
0.95

R1 R2 R3 Exam Hint – Avoiding careless errors

The most common careless error in using this equation is calculating
current in current out the answer for 1 and forgetting to take the reciprocal of this number
Rtotal
The charge is forced to flow through all of the resistors and the equivalent
in order to quote the answer for Rtotal.
resistance of the combination of resistors is given by simply adding up the
individual resistors. For example, in the circuit above with three resistors
the equivalent resistance is given by:

Rtotal = R1 + R2 + R3 Using equivalent resistance calculations in AS questions

Rtotal = Equivalent resistance of all three resistors (Ω) Calculating equivalent resistances of a combination of resistors usually forms
R1 = Resistance 1 (Ω) part of a question that involves calculating the current through or voltage
R2 = Resistance 2 (Ω) across a component. This calculation can be made using the following
R3 = Resistance 3 (Ω) equation:

(ii) Resistors in parallel V = IR where V = Voltage across component (V)

Resistors that are connected in parallel offer several paths of conducting I = current through component (A)
material for the charge in the circuit to follow. R = resistance of component (Ω)
R1

R2 Current through components in series

current in current out The current flowing through all components that are in series with each
R3 other will be the same.

The charge only flows through one of the resistors in the above circuit. The Exam Hint - using V = IR
equivalent resistance of this combination is given by a slightly more complex When substituting values into this equation it is important that the
values relate to the same component. You cannot use the emf of the
equation. For example, in the circuit above with three resistors the
battery with the resistance of a single resistor in the circuit, for example.
equivalent resistance is given by: If the total emf of the circuit is used then the total resistance of the circuit
must be used to calculate the total current in the circuit.
1 1 1 1
= + +
Rtotal R1 R2 R3
Rtotal = Equivalent resistance of all three resistors (Ω)
R1 = Resistance 1 (Ω)
R2 = Resistance 2 (Ω)
R3 = Resistance 3 (Ω)

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62 - Answering AS Questions on Circuits Physics Factsheet

Typical Exam Question Example

A battery of emf 12V is connected to a resistor network as shown Calculate the voltage across the 25Ω resistor in the circuit below.
in the diagram below. It can be assumed that the battery has no 12V
internal resistance.
12V
25Ω 15Ω 20Ω

15Ω 20Ω 25
R
V= 12 = 5.0V
(25 + 15 + 20)
Note that the answer must be given as 5.0 to show it is correct to 2SF
30Ω 60Ω
Although the potential divider equation would seem to be limited to series
circuits, it can also be used with parallel combinations. In this case the
(a) Show that the resistance of the single equivalent resistor that
equivalent resistance of the parallel combinations would have to be calculated
could replace the four resistors between points A and B is 25Ω.(4)
first and this equivalent resistance would then be used in the potential divider
(b) If R = 50Ω, calculate the current flowing through R. (2)
equation.
Answer Voltage across parallel components
(a) The combination of resistors consists of 2 sets of resistors in parallel. The voltage across all components that are in parallel is always equal.
Let us first calculate the equivalent resistance of the 15Ω and 30Ω
resistors, which are in parallel, we’ll call this resistance R1.
1 1 1 The total voltage around a circuit
= + = 0.0667 + 0.0333 = 0.10
R1 15 30 The voltage supplied by the battery in a series circuit is equal to the total
1 voltage across all of the components in the circuit.
R1 = = 10Ω !
0.1
Secondly, we can calculate the equivalent resistance of the 20Ω and
Typical Exam Question
60Ω resistors, which are also in parallel. We’ll call this R2.
A battery of 25V and negligible internal resistance is connected to a
1 1 1
= + = 0.05 + 0.01667 = 0.06667 resistor network as shown in the circuit diagram below.
R2 20 60
1
R2 = = 15Ω !
0.06667 25V
The total resistance of the combination will be R1 + R2, as these two
200Ω
equivalent resistances are in parallel with each other.
Total Resistance = R1 +R2 = 10 + 15 = 25Ω ! 40Ω
! 30Ω
V
(b) The current in R can be calculated using the equation I = .
R
50Ω
We have to be careful, however, as we do not know the voltage across R.
The question only tells us the emf of the battery.
(a) Show that the resistance of the single equivalent resistor that could
We can still use
replace the three resistors in parallel is 20Ω. (2)
V
I= (b) What is the voltage across the 30Ω resistor? (2)
R
(c) What is the voltage across each of the three resistors in parallel? (3)
if we use the emf of the battery and the total resistance of the circuit.
This will calculate the total current through the battery. R is in series
Answer
with the battery and so will have the same current flowing through it
(a) This is simply a matter of substituting values into the equation that we
as the battery.
have already used.
V 12
I= = = 0.16A! 1 1 1 1
R (50 + 25)! = + + = 0.0050 + 0.0250 + 0.0200 = 0.0500 !
Rtotal 200 40 50
1
Rtotal = = 20Ω !
0.05
The potential divider equation (b) We can now use the potential divider equation as long as we use the
This equation allows the voltage to be calculated across a single resistor in equivalent resistance for the parallel combination.
a series arrangement of several resistors. 30 ! !
For example in the circuit below: Voltage across 30Ω resistor = 25 = 15V
(30+20)
(c) All of these resistors are in parallel and so will have the same voltage
across them. This voltage will also be the same as the voltage across
R1 R2 R3 the equivalent resistance. This can be calculated using the potential
divider equation once more.
! 20 !
Voltage across all resistors in parallel = 25 = 10V !
R1 (30+20)
V1 = ×E
Rtotal This answer could also have been calculated by knowing that the
V1 = Resistance across R1 (Ω) voltage across all of the resistors in the circuit must be the same as the
R1 = Resistance (Ω). voltage supplied by the battery.
Rtotal= Total resistance of the circuit (= R1 + R2 + R3 in this circuit) Voltage voltage across parallel voltage across
= +
E = emf of the battery (V) supplied combination 30Ω resistor
Voltage across voltage voltage across
– = 25 – 15 = 10Ω
One advantage of using this equation is that no current is involved in the parallel combination = supplied 30Ω resistor
equation.
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62 - Answering AS Questions on Circuits Physics Factsheet

Internal Resistance Calculations Typical Exam Question

Some questions about electrical circuits involve power supplies that have A car battery has an e.m.f. of 12.0V. When a car is started the battery
an internal resistance. Internal resistance is the name given to the resistance supplies a current of 95.0 A to the starter motor. The voltage across
to the flow of charge inside the terminals of the power supply. The power the terminals of the battery drops at this time to 10.6V due to the
supply is best thought of as a perfect emf in series with this internal internal resistance of the battery. The circuit diagram is shown
resistance inside the confines of the power supply as in the diagram below. below:
E
EMF of power supply, E internal r
resistance, r
I

I I M
(a) Calculate the internal resistance of the battery. (2)
resistance of (b) The manufacturer warns against short-circuiting the battery.
external circuit, R Calculate the current that would flow if the terminals of the
battery were short-circuited and comment on your answer.(3)
By considering the power supply as a separate emf and resistor the internal (c) When completely discharged, the battery can be fully recharged
resistance can be treated as just another resistor in series in the circuit. by a current of 2.6A for 15 hours.
(i) How much charge is stored by the battery. (2)
The last key concept of knowing that the voltage supplied by the battery (ii) How long could the motor be switched on for, continuously.(2)
is equal to the voltage across all of the components leads us to the following
expression: Answer
(a) The question gives enough information to substitute straight into our
equation involving the internal resistance of the battery. 10.6V is the
Emf of power = voltage across + voltage across
voltage across the battery terminals, but this also represents the
supply external resistance internal resistance
voltage across the external resistance. In this case the external
E = V + Ir resistance is provided by the motor.
E = emf of power supply E = V + Ir
V = voltage across external resistance Rearranging this equation to make internal resistance the subject of
Ir = current × internal resistance the equation gives:
= voltage across internal resistance (E-V) (12-10.6)
r= = = 0.015Ω !
I 95 !

(b) Short circuiting the battery implies that the two terminals of the battery
Quantitative (Calculation) Test
are connected together with a wire and nothing else. This means that
1. Calculate the equivalent resistance of a 10Ω resistor and a 15Ω resistor
the circuit would consist of the e.m.f. of the battery and the internal
in that are connected in parallel.(2)
resistance and nothing else.
The e.m.f. would be dropped across the internal resistance.!
2. In the circuit shown below, assuming that the power supply has
voltage across internal resistance 12
negligible internal resistance, calculate: I= = = 810 A !
12V internal resistance 0.014737
This is a huge current and very dangerous. It would create a great deal
of heat energy. !
5Ω 10 Ω 15 Ω
NB The value for internal resistance used in this question has included
(a) The voltage across the 5.0 Ω resistor.(2) all of the significant figures calculated form part (a) of the question.
(b) The current passing through the 5.0Ω resistor.(2)
(c) The current passing through the power supply.(1) (c) (i) The question has given us a time and a current. We have been asked
to calculate a charge. The equation that links these three quantities
3. In the circuit below the battery has an emf of 6.0 V and an internal is: Charge = Current × time
resistance of 10 Ω. = (2.6)(15 × 3600)!
Calculate = 140400 C = 140000C !
(a) The current flowing through the battery.(2) Note how the time, given in the question in hours, has been turned
(b) The voltage between points A and B.(2) into seconds. There are 3600 seconds in one hour.
Also note how the final answer has been rounded up to 2 significant
4. A battery is connected to a 10 Ω resistor as shown in the diagram below. figures, the same as the figures quoted in the question.
V (ii) From part (b) of the question we have calculated the current that
the motor uses. We have calculated from part (c)(i) of this question
the charge that the battery has stored. We can now calculate a time
using the same equation as in the last part of the equation.
Note how all significant figures from these previous calculations
have been carried forward.
10Ω charge 140400
Time = = = 172 seconds !
current 814.286!
When the switch is open the voltmeter reads 12.0 V and when it is closed
it reads 11.5V Exam Hint – Carrying forward answers to subsequent calculations
(a) Explain why the readings are different. (2) If a question requires you to carry out a calculation that uses a value
(b) Calculate the internal resistance of the battery. (3) that you have given as the answer to a previous part of the question, you
must carry forward and use as many sig. figs. for this value as possible.

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62 - Answering AS Questions on Circuits Physics Factsheet

Exam Workshop (c) Calculate the current through R1. (3)

This is a typical poor student’s answer to an exam question. The V 27
I= = = 3.4 A
comments explain what is wrong with the answers and how they can be R (6+2)
improved. The examiner’s answer is given below.
The student has simply picked any value of voltage and resistance
from the question and substituted it into the equation. No consideration
In the diagram below P and Q are two lamps. P offers a resistance
has been made of what the voltage and resistance refer to and whether
of 6.0Ω when it has its normal operating voltage of 12 V across it.
they are across the same components or not.
Q offers a resistance of 2.0Ω when it has its normal operating
R1 is in series with the parallel arrangement of bulbs and resistors and
voltage of 6.0 V across it.
so it will have the same current through it as the total current through
The two lamps are connected in the circuit shown below. The P and Q. We can work out the current through P and Q by using
battery has an emf of 27 V and negligible internal resistance. The I = V/R for each bulb and then adding these values together.
resistors R1 and R2 have been chosen so that the lamps are operating (d) Calculate the voltage across R1. (2)
at their normal operating voltage. 27
V= = 13.5 V
27V 2
The student has now assumed that the 27 volts of the battery will be
shared equally between R1 and the parallel combination. This would
R2
Q R1 only be the case if R1 had the same equivalent resistance as the parallel
combination.
P The reading across the voltmeter has been calculated in part (a). The
voltage across R1 will be the voltage of the power supply minus the
v reading on the voltmeter as the total voltage supplied to a circuit is
equal to the voltage across all of the components of the circuit.
(a) What is the reading on the voltmeter? (1)
27V (e) Calculate the resistance of R1.(2)
V 13.5
The student has assumed that all of the voltage supplied by the R= = = 4.0 Ω
I 3.4
battery will be dropped across the parallel combination. There will
be some voltage dropped across the resistor R1. The question The student has followed the correct procedure by substituting values
explains that the lamps are operating at their normal operating in for V and I from the previous parts of the question. Unfortunately
voltage. The voltmeter is directly across lamp P and so it will read these are the incorrect values and in direct contradiction to what the
the normal operating voltage of lamp P. student did in part (c) of the question.

(b) Calculate the resistance of R2. (3) Examiner’s answers

Resistance = voltage/current = (27-6)/? (a) Voltage = voltage across lamp P = 12 V
(b) Current through R2 = Current through lamp Q = voltage /resistance
The student has correctly identified the correct equation to use but = 6/2 = 3.0 A
has got stuck on what value to use for current. The current through Voltage across R2 = 12 – voltage across lamp Q = 12 – 6 = 6.0V
R2 is the same as the current through lamp Q, which we can calculate. voltage 6
The student has also correctly noted that the voltage across R2 will R2 = = = 2.0 Ω
current 3
be the voltage across lamp P minus the voltage across lamp Q as lamp (c) Current through lamp P = voltage/resistance = 12/6 = 2.0 A
Q and R2 are in parallel with lamp P. Current through lamp Q = 3.0 A
Current through R1 = current through lamp P + current through lamp
Q = 2+3= 5.0O
(d) Voltage across R1 = voltage of power supply – voltage across parallel
section = 27 – 12 = 13 V
V 13
(e) R1 = = = 2.6 Ω
I 5

Answers 4. (a) When the switch is open no current flows around the circuit and the
1 1 1 voltmeter reads the emf of the battery.
1. = + = 0.1 + 0.06667 = 0.16667 When the switch is closed a current flows and a voltage is dropped
Rtotal 10 15
1 across the internal resistance of the battery and so the voltmeter
Rtotal = = 6.0 Ω reads the ‘terminal voltage of the battery’.
0.16667

5 (b) Current through circuit = current through 10 Ω resistor

2. (a) V = 12 = 2.0 V 11.5
(5+10+15) = = 1.15 A
V 2 10
(b) I = = = 0.40 A V = E – Ir
R 5
- (V − E) (11.5 − 12)
(c) 0.40 A Therefore r = = = 0.43 Ω
I 1.15
V 6
3. (a) I = = = 0.15 A Acknowledgements: This Physics Factsheet was researched and written by Jason Slack
R (15+15+10)
The Curriculum Press,Bank House, 105 King Street, Wellington, Shropshire, TF1 1NU.
Physics Factsheets may be copied free of charge by teaching staff or students, provided that
(b) V = E – Ir = 6 – (0.15 × 10) = 4.5 V their school is a registered subscriber. No part of these Factsheets may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any other form or by any other means, without the
prior permission of the publisher. ISSN 1351-5136
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