CHAPTER 26

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS

Discussion Questions

Q26.1 P = V2/R so the bulb with larger P has smaller R;. the resistance of the 120-W bulb is
smaller. V = IR and in series the current is the same through each, so the 60-W bulb has
a greater voltage drop. In parallel the voltages across each bulb will be the same.
Q26.2 The 25-W bulb has a larger resistance than the 200-W bulb (see Q26.1). In series the currents
are the same so the voltage drop across the 25-W bulb is larger than that across the 200-
W bulb. The voltage drops add to 240 V so the voltage across the 25-W bulb is larger
than 120 V and the 25-W bulb is the one that burns out quickly. When the voltage across
it is greater than 120 V it dissipates more than 25 W.
Q26.3 (i) series: More bulbs in series add to the total resistance of the circuit and this
decreases the current. The brightness of each bulb decreases as bulbs are added in series,
(ii) parallel: The full battery voltage is placed across each bulb in parallel, no matter how
many bulbs there are. The brightness of each bulb is the same as more are added in
parallel, if the internal resistance of the battery can be neglected.
In series the current through the battery is Ia = e/Rr = e/(nR) for n bulbs of resistance R.
In parallel the current through the battery is Ip = n(e/R). Ip = n2Ia. The total power
delivered by the battery is el so the power is greater by a factor of n2 when the bulbs are
connected in parallel. The battery lasts longer when the bulbs are in series.
Q26.4 The voltage across A is e and the voltage is e/2 across B and C. A has more
current through it, more potential difference across it and is the brightest. If A is
unscrewed the voltages across B and C don’t change and the brightness of B and C don’t
change. If B is unscrewed there is no current path in that parallel branch and C goes out.
The voltages across A is still e and the brightness of A doesn’t change.
Q26.5 A large current is drawn from the battery by the starter motor and the terminal voltage of
the battery drops because of the voltage drop across its internal resistance.
Q26.6 The voltage across each resistor is e and the currents are R = e/R-y and R = e/R-z.
The voltage applied across IR and the current through it are unchanged when IR is
removed.
Q26.7 The parallel combination of R2 and IR has a smaller equivalent resistance than R2 so the
total resistance of the circuit is decreased when IR is added and the
current through Ri increases.
Q26.8 For resistors in series the current is the same and the voltages add. For capacitors in series
the charges are the same and the voltages add. For resistors in parallel the currents add
and the voltages are the same. For capacitors in parallel the charges add and the voltages
are the same. In these respects the rules for resistors and capacitors are the same. But for
resistors in series the resistances add and for capacitors in parallel the capacitances add.
For resistors in parallel the reciprocal of the total resistance is the sum of the reciprocals
 20 / DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS 81

of the individual resistances and for capacitors in series the reciprocal of the total
capacitance is the sum of the reciprocals of the individual capacitances. The difference
in the rules for resistors and capacitors is because VR = IR but Vc = Q/C. R behaves like
1/C. But VR = I/G so for resistors in series or parallel G combines like C for capacitors
in series or parallel.
Q26.9 Yes, it is possible. An example is
------W ------------- 1 --------- VvV" --------

------ WV ---------- 1 -------- bA'/—1

Q26.10 The emf does not reverse. The direction of the potential change through the
internal resistance reverses so the terminal voltage becomes Vab = £ + Ir. The emf
depends on the construction of the battery and is independent of the current.
Q26.ll For batteries in series the total voltage is the sum of the individual voltages.
In parallel the voltage across the bulb is just the voltage of a single battery. In parallel
the currents of the individual batteries add to give the total current, so more current can
be delivered by batteries in parallel. Also, if one battery goes dead the others still deliver
current to the device and the voltage applied to the device is unchanged.
Q26.12 In each stack the electrolytes are connected in series so their emfs add to give a larger total
emf. Having the stacks side by side arranges them in parallel so the currents from the
stacks add to give a larger total current.
Q26.13 A voltmeter connected across the battery alone measured the emf. To check the internal
resistance, use a voltmeter to measure the terminal voltage when the battery is connected
in a circuit.
Q26 .14 Yes, this is the case when the battery is short-circuited. In that case e — Ir = 0.
Q26.15 Measure the time constant T by observing the current decay when a capacitor of known
capacitance discharges through the resistor. Then R = T/C.
Q26.16 When the capacitor is fully charged the battery emf equals the voltage across
the capacitor, e = Q/C so Q = eC is the maximum charge. When the charging is complete
there is no current through the resistor and the resistor plays no role. The resistor affects
the rate at which the capacitor charges.
Q26.17 For safety, the rate at which electrical energy is dissipated in a wire must be
limited. For a given current the rate of dissipation of electrical energy is proportional to
the resistance of the wire. The greater the diameter of the wire the smaller the resistance.
Resistance is proportional to the length of the wire so this is a factor. Resistance also
depends on the resistivity of the material of which the wire is made.