Answers for Electricity In-text and Book Exercise questions

Page Number: 200

Question 1
What does an electric circuit mean?:
A continuous and closed path along which an electric current flows is called an electric
circuit.

Question 2
Define the unit of current.:
Unit of current is ampere. If one coulomb of charge flows through any section of a
conductor in one second then the current through it is said to be one ampere.
I = Q t or 1 A = I C s-1

Question 3
Calculate the number of electrons constituting one coulomb of charge.

Charge on one electron, e = 1.6 x 10-19 C

Total charge, Q = 1 C
18
Number of electrons, n = Q e = 1C1.6x10−19 = 6.25 x 10

Page Number: 202

Question 1
Name a device that helps to maintain a potential difference across a conductor.
A battery.

Question 2
What is meant by saying that the potential difference between two points is IV?

The potential difference between two points is said to be 1 volt if 1 joule of work is done
in moving 1 coulomb of electric charge from one point to the other.

Question 3
How much energy is given to each coulomb of charge passing through a 6 V
battery ?:
Energy given by battery = charge x potential difference
or W = QV = 1C X 6V = 6J.

Page Number: 209

Question 1
On what factors does the resistance of a conductor depend ?

Question 2
Will current flow more easily through a thick wire or a thin wire of the same
material, when connected to the same source? Why ?

Question 3
Let the resistance of an electrical component remains constant while the
potential difference across the two ends of the component decreases to half of its
former value. What change will occur in the current through it ?

When potential difference is halved, the current through the component also decreases
to half of its initial value. This is according to ohm’s law i.e., V ∝ I.
Question 4
Why are coils of electric toasters and electric irons are made of an-alloy rather
than a pure metal ?

The coils of electric toasters, electric irons and other heating devices are made of an
alloy rather than a pure metal because (i) the resistivity of an alloy is much higher than
that of a pure metal, and (ii) an alloy does not undergo oxidation (or burn) easily even at
high temperature, when it is red hot.

Question 5
Use the data in Table 12.2 (in NCERT Book on Page No. 207) to answer the
following :
(i) Which among iron and mercury is a better conductor?
(ii) Which material is the best conductor?

-8
(i) Resistivity of iron = 10.0 x 10 Ω m
-8
Resistivity of mercury = 94.0 x 10 Ω m.
Thus iron is a better conductor because it has lower resistivity than mercury.
(ii) Because silver has the lowest resistivity (= 1.60 x 10-8 Ω m), therefore silver is the
best conductor.

Page Number: 213

Question 1
Draw a schematic diagram of a circuit consisting of a battery of three cells of 2 V each,
a 5Ω resistor, an 8 Ω resistor, and a 12 Ω resistor, and a plug key, all connected in
series.

The required circuit diagram is shown below:

Question 2
Redraw the circuit of Questions 1, putting in an ammeter to measure the current through the
resistors and a voltmeter to measure the potential difference across the 12 Ω resistor. What
would be the readings in the ammeter and the
voltmeter ?

The required circuit diagram is shown on the right.

Total voltage, V = 3 x 2 = 6V
Total resistance, R = 5Ω + 8Ω + 12Ω = 25Ω

Page Number: 216

Question 1
Judge the equivalent resistance when the following are connected in parallel :
(i) 1 Ω and 106 Ω,
(if) 1 Ω and 103 Ω and 106 Ω.

When the resistances are connected in parallel, the equivalent resistance is smaller
than the smallest individual resistance.
(i) Equivalent resistance < 1 Ω.
(ii) Equivalent resistance < 1 Ω.

Question 2
An electric lamp of 100 Ω, a toaster of resistance 50 Ω, and a water filter of resistance 500
Ω are connected in parallel to a 220 V source. What is the resistance of an electric iron
connected to the same source that takes as much current as all three appliances, and
what is the current through it?

Resistance of electric lamp, R1 = 100 Ω

Resistance of toaster, R2 = 50 Ω
Resistance of water filter, R3 = 500 Ω
Equivalent resistance Rp of the three appliances connected in parallel, is
Resistance of electric iron = Equivalent resistance of the three appliances connected in parallel
= 31.25 Ω
Applied voltage, V = 220 V
Current, I = V/R = 220V / 31.25Ω

Question 3
What are the advantages of connecting electrical devices in parallel with the battery
instead of connecting them in series ?

Advantages of connecting electrical devices in parallel with the battery are :

1. In parallel circuits, if an electrical appliance stops working due to some defect,

then all other appliances keep working normally.
2. In parallel circuits, each electrical appliance has its own switch due to which it can
be turned on turned off independently, without affecting other appliances.
3. In parallel circuits, each electrical appliance gets the same voltage (220 V) as that
of the power supply line.
4. In the parallel connection of electrical appliances, the overall resistance of the
circuit is reduced due to which the current from the power supply is high

Question 4
How can three resistors of resistances 2Ω, 3 Ω, and 6Ω be connected to give a total
resistance of (i) 4 Ω, (ii) 1Ω ?

(i) We can get a total resistance of 4Ω by connecting the 2Ω

resistance in series with the parallel combination of 3Ω and
6Ω.

(ii) We can obtain a total resistance of 1Ω by connecting resistors of 2 Ω, 3

Ω and 6 Ω in parallel
Question 5
What is (i) the highest, (ii) the lowest total resistance that can be secured by
combinations of four coils of resistance 4 Ω, 8 Ω, 12 Ω, 24 Ω?

(i) Highest resistance can be obtained by connecting the four coils in

series.
Then, R = 4Ω + 8Ω + 12Ω + 24Ω = 48Ω
(ii) Lowest resistance can be obtained by connecting the four coils in
parallel.

Page Number: 218

Question 1
Why does the cord of an electric heater not glow while the heating
element does ?

Heat generated in a circuit is given by I2R t. The heating element of an

electric heater made of nichrome glows because it becomes red-hot due to
the large amount of heat produced on passing current because of its high
resistance, but the cord of the electric heater made of copper does not glow
because negligible heat is produced in it by passing current because of its
extremely low resistance.

Question 2
Compute the heat generated while transferring 96000 coulomb of
charge in one hour through a potential difference of 50 V.

Here, Q = 96,000 C, t =1 hour = 1 x 60 x 60 sec = 3,600 s, V = 50 V

6
Heat generated, H = VQ = 50Vx 96,000 C = 48,00,000 J = 4.8 x 10 J
Question 3
An electric iron of resistance 20Ω takes a current of 5 A. Calculate the
heat developed in 30 s.
Solution:
Here, R = 20 Ω, i = 5 A, t = 3s
Heat developed, H = I2 R t = 25 x 20 x 30 = 15,000 J = 1.5 x 104 J

Page Number: 220

Question 1
What determines the rate at which energy is delivered by a current ?

Power of the appliance determines the rate at which energy is delivered by

a current.

Question 2
An electric motor takes 5 A from a 220 V line. Determine the power of
the motor and the energy consumed in 2 h.

Here, I = 5 A, V = 220 V, t = 2h = 7,200 s

Power, P = V I = 220 x 5 = 1100 W
Energy consumed = P x t = 100 W x 7200 s = 7,20,000 J = 7.2 x 105 J

Textbook Chapter End Questions

Question 1
A piece of wire of resistance R is cut into five equal parts. These parts are
then connected in parallel. If the equivalent resistance of this combination
is R’, then the ratio R/R’ is :
(a) 125 (b) 15 (c) 5 (d) 25
Answer:
(d) 25
Question 2
Which of the following terms does not represent electrical power in a
circuit?

(a) I2R (b) IR2 (c) VI (d) v2 /R

Answer:

(a) IR2

Question 3
An electric bulb is rated 220 V and 100 W. When it is operated on 110 V,
the power consumed will be :
(a) 100 W (b) 75 (c) 50 (d) 25 W
Answer:
(d) 25 W

Question 4
Two conducting wires of the same material and of equal lengths and equal
diameters are first connected in series and then parallel in a circuit across
the same potential difference. The ratio of heat produced in series and
parallel combinations would be :
(a) 1 : 2 (b) 2 : 1 (c) 1 : 4 (d) 4 : 1
Answer:
(c) 1 : 4

Question 5
How is a voltmeter connected in the circuit to measure the potential
difference between two points?:
A voltmeter is connected in parallel to measure the potential difference
between two points.

Question 6
A copper wire has diameter 0.5 mm and resistivity of 1.6 x 10-8 Ω m.
What will be the length of this wire to make its resistance 10 Ω? How
much does the resistance change if the diameter is doubled?
Question 7
The values of current I flowing in a given resistor for the
corresponding values of potential difference V across the resistor are
given below : Plot a graph between V and I and calculate the
resistance of the resistor

Let us consider two points P and Q on the graph.

and from P along Y-axis, which meet at point R.
Now, QR = 10.2V – 34V = 6.8V
And PR = 3 – 1 = 2 ampere .

Thus, resistance, R = 3.4 Ω

Question 8
When a 12 V battery is connected across an unknown resistor, there
is a current of 2.5 mA in the circuit. Find the value of the resistance of
the resistor.

-3
Here, V = 12 V and I = 2.5 mA = 2.5 x 10 A
∴ Resistance, R = VI = 12V / 2.5×10-3A = 4,800 Ω

Question 9
A battery of 9V is connected in series with resistors of 0.2 Ω, 0.3, Ω
0.4 Ω , 0.5 Ω and 12 Ω , respectively. How much current would flow
through the 12 Ω resistor?

Total resistance, R = 0.2 Ω + 0.3 Ω + 0.4 Ω + 0.5 Ω + 12 Ω =13.4 Ω

Potential difference, V = 9 V

Current through the series circuit, I = V/R = 12V / 13.4Ω = 0.67 A

∵ There is no division of current in series. Therefore current through 12 Ω

resistor = 0.67 A.

Question 10
How many 176 Ω resistors (in parallel) are required to carry 5 A on a
220 V line? [:

Suppose n resistors of 176 Ω are connected in parallel.

Thus 4 resistors are needed to connect.

Question 11
Show how you would connect three resistors, each of resistance 6 Ω,
so that the combination has a resistance of (i) 9 Ω, (ii) 4Ω
Here, R1 = R2 = R3 = 6 Ω.

(i) When we connect R1 in series with the parallel combination of R2 and

R3 as shown in Fig. (a).
The equivalent resistance is

(ii) When we connect a series combination of R1 and R2 in parallel with R3,

as shown in Fig. (b), the equivalent resistance is

Question 12
Several electric bulbs designed to be used on a 220 V electric supply
line, are rated 10 W. How many lamps can be connected in parallel
with each other across the two wires of 220 V line if the maximum
allowable current is 5 A ?:

Here, current, I = 5 A, voltage, V = 220 V

∴ Maximum power, P = I x V = 5 x 220 = 1100W
Required no. of lamps = Max.Power / Power of 1lamp = 1100 / 10=110
∴ 110 lamps can be connected in parallel.
Question 13
A hot plate of an electric oven connected to a 220 V line has two
resistance coils A and B, each of 24 Ω resistance, which may be used
separately, in series, or in parallel. What are the currents in the three
cases ?:

(i) When the two coils A and B are used separately. R = 24 Ω, V = 220 V

Question 14
Compare the power used in the 2 Ω
resistor in each of the following circuits (i)
a(i) a 6 V battery in series with 1 Ω and 2
Ωresistors, and (ii)
(ii)4 V battery in parallel with 12 Ω and 2 Ω
resistors.
Solution:
(i) The circuit diagram is shown in figure.
Total resistance, R = 1Ω + 2Ω = 3Ω
Potential difference, V = 6 V

Power used in 2Ω resistor = I2R = (2)2 x 2 = 8 W

(ii) The circuit diagram for this case is shown :

Question 15
Two lamps, one rated 100 W at 220 V, and the other 60 W at 220 V, are
connected in parallel to electric mains supply. What current is drawn from
the line if the supply voltage is 220 V ?
Question 16

Question 16
Which uses more energy, a 250 W TV set in 1 hr, or a 1200 W toaster in 10
minutes ?:
Energy used by 250 W TV set in 1 hour = 250 W x 1 h = 250 Wh
Energy used by 1200 W toaster in 10 minutes = 1200 W x 10 min
= 1200 x 10 / 60 = 200 Wh
Thus, the TV set uses more energy than the toaster.
Question 17
An electric heater of resistance 8 Ω draws 15 A from the service
mains 2 hours. Calculate the rate at which heat is developed in the
heater.

Here, R = 8 Ω, 1 = 15 A, t = 2 h
The rate at which heat is developed in the heater is equal to the power.
Therefore, P = I2 R = (15)2 x 8 = 1800 Js-1

Question 18
Explain the following:
(i) Why is tungsten used almost exclusively for filament of electric
lamps ?
(ii) Why are the conductors of electric heating devices, such as bread-
toasters and electric irons, made of an alloy rather than a pure metal ?
(in) Why is the series arrangement not used for domestic circuits ?
(iv) How does the resistance of a wire vary with its area of cross-
section ?
(v) Why are copper and Aluminium wires usually employed for
electricity transmission?

(i) The tungsten is used almost exclusively for filament of electric lamps
because it has a very high melting point (3300°C). On passing electricity
through tungsten filament, its temperature reaches to 2700°C and it gives
heat and light energy without being melted.

(ii) The conductors of electric heating devices such as bread-toasters and

electric irons, are made of an alloy rather than a pure metal because the
resistivity of an alloy is much higher than that of pure metal and an alloy
does not undergo oxidation (or burn) easily even at high temperature.

(iii) The series arrangement is not used for domestic circuits because in
series circuit, if one electrical appliance stops working due to some defect,
than all other appliances also stop working because the whole circuit is
broken.

(iv) The resistance of a wire is inversely proportional to its area of cross-

section, i.e., Resistance R ∝ (1/πr2). If the area of cross section of a
conductor of fixed length is increased, then resistance decreases because
there are more free electrons for movement in conductor.

(v) Copper and aluminium wires usually employed for electricity

transmission because they have very low resistances. So, they do not
become too hot on passing electric current.