SECTION 1: ELECTRONS AND ENERGY

Current, voltage, power and resistance

1. There is a current of 40 mA in a lamp for 16 s.

Calculate the quantity of charge that passes any point in the circuit in
this time.
2. A flash of lightning lasts for 1 ms. The charge transferred between the
cloud and the ground in this time is 5 C.
Calculate the value of the average current in this flash of lightning.
3. The current in a circuit is 2 5 10 2 A. How long does it take for 500 C
of charge to pass any given point in the circuit?
4. There is a current of 3 mA in a 2 k resistor. Calculate the p.d. across
the resistor.
5. Calculate the values of the readings on the meters in the following
circuits.

+ +
A 12 V A
10 V

70 (a) 20 15 (b)
10 9

V
+
A

6V 3 (c)
5

V
SECTION 1: ELECTRONS AND ENERGY

6. Calculate the unknown values R of the resistors in the following

circuits.
2A
+ +
A A
40 V 40 V

5 (a) R=? 4 (b) R=?

10 10

V
20 V

7. Calculate the total resistance between X and Y for the following

combinations of resistors.

20 10
X X

(a) 10 10 (b) 10 10

Y Y
10

10
X 5
X
4 20

(c) (d) 20 25

1 5
Y
10
10

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Learning and Teaching Scotland 2010

SECTION 1: ELECTRONS AND ENERGY

5
X

(f) 6 12 3

8
Y

10
X

(e) 5 10 25

10
Y

8. In the following circuit the reading on the ammeter is 2 mA. Calculate

the reading on the voltmeter.

+
A

3 k

5 k

9. Calculate the power in each of the following situations.

SECTION 1: ELECTRONS AND ENERGY

(a) A 12 V battery is connected to a motor. There is a current of 5 A

in the motor.
(b) A heater of resistance 60 connected across a 140 V supply.
(c) A current of 5 A in a heater coil of resistance 20 .

10. The heating element in an electric kettle has a resistance of 30 .

(a) What is the current in the heating element when it is connected to

a 230 V supply?
(b) Calculate the power rating of the element in the kettle.

11. A 15 V supply produces a current of 2 A in a lamp for 5 minutes.

Calculate the energy supplied in this time.

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Learning and Teaching Scotland 2010

SECTION 1: ELECTRONS AND ENERGY

12. Calculate the readings on the ammeter and the voltmeter in the circuit
shown below.

+
6V A

V 6 6
6

13. Each of the four cells in the circuit shown is identical.

2 5 20

6V

Calculate
(a) the reading on the ammeter
(b) the current in the 20 resistor
(c) the voltage across the 2 resistor.

14. A voltage of 12 V is applied across a resistor. The current in the resistor

is 50 mA. Calculate the resistance of the resistor.

15. The LED in the circuit below is to emit light.

B
SECTION 1: ELECTRONS AND ENERGY

(a) What is the required polarity of A and B when connected to a 5 V

supply so that the LED emits light?
(b) What is the purpose of the resistor R in the circuit?
(c) The LED rating is 20 mA at 15 V. Calculate the value of resistor
R.

16. Write down the rules which connect the (a) potential differences and (b)
the currents in series and parallel circuits.

17. What is the name given to the circuit shown?

Write down the relationship between V 1 , V 2 , R 1 and R 2 .

R1 V1
10V
R2 V2

18. Calculate the values of V 1 and V 2 of the circuit in question 17 when:

(a) R 1 = 1 k R 2 = 49 k
(b) R 1 = 5 k R 2 = 15 k

19. The light dependent resistor in the

circuit is in darkness.
R1 V1
Light is now shone on the LDR.
10V
Explain what happens to the readings
on V 1 and V 2 . V2

20. Calculate the p.d. across resistor R 2 in each of the following circuits.

(a) +5V (b) +5V (c) +5V

R1 t
2k 4k 500

R2 R2 R2
8k 1k 750
0V 0V 0V

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SECTION 1: ELECTRONS AND ENERGY

21. Calculate the p.d. across AB (voltmeter reading) in each of the

following circuits.

+12V +5V +10V

3k 9k 5k 10k 6k
3k
A V B A V B A V B
3k 3k 2k 8k 2k 4k

0V 0V 0V
(a) (b) (c)

22. A circuit consisting of two potential dividers is set up as shown.

0V
+9V
6k A 9k

3k B 6k

(a) Calculate the reading on the voltmeter.

(b) (i) Suggest a value of a resistor to replace the 9 k resistor that
would give a reading of 0 V on the voltmeter.
(ii) Suggest a value of resistor to replace the 3 k resistor that
would give a reading of 0 V on the voltmeter.

23. In the circuits shown the reading on the voltmeters is zero. Calculate
the value of the unknown resistors X and Y in each of the circuits.

12V 12V

120 4k 15k
X

V V

120 9 12k Y
SECTION 1: ELECTRONS AND ENERGY

Solutions
Current, voltage, power and resistance

1. 0.64 C

2. 5 10 3 A

3. 20 10 4 s

4. 6V

5. (a) I = 01 A
(b) I = 05 A, V = 45 V
(c) I = 2 A, V = 10 V

6. (a) 5
(b) 6

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SECTION 1: ELECTRONS AND ENERGY

7. (a) 25
(b) 25
(c) 242
(d) 133
(e) 229
(f) 147 .

8. 375 10 3 V

9. (a) 60 W
(b) 327 W
(c) 500 W

10. (a) 77 A
(b) 1763 W

11. 9000 J

12. I = 067 A, V = 4 V

13. (a) 067 A

(b) 013 A
(c) 134 V

14. 240

15. (c) 175

18. (a) V 1 = 02 V, V 2 = 98 V
(b) V 1 = 25 V, V 2 = 75 V

20. (a) 4V
(b) 1V
(c) 3V

21. (a) 3V
(b) - 08 V
(c) 0V

22. (a) 06 V
(b) (i) 12 k
(ii) 4 k

23. X = 9 Y = 45