GRADE 12 REVISION 2013

ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM: ELECTRIC CIRCUITS - MEMORANDUM

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

11 A 
22 A 
32 C 
43 B 
54 A 
65 D 
76 C 

STRUCTURED QUESTIONS

QUESTION 17

1 1 1
1.1   
Rp R1 R 2
1 1
=  
60 60
 Rp = 30 Ω 

1.2 Rext = 30 + 25 = 55 Ω 
Emf = I(R + r) 
 12 = I(55 + 1,5) 
 I = 0,21 A 

1.3 V = IR 
= (0,21)(30) 
= 6,3 V 

QUESTION 27

2.1 1,5 V 

V
2.2 gradient/m =
I
0,65 - 1,5 
=
1,0 - 0 
= - 0,85 Ω 

2.3 Internal resistance 

2.4 Decreases 
When I increase:
“Lost volts”/ Ir increases. 
Vext = emf – Ir decreases. 

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Nov 2012
2
Nov 2011
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Nov 2008
4
Mrch 2012
5
Mrch 2011
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Mrch 2010
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Nov 2012
Electricity & Magnetism: Electric circuits Grade 12 FSDoE Revision 2013
Memorandum
QUESTION 38

3.1 12 V 
3.2
3.2.1 Option 1 Option 2
V 9,6 emf = IR + Ir
I= = =4A 12 = I(2,4) + 2,4  I = 4 A
R 2,4

3.2.2 emf = IR + Ir 
12 = 9,6 + 4r 
 r = 0,6 Ω 

2.3 Option 1 Option 2

emf = I(R + r)  Emf = Vterminal + Ir 
12 = 6(R + 0,6)  12 = Vterminal + 6(0,6) 
Rext = 1,4 Ω  Vterminal = 8,4 V
1 1 1 V 8,4
= +  I2,4 Ω = = = 3,5 A
R R1 R 2 R 2,4
1 1 1
=   I tail lamps = 6 – 3,5 = 2,5 A
1,4 2,4 R
 R = 3,36 Ω V 8,4
Rtail lamps = =  = 3,36 Ω
Each tail lamp I 2,5
: R = 1,68 Ω  Rtail lamp = 1,68 Ω 
Option 3 Option 4
V = IR  For parallel combination:
12 = (6)R  I1 + I 2 = 6 A
Rext = 2 Ω V V
∴ + =6
2,4 R taillamps
∴Rparallel = 2 – 0,6 = 1,4 Ω
1 1 1 1 1
= +  8,4 ( + ) = 6
R R1 R 2 2,4 R taillamps
1 1 1
=  
1,4 2,4 R ∴ Rtail lamps = 3,36
 R = 3,36 Ω
Each tail lamp R = 1,68 Ω  Rtail lamp = 1,68 Ω 

3.4 Increases 
Resistance increases, current decreases 
Ir (lost volts) decreases 

QUESTION 49

4.1 The current in a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference 

across its ends at constant temperature. 

OR
The ratio of potential difference to current is constant at constant temperature. 

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Nov 2011
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Nov 2010
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Electricity & Magnetism: Electric circuits Grade 12 FSDoE Revision 2013
Memorandum
4.2
1 1 1 1 1
4.2.1   =    Rp = 0,7 Ω 
R p R1 R 2 1,4 1,4
OR
R1R 2 1,4  1,4
Rp = = = 0,7 Ω 
R1  R 2 1,4  1,4

4.2.2
OPTION 1: V = IR
emf = I(R + r)  = (15)(0,7) 
12 = I(0,7 + 0, 1)  = 10,5 V 
I = 15 A
OPTION 2:
emf = I(R + r)
R= I= =  = 15 12 = Vexternal + (15)(0,1) 

A Vexternal = 12 – (15)(0,1)
0,7 =  = 10,5 V 

∴V = 10,5 V  V”lost” = Ir = (15)(0,1) = 1,5 V

Vexternal = 12 – 1,5 V = 10,5 V

OPTION 3
Voltage divides 0,7: 0,1 / 7:1 Iheadlight = = 7,5 A

∴Vheadlight = x 12 
V = IR = (7,5)(1,4) = 10,5 V
= 10,5 V 
= 11,83 V 

4.2.3
OPTION 1 OPTION 2 OPTION 3
P=  I(light) = 7,5 A I(light) = 7,5 A

=  P = VI  P = I2R 
= (10,5)(7,5)  = (7,5)2(1,4) 
= 78,75 W 
= 78,75 W  = 78,75 W 

4.3 Decreases 
(Effective/ total ) resistance decreases. 
- (Total) current increases. 
“Lost volts” / Vinternal / Ir increases, thus potential difference / V (across headlights)
decreases.
V2
P= decreases.
R

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Electricity & Magnetism: Electric circuits Grade 12 FSDoE Revision 2013
Memorandum
QUESTION 510

5.1 9V
Potential difference measured when:
switch is open / no current flows / circuit is open/no work done is in external circuit 

5.2
Emf = IR + Ir 

9 = Vext + (3)(0,3)  Vext = 8,1 V

Vext = I(R1 + R2)

8,1 = 3(3R)  R1 = 0,9 

5.3 Decreases 

5.4 Increases 
Resistance decreases. 
Current increases. 
Ir increases.

QUESTION 611

6.1 Any two:

Temperature 
Cross sectional area (thickness) of material 
Length
6.2
Conductor Q 
For the same potential difference,  wire Q has a higher current than wire P. 
Therefore wire Q has a lower resistance than wire P. 

OR
Conductor Q
The gradient of the graph for wire Q is bigger than that for wire P. 
I V
Gradient = is bigger , thus = R is smaller. 
V I

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Nov 2009
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Nov 2008
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Electricity & Magnetism: Electric circuits Grade 12 FSDoE Revision 2013
Memorandum
QUESTION 712

7.1 Vint = 45 – 43,5 = 1,5 V 

V 1,5
I= = =3A
R 0,5 

V12 Ω = IR12 Ω = 3 x 12 = 36 V

V// = 43,5 –36 = 7,5 V
(If only V// = 7,5 V: 2 marks)
V// 7,5
I= = = 0,75 A 
R 10 

7.2 IR = 3 – 0,75 = 2,25 A 

V 7,5
R = // = = 3,33  
I 2,25

7.3 Increases 
The total resistance increases, 
therefore the current decreases therefore Vinternal decrease  therefore reading on V
increases.
QUESTION 8

8.1

rheostat A

resistor

Criteria for circuit diagram Mark

Battery connected to the resistor as shown – correct symbols used. 

Rheostat connected in series with resistor – correct symbols used. 
Ammeter connected in series so that it measures the current through

resistor – correct symbols used.
Voltmeter connected in parallel across resistor – correct symbols used. 

8.2 Temperature 
8.3 B
V
The ratio is greater than that of A. 
I

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Nov 2008
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Electricity & Magnetism: Electric circuits Grade 12 FSDoE Revision 2013
Memorandum
QUESTION 9

1 1 1 1 1
9.1   =  
R r1 r2 4 16
∴ R = 3,2 Ω

Reffective = 3,2 Ω + 2 Ω + 0,8 Ω

=6Ω

9.2 Option 1: Option 2:

V = IR  emf = I(R + r) 
12 = I(6)  12 = I(5,2 + 0,8) 
I=2A I=2A

9.3 Vparallel = IR 
= (2)(3,2) 
= 6,4 V
6,4
V8Ω = = 3,2 V 
2

QUESTION 10

10.1 Option 1
1 1 1 1 1
  = +   R = 6,47 Ω
R e r1 r2 9 23

Rtot = 6,47 + 2 + 0,2 = 8,67 Ω

V 12
I = = 1,38 A 
R 8,67

Option 2

1 1 1 1 1
  = +   R = 6,47 Ω
R e r1 r2 9 23

Rext = 6,47 + 2 = 8,47 Ω

Emf = I(R + r)  12 = I(8,47 + 0,2)  I = 1,38 A 

10.2 Decreases 
(Effective) resistance of circuit decreases  (No current through 15 Ω and 8 Ω resistances)
Current (I) increases 
Ir (lost volts) increases 
Vexternal decreases

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Electricity & Magnetism: Electric circuits Grade 12 FSDoE Revision 2013
Memorandum

QUESTION 1113

11.1 The current through a conductor is directly proportional to

the potential difference across its ends at constant
temperature. 

11.2 Equal 
2 A divides equally at T (and since IM = 1 A it follows that IN = 1 A) 

11.3 emf = IR + Ir  17 = 14 + Ir  Ir = 3 V

Vlost 3
r= =  = 1,5 Ω 
I 2

11.4 VN = IRN = (1)(2) = 2 V 

11.5 VY = 14 – 2 = 12 V 
VY = IRY  12 = (2)RY 
 RY = 6 Ω 

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March 2010
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