Chapter 28Direct-Current Circuits

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. At what rate is thermal energy being generated in the 2R-resistor when e = 12 V and R = 3.0 W?

a. 12 W
b. 24 W
c. 6.0 W
d. 3.0 W
e. 1.5 W
ANS: C PTS: 2 DIF: Average

2. At what rate is thermal energy generated in the 30-W resistor?

a. 20 W
b. 27 W
c. 60 W
d. 13 W
e. 30 W
ANS: D PTS: 2 DIF: Average

3. What is the magnitude of the potential difference across the 20-W resistor?
 a. 3.2 V
b. 7.8 V
c. 11 V
d. 5.0 V
e. 8.6 V
ANS: B PTS: 2 DIF: Average

4. What is the current in the 10-W resistor ?

a. 0.60 A
b. 3.0 A
c. 1.2 A
d. 2.4 A
e. 0.30 A
ANS: A PTS: 2 DIF: Average

5. At what rate is thermal energy generated in the 20-W resistor when e = 20 V?

a. 6.5 W
b. 1.6 W
c. 15 W
d. 26 W
e. 5.7 W
ANS: B PTS: 2 DIF: Average

6. At what rate is thermal energy generated in the 5-W resistor when e = 24 V?

 a. 13 W
b. 3.2 W
c. 23 W
d. 39 W
e. 51 W
ANS: B PTS: 2 DIF: Average

7. When a 20-V emf is placed across two resistors in series, a current of 2.0 A is present in each of the
resistors. When the same emf is placed across the same two resistors in parallel, the current through
the emf is 10 A. What is the magnitude of the greater of the two resistances?
a. 7.2 W
b. 7.6 W
c. 6.9 W
d. 8.0 W
e. 2.8 W
ANS: A PTS: 3 DIF: Challenging

8. A resistor of unknown resistance and a 15-W resistor are connected across a 20-V emf in such a way
that a 2.0 A current is observed in the emf. What is the value of the unknown resistance?
a. 75 W
b. 12 W
c. 7.5 W
d. 30 W
e. 5.0 W
ANS: D PTS: 2 DIF: Average

9. What is the current in the 15-W resistor when e = 9.0 V?

a. 0.20 A
b. 0.30 A
c. 0.10 A
d. 0.26 A
e. 0.60 A
 ANS: A PTS: 2 DIF: Average

10. How much heat is produced in the 10-W resistor in 5.0 s when e = 18 V?

a. 72 J
b. 32 J
c. 50 J
d. 18 J
e. 90 J
ANS: D PTS: 2 DIF: Average

11. Determine e when I = 0.50 A and R = 12 W.

a. 12 V
b. 24 V
c. 30 V
d. 15 V
e. 6.0 V
ANS: B PTS: 2 DIF: Average

12. Determine R when I = 0.20 A and e = 18 V.

a. 50 W
b. 8.0 W
c. 10 W
d. 20 W
e. 30 W
 ANS: D PTS: 2 DIF: Average

13. Determine the current in the 10-V emf.

a. 2.3 A
b. 2.7 A
c. 1.3 A
d. 0.30 A
e. 2.5 A
ANS: A PTS: 3 DIF: Challenging

14. What is the magnitude of the current in the 20-W resistor?

a. 0.75 A
b. 0.00 A
c. 0.25 A
d. 0.50 A
e. 1.00 A
ANS: D PTS: 3 DIF: Challenging

15. Determine the potential difference Va - Vb shown in the circuit below.

a. -5.0 V
 b. +5.0 V
c. -10 V
d. +10 V
e. 0V
ANS: B PTS: 3 DIF: Challenging

16. What is the potential difference Vb - Va shown in the circuit below.

a. -8.0 V
b. +8.0 V
c. -18 V
d. +18 V
e. -12 V
ANS: A PTS: 3 DIF: Challenging

17. At what rate is power supplied by the 10-V emf shown below?

a. -10 W
b. +10 W
c. zero
d. +20 W
e. -20 W
ANS: B PTS: 3 DIF: Challenging

18. If e = 8.0 V, at what rate is that emf providing energy to the circuit shown below?
 a. 8.4 W
b. 7.6 W
c. 5.6 W
d. 11 W
e. 2.0 W
ANS: C PTS: 3 DIF: Challenging

19. Determine the magnitude and sense (direction) of the current in the 500-W resistor when I = 30 mA.

a. 56 mA left to right
b. 56 mA right to left
c. 48 mA left to right
d. 48 mA right to left
e. 26 mA left to right
ANS: A PTS: 2 DIF: Average

20. Determine the magnitude and sense (direction) of the current in the 10-W resistor when I = 1.8 A.

a. 1.6 A right to left

b. 1.6 A left to right
c. 1.2 A right to left
 d. 1.2 A left to right
e. 1.8 A left to right
ANS: A PTS: 2 DIF: Average

21. Determine the resistance R when I = 1.5 A.

a. 40 W
b. 8.0 W
c. 85 W
d. 28 W
e. 32 W
ANS: B PTS: 2 DIF: Average

22. What is the potential difference VB - VA when the I = 1.5 A in the circuit segment below?

a. +22 V
b. -22 V
c. -38 V
d. +38 V
e. +2.0 V
ANS: B PTS: 2 DIF: Average

23. What is the potential difference VB - VA when I = 0.50 A in the circuit segment shown below?

a. +28 V
b. +2.0 V
c. -28 V
d. -2.0 V
e. +18 V
ANS: A PTS: 2 DIF: Average
24. If R = 2.0 kW, C = 4.0 mF, e = 8.0 V, Q = 20 mC, and I = 3.0 mA, what is the potential difference Vb -
Va?

a. +7.0 V
b. +19 V
c. +9.0 V
d. -3.0 V
e. -14 V
ANS: C PTS: 2 DIF: Average

25. If R = 3.0 kW, C = 5.0 mF, e = 6.0 V, Q = 15 mC, and I = 4.0 mA, what is the potential difference Vb -
Va?

a. -3.0 V
b. +9.0 V
c. -15 V
d. +21 V
e. -6.0 V
ANS: A PTS: 2 DIF: Average

26. If R = 4.0 kW, C = 3.0 mF, e = 15 V, Q = 12 mC, and I = 2.0 mA, what is the potential difference Vb -
Va?

a. +3.0 V
b. -19 V
c. -3.0 V
d. +27 V
e. +21 V
ANS: C PTS: 2 DIF: Average

27. If R = 3.0 kW, C = 6.0 nF, e 1 = 10.0 V, Q = 18 nC, e 2 = 6.0 V, and I = 5.0 mA, what is the potential
difference Vb - Va?
 a. -13 V
b. +28 V
c. +13 V
d. -28 V
e. +2.0 V
ANS: D PTS: 2 DIF: Average

28. If e 1 = 4.0 V, e 2 = 12.0 V, R1 = 4 W, R2 = 12 W, C = 3 mF, Q = 18 mC, and I = 2.5 A, what is the

potential difference Va - Vb?

a. -30 V
b. 30 V
c. 5.0 V
d. -5.0 V
e. -1.0 V
ANS: A PTS: 2 DIF: Average

29. If the current in the 4.0-W resistor is 1.4 A, what is the magnitude of the potential difference, VA - VB?

a. 69 V
b. 55 V
c. 62 V
d. 48 V
e. 31 V
ANS: D PTS: 3 DIF: Challenging

30. If I = 0.40 A in the circuit segment shown below, what is the potential difference Va - Vb?
 a. 31 V
b. 28 V
c. 25 V
d. 34 V
e. 10 V
ANS: C PTS: 2 DIF: Average

31. If I = 2.0 A in the circuit segment shown below, what is the potential difference VB - VA?

a. +10 V
b. -20 V
c. -10 V
d. +20 V
e. +30 V
ANS: C PTS: 2 DIF: Average

32. Determine the potential difference, VA - VB, in the circuit segment shown below when I = 2.0 mA and
Q = 50 mC.

a. -40 V
b. +40 V
c. +20 V
d. -20 V
e. -10 V
ANS: D PTS: 2 DIF: Average

33. If Q = 400 mC and the potential difference VA - VB = -10 V in the circuit segment shown below, what
is the current in the resistor?

a. 1.0 mA right to left

 b. 1.0 mA left to right
c. 3.5 mA right to left
d. 3.5 mA left to right
e. None of the above
ANS: A PTS: 2 DIF: Average

34. If Q = 350 mC and I = 4.0 mA in the circuit segment shown below, determine the potential difference,
VA - VB.

a. -30 V
b. +80 V
c. +40 V
d. -40 V
e. +10 V
ANS: D PTS: 2 DIF: Average

35. In an RC circuit, how many time constants must elapse if an initially uncharged capacitor is to reach
80% of its final potential difference?
a. 2.2
b. 1.9
c. 1.6
d. 3.0
e. 5.0
ANS: C PTS: 2 DIF: Average

36. How many time constants must elapse if an initially charged capacitor is to discharge 55% of its stored
energy through a resistor?
a. 0.60
b. 0.46
c. 0.52
d. 0.40
e. 1.1
ANS: D PTS: 3 DIF: Challenging

37. In an RC circuit, what fraction of the final energy is stored in an initially uncharged capacitor after it
has been charging for 3.0 time constants?
a. 0.84
b. 0.90
c. 0.75
d. 0.60
e. 0.03
ANS: B PTS: 2 DIF: Average

38. How long will it take a charged 80-mF capacitor to lose 20% of its initial energy when it is allowed to
discharge through a 45-W resistor?
 a. 0.92 ms
b. 0.64 ms
c. 0.40 ms
d. 0.19 ms
e. 0.80 ms
ANS: C PTS: 3 DIF: Challenging

39. At t = 0 the switch S is closed with the capacitor uncharged. If C = 50 mF, e = 20 V, and R = 4.0 kW,
what is the charge on the capacitor when I = 2.0 mA?

a. 360 mC
b. 480 mC
c. 240 mC
d. 600 mC
e. 400 mC
ANS: D PTS: 3 DIF: Challenging

40. At t = 0 the switch S is closed with the capacitor uncharged. If C = 30 mF, e = 30 V, and R = 5.0 kW, at
what rate is energy being stored in the capacitor when I = 2.0 mA?

a. 32 mW
b. 40 mW
c. 44 mW
d. 36 mW
e. 80 mW
ANS: B PTS: 2 DIF: Average

41. At t = 0 the switch S is closed with the capacitor uncharged. If C = 40 mF, e = 50 V, and R = 5.0 kW,
how much energy is stored by the capacitor when I = 2.0 mA?
 a. 20 mJ
b. 28 mJ
c. 32 mJ
d. 36 mJ
e. 40 mJ
ANS: C PTS: 2 DIF: Average

42. At t = 0 the switch S is closed with the capacitor uncharged. If C = 30 mF, e = 50 V, and R = 10 kW,
what is the potential difference across the capacitor when I = 2.0 mA?

a. 20 V
b. 15 V
c. 25 V
d. 30 V
e. 45 V
ANS: D PTS: 2 DIF: Average

43. A capacitor in a single-loop RC circuit is charged to 85% of its final potential difference in 2.4 s. What
is the time constant for this circuit?
a. 1.5 s
b. 1.3 s
c. 1.7 s
d. 1.9 s
e. 2.9 s
ANS: B PTS: 2 DIF: Average

44. What is the equivalent resistance between points a and b when R = 13 W?

 a. 29 W
b. 23 W
c. 26 W
d. 20 W
e. 4.6 W
ANS: D PTS: 2 DIF: Average

45. What is the equivalent resistance between points a and b when R = 30 W?

a. 27 W
b. 21 W
c. 24 W
d. 18 W
e. 7.5 W
ANS: D PTS: 2 DIF: Average

46. What is the equivalent resistance between points a and b when R = 12 W?

a. 20 W
b. 16 W
 c. 24 W
d. 28 W
e. 6.0 W
ANS: B PTS: 2 DIF: Average

47. What is the equivalent resistance between points a and b?

a. 14 W
b. 8.0 W
c. 6.0 W
d. 25 W
e. 40 W
ANS: D PTS: 2 DIF: Average

48. If R1 = 10 W, R2 = 15 W, R3 = 20 W, and I = 0.50 A, at what rate is heat being generated in these

resistors?

a. 29 W
b. 16 W
c. 22 W
d. 11 W
e. 1.1 W
ANS: D PTS: 2 DIF: Average

49. If R1 = 3.0 W, R2 = 6.0 W, R3 = 12 W, and I = 0.50 A, at what rate is heat being generated in R1?

a. 20 W
b. 17 W
c. 12 W
 d. 31 W
e. 6.0 W
ANS: C PTS: 2 DIF: Average

50. A certain brand of hot dog cooker applies a potential difference (120 V) to opposite ends of the hot dog
and cooks by means of the joule heat produced. If 60 kJ is needed to cook each hot dog, what current
is needed to cook four hot dogs simultaneously in 3.0 min?
a. 11 A
b. 2.8 A
c. 8.3 A
d. 2.1 A
e. 3.6 A
ANS: A PTS: 2 DIF: Average

51. If 480 C pass through a 4.0-W resistor in 10 min, what is the potential difference across the resistor?
a. 3.6 V
b. 2.8 V
c. 2.4 V
d. 3.2 V
e. 5.0 V
ANS: D PTS: 2 DIF: Average

52. A 10-V battery is connected to a 15-W resistor and an unknown resistor R, as shown. The current in the
circuit is 0.40 A. How much heat is produced in the 15-W resistor in 2.0 min?

a. 0.40 kJ
b. 0.19 kJ
c. 0.29 kJ
d. 0.72 kJ
e. 0.80 kJ
ANS: C PTS: 2 DIF: Average

53. What is the equivalent resistance between points A and B in the figure when R = 20 W?
 a. 77 W
b. 63 W
c. 70 W
d. 84 W
e. 140 W
ANS: C PTS: 2 DIF: Average

54. What is the equivalent resistance between points A and B in the figure when R = 18 W?

a. 48 W
b. 64 W
c. 80 W
d. 96 W
e. 110 W
ANS: D PTS: 2 DIF: Average

55. What is the equivalent resistance between points A and B in the figure when R = 10 W?

a. 20 W
b. 10 W
c. 25 W
d. 15 W
e. 3.2 W
ANS: B PTS: 2 DIF: Average
56. In a loop in a closed circuit, the sum of the currents entering a junction equals the sum of the currents
leaving a junction because
a. the potential of the nearest battery is the potential at the junction.
b. there are no transformations of energy from one type to another in a circuit loop.
c. capacitors tend to maintain current through them at a constant value.
d. current is used up after it leaves a junction.
e. charge is neither created nor destroyed at a junction.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

57. When a capacitor is fully charged, the current through the capacitor in a direct-current circuit is
a. zero.
b. at its maximum value.
c. equal to the current in a resistive circuit in parallel with the capacitor circuit.
d. greater than the current in a resistor that is farther from the battery than the capacitor.
e. zero if it is the only capacitor, but maximum if there is another capacitor in series with it.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

58. The algebraic sum of the changes of potential around any closed circuit loop is
a. zero.
b. maximum.
c. zero only if there are no sources of emf in the loop.
d. maximum if there are no sources of emf in the loop.
e. equal to the sum of the currents in the branches of the loop.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

59. The circuit below contains three 100-W light bulbs. The emf e = 110 V. Which light bulb(s) is(are)
brightest?

a. A
b. B
c. C
d. B and C
e. All three are equally bright.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

60. The circuit below contains three 100-watt light bulbs. The emf e = 110 V. Which light bulb(s) is(are)
the brightest?
 a. A
b. B
c. C
d. B and C
e. All three are equally bright.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

61. The circuit below contains three 100-watt light bulbs and a capacitor. The emf e = 110V. The capacitor
is fully charged. Which light bulb(s) is(are) dimmest?

a. A
b. B
c. C
d. A and B
e. All three are equally bright (or dim).
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

62. The circuit below contains three 100-W light bulbs and a capacitor. The emf e = 110V. At the instant
the switch S is closed, which light bulb is brightest?

a. A
b. B
 c. C
d. A and B
e. All three are equally bright.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

63. The circuit below contains three resistors, A, B, and C, which all have equal resistances. The emf e =
110V. Which resistor generates the most thermal energy after the switch is closed?

a. A
b. B
c. C
d. A and B
e. All three generate equal amounts of thermal energy.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

64. The diagram shown represents a portion of a wire in a circuit. A current is flowing in the wire in the
direction shown. Under the convention that it is positive charge that flows the electric field points in
the direction of the current. How can the electric field change direction where the wire bends?

a. There is an excess of negative charge in the center of the wire.

b. There is an excess of positive charge at the bottom end of the wire.
c. There is an excess of negative charge at the right end of the upper portion of the wire.
d. There is an accumulation of positive charge on the surface, particularly at the bend, such
that the sum of electric fields gives the new electric field.
e. There is an accumulation of electrical potential as the current traverses the wire: The
higher potential in the lower half is the source of the field.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

65. The circuit below contains three 100-W light bulbs and a capacitor. The emf is 110 V and the capacitor
is fully charged. Which light bulb(s) is(are) brightest?
 a. A
b. B
c. C
d. A and B
e. A and C
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

66. The circuit below contains 4 100-W light bulbs. The emf is 110 V. Which light bulb(s) is(are)
brightest?

a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. C and D
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

67. The circuit below contains 4 100-W light bulbs. The emf is 110 V. Which light bulb(s) is(are)
brightest?

a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
 e. C and D
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

68. The circuit below contains 3 100-W light bulbs and a capacitor. The emf is 110 V. Which light bulb(s)
is(are) brightest? (Assume the capacitor is fully charged.)

a. A
b. B
c. C
d. A and B
e. All three are equally bright.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

69. Which of the identical light bulb(s) is(are) brightest when the capacitor has half its maximum charge?

a. A
b. B
c. C
d. A and B
e. All three are equally bright.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

70. The circuit below contains 5 identical light bulbs. The emf is 110 V. Which light bulb(s) is(are)
brightest?
 a. A: The one closest to the positive terminal of the battery.
b. A and C: The bulbs closest to the positive terminal of the battery.
c. A and B: Because they are closest to the terminals of the battery.
d. C and D: Because they receive current from A and B and from E.
e. E: Because the potential difference across E is that of the battery.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

71. The battery is disconnected from a series RC circuit after the capacitor is fully charged and is replaced
by an open switch. When the switch is closed,
a. the current through the resistor is always greater than the current through the capacitor.
b. the current through the resistor is always less than the current through the capacitor.
c. the current through the resistor is always equal to the current through the capacitor.
d. the capacitor does not allow current to pass.
e. the current stops in the resistor.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

72. The capacitors are completely discharged in the circuit shown below.

The two resistors have the same resistance R and the two capacitors have the same capacitance C.
After the switch is closed, the current
a. is greatest in C1.
b. is greatest in C2.
c. is greatest in R1.
d. is greatest in R2.
e. is the same in C1, C2, R1 and R2.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

73. Which two circuits are exactly equivalent?

 a. A and B
b. B and C
c. C and D
d. D and E
e. B and E
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

74. A circuit consists of 2N resistors, all of resistance R, connected as shown below. A potential difference
V is applied to one end, and the other end is at ground potential. The equivalent resistance of the circuit
is

a.
.
b. R.
c.
.
d. NR.
e. 2NR.
ANS: C PTS: 2 DIF: Average

75. A circuit consists of N resistors, all of resistance R, connected as shown below. A potential difference
V is applied to the circuit. The equivalent resistance of the circuit is
 a.
.
b. R.
c.
.
d. NR.
e. 4NR.
ANS: C PTS: 2 DIF: Average

76. A circuit consists of N resistors, all of resistance R, connected as shown below. A potential difference
V is applied to the circuit. The equivalent resistance of the circuit is

a.
.
b.
.
c. R.
d. NR.
e. 2NR.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

77. The circuit below shows three resistors in parallel. R3 > R2 > R1. The resistors are all made of the same
wire with the same diameter but have different lengths. Rank the magnitudes of the electric fields in
the resistors from least to greatest.

a. E3 < E2 < E1.

b. E2 < E1 = E3.
c. E1 = E2 = E3.
d. E1 = E3 < E2.
e. E1 < E2 < E3.
 ANS: A PTS: 2 DIF: Average

78. The circuit below shows three resistors in series. R3 > R2 > R1. The resistors are all made of the same
wire with the same diameter but have different lengths. Rank the magnitudes of the electric fields in
the resistors from least to greatest.

a. E3 < E2 < E1.

b. E2 < E1 = E3.
c. E1 = E2 = E3.
d. E1 = E3 < E2.
e. E1 < E2 < E3.
ANS: C PTS: 2 DIF: Average

79. A series circuit consists of a 100 V DC power source, a 100 W resistor, and a variable resistor of
resistance R, which varies from 0 to 100 W. The current in the circuit is

a. directly proportional to R.
b. inversely proportional to R.
c. directly proportional to (100 W + R).
d. inversely proportional to (100 W + R).
e. neither directly nor inversely proportional to R or to (100 W + R).
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

80. A parallel circuit consists of a 100 V DC power source, a 100 W resistor, and a variable resistor of
resistance R, which varies from 0 to 100 W. The current in the circuit is

a. directly proportional to R.
b. inversely proportional to R.
c. directly proportional to (100 W + R).
d. inversely proportional to (100 W + R).
e. neither directly nor inversely proportional to R or to (100 W + R).
ANS: E PTS: 2 DIF: Average
 81. A battery has an internal resistance of 4.0 W. Which of the following load resistors would have the
most power delivered to it when connected across the battery?
a. 1.4 W
b. 2.0 W
c. 4.0 W
d. 8.0 W
e. 16 W
ANS: C PTS: 2 DIF: Average

PROBLEM

82. What is the maximum number of 100-W lightbulbs you can connect in parallel in a 120-V home
circuit without tripping the 20-A circuit breaker?

ANS:
23

PTS: 2 DIF: Average

83. A 5000-W resistor and a 50-mF capacitor are connected in series at t = 0 with a 6-V battery. The
capacitor is initially uncharged. What is the current in the circuit at t = 0? At t = 0.5 s? What is the
maximum charge stored on the capacitor?

ANS:
1.2 mA, 0.162 mA, 300 mC

PTS: 3 DIF: Challenging

84. An initially uncharged 10-mF capacitor is charged by a 10-V battery through a resistance R. The
capacitor reaches a potential difference of 4 V in a period of 3 s after the charging began. Find the
value of R.

ANS:
587 kW

PTS: 3 DIF: Challenging