Chapter 27

circuits
Lecture 01
 Circuit Diagram
Real Diagram
Resistor
i
-e -e
Circuit Diagram
-e
-e -e -e
-e R
-e -e A i
-e

conductor
-e
-e V 0
-e
-e

V 0
V
0

Battery
Conductor Battery
Current by Capacitor

0V
1V
2V
4V
3V
5V
+ -
+ -
+ -
-e-e
-e
-e
-e

+ -
+ -

The current can not be constant!

 27-2 Emf(E )
V
+ -
+ - Emf (E ) is work done on unit +ve
+ - charge to take it from lower to higher
++ --
+ + -
+ -
+1C -
-e-e
-e
-e
-e

-
potential
+
+ - dW
E 
E dq

dW E dq
R
Pdt E idt
Circuit Diagram
i 2 Rdt E idt
R
i
E iR V
conductor

V 0

E b Emf of an ideal battery is always

equal to the potential difference
Battery
 Potential Drop
R
i
conductor

V 0
E R b
b

potential
E b

Battery

E iR V
Whatever potential rises inside the
battery, it drops in the resistor
Checkpoint-1
 Kirchhoff’s Current Law
At a junction:
i1 Total current inflow = total current
jun outflow
ct i
on
i2 i1  i3
i3
i2 i2  i3  i1 0

 i 0
Or
The sum of the current at a
junction is always zero

Current flow is similar to water

flow!
 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law
i 1. Choose a loop (box) and choose the direction of
0
V= iR current in the loop: Either clockwise or
counterclockwise

E
2. Choose a direction to explore emfs (E ) and
voltages (iR) : Either clockwise or counter clockwise
E  (  iR ) 0
3. Start from a point (let's say from low potential
E  iR 0 terminal of the battery).

E iR V 4. Emf is positive if you move from lower to

i higher terminal
0
V= iR
5. iR is positive if you move against the current

E
6. The sum of the all E and iR must be zero
 E  iR 0
E iR V
 Kirchhoff’s Law: Multiple loop
1. Determine the direction of current in
each junction. (you can choose any
direction but remember total incoming
current = total outgoing current)

2. Choose a loop and write the

equation

3. Choose the next loop and write the

equation
Loop -abda
4. Solve the equations to find the  E1  ( i3 R3 )  i1 R1 0     (1)
unknown
Loop -bcdb

E2  i2 R2  i3 R3 0    (2)
Write an equation for outer loop
 Real Battery and Terminal
+ E
Potential
- Real Battery
+ -
b
+ --ea
-e
-e b a
+ r -
+ - r
E

conductor
R V
0

i R

E  iR  ir 0

E iR  ir

Va  Vb V E V  ir
E (Vb  Va )  ir
Emf (E ) a real battery is
The potential rises inside the battery, always greater than the
and it drops in the resistors terminal potential (V)
Potential Drop (Positive as Zero)

Va  1  ir1  iR  ir2   2 Va

 1  ir1  iR  ir2   2 0

 1  ir1  (Vc  Vb )  ir2   2 0

 Power
R
i R
E b
r
conductor

V 0 b

0 V

potential
E
a b
r

Battery

E  ( ir )  (  iR ) 0
In ideal Battery
E iR  ir

iE i 2 R  i 2 r
Pr = 0
Pb = Power generated in battery
Pb PR  Pr PR = Power lost in R
Pr = Power lost in r
 Potential Between two points
R2 c
R d i
i
conductor

V 0
R3 R1
E
a b
r a r b

Battery Battery

E  ( ir )  (  iR3 )  (  iR2 )  (  iR1 ) 0

E  ( ir )  (  iR ) 0
E ir  iR3  iR2  iR1
E iR  ir
E ir  (Va  Vd )  (Vd  Vc )  (Vc  Vb )
E V  ir

E (Va  Vb )  ir
 Checkpoint-3

Vb +ir-E = Va Vb -ir-E = Va Vb +0-E = Va

Vb-Va = E-ir Vb -Va = E+ir Vb -Va = E
V = E-ir V = E+ir V =E
T072Q#13 The Fig. 1 shows two resistors, each
of the resistance R, connected to two ideal
batteries of emf ε1 and ε2 (ε1> ε2). The potential
difference Va – Vb is equal to ε1/5. What is the
ratio ε2/ε1?
( Ans: 3/5)
T071-Q13. A single loop circuit contains two external
resistors and two emf sources as shown in the figure 1.
Assume the emf sources are ideal, what is the power
dissipation across resistor R1.
(Ans: 0.9 W)

T51-Q#7. In the figure 2 shown, the potential

difference between point 1 and 2, (V2-V1), is -40
V, and the current is equal to 4.0 A, then, the
value of the resistance R is [ Ans: 3]
T72-Q14.
Three resistors and two batteries are
connected as shown in Fig. 2. What is the
potential difference Va – Vb?
(Ans: 15 V)
T072Q#13 The Fig. 1 shows two resistors, each
of the resistance R, connected to two ideal
batteries of emf ε1 and ε2 (ε1> ε2). The potential
difference Va – Vb is equal to ε1/5. What is the
ratio ε2/ε1?
( Ans: 3/5)
T51-Q#7. In the figure 2 shown, the potential
difference between point 1 and 2, (V2-V1), is -40
V, and the current is equal to 4.0 A, then, the
value of the resistance R is [ Ans: 3]
T72-Q14.
Three resistors and two batteries are
connected as shown in Fig. 2. What is the
potential difference Va – Vb?
(Ans: 15 V)
T111-Q14.
In the circuit shown in Figure 4, E1 = 6.0 V, E2 = 12 V, R1 =
200 Ω, and R2 = 100 Ω. Determine the current passing
through R2 .
A) 180 mA to the left
Lecture 02
 Resistors in Series
R2 R3
i

R1

 E  iR1  iR2  iR3 0

E iR1  iR2  iR3
E
R1  R2  R3 Req  Ri
i i

Req R1  R2  R3
 Resistances in parallel

i i1  i2  i3

i i1 i2 i3
  
V V V V
1 1 1 1
  
Req R1 R2 R3

1 1

Req i Ri
T72- Q15. Determine the power dissipated by the
4.0 Ω resistor in the circuit shown in Fig. 3.
(Ans: 16 W)

T81-Q3.: When switch S is open, the ammeter in the

circuit shown in Fig 2 reads 2.0 A. When S is closed,
the ammeter reading:
(Ans: increases)

T81-Q1.
Fig 1 shows two resistors 3.0 Ω and 1.5 Ω connected in
parallel and the combination is connected in series to a 4.0 Ω
resistor and a 10 V emf device. The potential difference Va -
Vb is:
(Ans: 2.0 V)
T72- Q15. Determine the power dissipated by the
4.0 Ω resistor in the circuit shown in Fig. 3.
(Ans: 16 W)
T81-Q3.: When switch S is open, the ammeter in the
circuit shown in Fig 2 reads 2.0 A. When S is closed,
the ammeter reading:
(Ans: increases)
T81-Q1.
Fig 1 shows two resistors 3.0 Ω and 1.5 Ω connected in
parallel and the combination is connected in series to a 4.0 Ω
resistor and a 10 V emf device. The potential difference Va -
Vb is:
(Ans: 2.0 V)
 T81-Q4.
In Fig 3, what is the potential difference Va-Vb?
(Ans: 12 V)

Ch27-26: Fig 27-39 shows five 5 Ω resistors. Find the

equivalent resistance between points (a) F and H and (b) F
and G (Hint: for each pair of points, imagine that a battery
is connected across the pair)
Answers: (a) 2.5 Ω (b)3.13 Ω

Ch27-39: In the circuit of Fig 27-50, E = 12V, R1

=2000 Ω, R2 =3000 Ω, R3 = 4000Ω. what are
potential differences
(a) VA - VB,
(b) VB - VC
(c) VC – VD
(d) VA - VC?
Answers: (a) 5.25 V (b)1.5V (c) 5.25V (d) 6.75 V
Ch27-26: Fig 27-39 shows five 5 Ω resistors. Find the
equivalent resistance between points (a) F and H and (b) F
and G (Hint: for each pair of points, imagine that a battery
is connected across the pair)
Answers: (a) 2.5 Ω (b)3.13 Ω
Ch27-39: In the circuit of Fig 27-50, E = 12V, R1
=2000 Ω, R2 =3000 Ω, R3 = 4000Ω. what are
potential differences
(a) VA - VB,
(b) VB - VC
(c) VC – VD
(d) VA - VC?
Answers: (a) 5.25 V (b)1.5V (c) 5.25V (d) 6.75 V
Three identical 46m long wires passes through the vertices of an
equilateral triangle in x-y plane and have equal out-of-the-page current
7.3 A passing thorugh each of them. If the co-ordinates in x-y plane of
two of the wires is (-0.8, 0) and (0.8, 0) and the third wire is in the
positive y-axis, find the magnitude and direction of the force (in N) on
the third wire. (Assume it as an isolated system)
Provide your answer in three significant figures.
Note: provide directions in terms of i, j, k and ni, nj,
nk. where n stands for negative. Put your direction in the unit
The plane of a circular coil of radius 0.08 m is initially in yz
plane and initially perpendicular to the uniform magnetic
field 24 T i .The coil has 271 turns and current 5 A passes
through it. Find the energy (J) required to flip the coil about
the y-axis passing through its center by 43 degree from its
original position
Ch27-37: In Fig. 27-48, the resistances R1 = 1 ohm
and R2 = 2 Ohm. And the ideal battries have emfs
E1 = 2V an E2 = E3 = 4V. What are
(a) size and (b) direction (up or down) of the current
in battery 1,
(c) The size and (d) direction (up or down) of the
current in battery 2, the
(e) size and (f) direction (up or down) of the current
in battery 3?

What is the potential difference Va – Vb?

 Voltmeter

Extremely high resistor usually in kV

V
R
i
conductor

V 0
1. Maximum current passes
through the circuit and
V negligibly small current passes
0
through the voltmeter.
Battery
2. Voltmeter is always measured
in parallel.

𝑅 × 𝑅𝑉
𝑅 𝑒𝑞 = ≈ 𝑅𝑉
𝑅+ 𝑅𝑉
 Ammeter

R
i
Extremely low resistor usually in mA
V 0
conductor

A
V
0 1. The current that passes
through the circuit does not
change due to very small
Battery
resistor of ammeter in series.

2. Ammeter is always connected

in series
𝑅 𝑒𝑞 = 𝑅 + 𝑅 𝐴 ≈ 𝑅
Charging a parallel plate
Capacitor
V -
+
+ -
-
+ q
-e
+ - C     (i )
+ - V
d

0 A
C
-e
d
 Charging a capacitor
q i
E  iR  0
C
dq q +
R   E 0
dt C -
Solution of this first order differential equation is:

q CE (1  e  t / RC )
q qo (1  e  t / RC )
q0 = C E = max charge

At t = 0, q = 0, No charge
At t  ∞, q = q0, fully charged

q
E (1  e  t / RC )
C
Vc E (1  e  t / RC )
At t = 0, Vc = 0, No charge
At t -> ∞ Vc = E , fully charged
 Discharging Capacitor

0V
1V
2V
4V
3V
5V
+ -
+ -
+ -
-e-e
-e
-e
-e

Insert + -
capacitor to a + -
resistor

The current can not be constant!

 Discharging a capacitor
q
iR  0 i
C
dq q +
R  0
dt C -

Solution of this differential equation is:

q q0 e  t / RC At t = 0, q = q0, fully charged

At t  ∞, q = 0, fully discharged

V V0 e  t / RC
At t = 0, i = i0 = q0/RC, max current
At t  ∞, i = 0, fully discharged
 Charging a capacitor

q q0  q0 e  t / RC dq d (q0  q0 e  t / RC )  q0   t / RC
 i  e
dt dt  RC 

i i0 e  t / RC

At t = 0, i = i0 = q0/RC, max current

At t  ∞, i = 0, fully discharged
 Discharging a capacitor

 t / RC dq d (q0 e  t / RC )  q0   t / RC
q q0 e )  i   e
dt dt  RC 

i  i0 e  t / RC
q
 Charging of Capacitor Discharging of Capacitor

Fully charged battery Dead battery

Open Switch t=0 t=∞
Close Switch
S t=∞ i = i0 i=0
S t=0
i = i0 i=0

T72- Q16. Consider a series RC circuit as shown in

the following figure 4, where , R = 106 ohm, C = 5.0 μF and
E = 30 V. If the switch is closed at t =0, what is the current in C
E
resistance R at time 10 s after the switch is closed? (Ans: )
T111-Q15. R
A 1.0 µF capacitor with an initial stored energy of 0.50 J is S
discharged through a 1.0 M Ω resistor. Find the current
through the resistor when the discharge starts. A) 1.0 mA
T72- Q16. Consider a series RC circuit as shown in
the following figure 4, where , R = 106 ohm, C = 5.0 μF and
E = 30 V. If the switch is closed at t =0, what is the current in C
E
resistance R at time 10 s after the switch is closed? (Ans: )
R
S
T111-Q15.
A 1.0 µF capacitor with an initial stored energy of 0.50 J is discharged through a 1.0 M
Ω resistor. Find the current through the resistor when the discharge starts. A) 1.0 mA
 Time Constant
Charging of Capacitor Discharging of Capacitor
q q0  q0 e  t / RC q q0 e  t / RC

For t = RC is called time constant (τ) For t = RC is called time constant (τ)
q0 q0
q q0  0.63q0 q 0.37 q0
2.781 2.781
63% of capacitor gets charged at time τ 63% of capacitor gets discharge at time τ

T103-Q18.
In the circuit shown in Figure, the capacitor is
initially uncharged. At time t = 0, switch S is
closed. If τ denotes the time constant, the
approximate current through the 3 Ω resistor
when t = τ /10 is:
A) 1.0 A
T103-Q18.
In the circuit shown in Figure, the capacitor is
initially uncharged. At time t = 0, switch S is
closed. If τ denotes the time constant, the
approximate current through the 3 Ω resistor
when t = τ /10 is:
A) 1.0 A
T72- Q16. A capacitor of capacitance C takes 2 s to reach 63 % of its maximum
charge when connected in series to a resistance R and a battery of emf ε. How long
does it take for this capacitor to reach 95 % of its maximum charge (from zero initial
charge)? (Ans: 6s)

T-011 Q#1: In the circuit shown in figure (4), the capacitor is

initially uncharged. At t = 0, switch S is closed. If T denotes
the time constant, then the current passing through the 3.0
Ohm resistor at t = T/100 is: (Ans: 0.5 A.)

T001-Q#4: A 4.00 micro-F capacitor is charged to 24.0 V. Find the charge on

the capacitor 4.00 milli-seconds after it is connected across a 200-Ohm
resistor.
(Ans: 0.647 micro-C)
T72- Q16. A capacitor of capacitance C takes 2 s to reach 63 % of its maximum
charge when connected in series to a resistance R and a battery of emf ε. How long
does it take for this capacitor to reach 95 % of its maximum charge (from zero initial
charge)? (Ans: 6s)
T-011 Q#1: In the circuit shown in figure (4), the capacitor is
initially uncharged. At t = 0, switch S is closed. If T denotes
the time constant, then the current passing through the 3.0
Ohm resistor at t = T/100 is: (Ans: 0.5 A.)
 T002: Q#1: The capacitor in figure (1) is initially charged to
50 V and then the switch is closed. What charge flows out
of the capacitor during the first minute after the switch was
closed?
(Ans: 4.8 mC.)

T71- Q14. A capacitor of capacitance 5.0x10-6 F is discharging through a 4.0 M Ω

resistor. At what time will the energy stored in the capacitor be half of its initial value?
(Ans: 7 s)

T001-Q#3: The circuit in Figure 3 has been connected

for a long time. Find the potential difference Vb - Va.
(Ans: 8 V)

T111-Q15.
A 1.0 µF capacitor with an initial stored energy of 0.50 J is discharged through a
1.0 M Ω resistor. Find the current through the resistor when the discharge starts.
A) 1.0 mA tau
Ch27-65:
In the circuit of Fig 27-64, E = 1.2kV, C = 6.5
μF, R1 = R2 = R3 = 0.73 MΩ. With C R1
completely uncharged, switch S is R3
suddenly closed (at t = 0). At t =0, what are:
E
R2
(a) current i1 in resistor 1,
(b) current i2 in resistor 2
(c) current i3 in the resistor 3?

At t = ∞, what are (d) i1,

(e) i2
(f) i3?

What is the potential difference across

resistor 2 at
(g) t = 0 and
(h) t = ∞
Answers: (a) 1.1 mA, (b) 0.55mA (c)0.55mA (d) 0.82mA (e)0.82mA (f)0 mA (g) 400V (h) 600V
T111-Q16. Consider the five resistors
connected as shown in Figure 6. Find
the equivalent resistance between the
points A and B. A) 3R/2

T111-Q17.
In the circuit shown in Figure 7, R1 = 100 Ω, R2 = 50
Ω, and the ideal batteries have emfs E1 = 6.0 V, E2
= 5.0 V, and E3 = 4.0 V. Find the potential
difference VB – VA .
A) +1.0 V

T111-Q18.
In the circuit shown in Figure 8, an ideal battery is
connected to two resistors (R1 > R2 ). The section
lying along an x axis is divided into five segments
of equal length. Rank the segments according to
the magnitude of the electric field in them, greatest
first.
A) b, then d, then a and c and e tie
T103-Q14.
The resistance of resistor 1 is twice the resistance of resistor 2. The two
are connected in series and a potential difference is maintained across
the combination. Then:

A) the potential difference across resistor 1 is twice that across resistor 2

B) the current in resistor 1 is twice that in resistor 2
C) the potential difference across resistor 1 is half that across resistor 2
D) the current in resistor 1 is half that in resistor 2
E) the potential difference across resistor 1 is 4 times that across resistor
2

T103-Q15.
A battery with an emf of 24 V is connected to a 6.0 Ω resistor. As a result,
a current of 3.0 A flows through the resistor. What is the potential
difference that appears at the terminals of the battery:
A) 18 V
T103-Q16.
The current in the 4.0 Ω resistor in the
circuit shown in Figure 2 is :
A) 1.5 A

T103-Q17.
Each of the resistors in the diagram of Figure 3 has a resistance of 12 Ω. The
potential difference between points a and b is 10 V. What is the power
dissipated in the entire circuit?
A) 4.0 W

T103-Q18.
In the circuit shown in Figure 4, the capacitor is initially
uncharged. At time t = 0, switch S is closed. If τ
denotes the time constant, the approximate current
through the 3 Ω resistor when t = τ/10 is:
A) 1.0 A
 T102-Q17.
Consider the circuit shown in Figure 3.
The resistances R1 = 10 Ω, R2 = 20 Ω
and the ideal battery has emf ε = 12 V.
What are the magnitude and direction
(left or right) of the current i1?
A) 0.24 A to the right

T102-Q18.
Consider the five 10 Ω resistors connected
as shown in Figure 4. Find the equivalent
resistance (in Ohms) between the points A
and B.
A) 6.3

T102-Q19.
A capacitor in a series RC circuit is charged to 60% of its
maximum value in 1.0 s. The time constant of the circuit is: A)
1.1 s
T102-Q20.
Initially a single resistor R1 is connected to a battery. Then another
resistor R2 (different from R1) is added in parallel. Which one of the
following is ALWAYS TRUE?
A) The current through R1 now is the same as that before R2 is added.
B) The current through R1 now is less than that before R2 is added.
C) The current through R1 now is more than that before R2 is added.
D) The total current through R1 and R2 is the same as that through R1
before R2 is added.
E) The total current through R1 and R2 is twice as that through R1
before R2 is added.

T101-Q16.
Determine R when I = 0.20 A and ε = 18 V in the
circuit shown in Figure 8.
A) 30 Ω
 T101-Q17.
The circuit shown in Figure 9 has three
100-Ω light bulbs connected to a 110 V
battery. Which light bulb(s) is(are)
brightest?
A) 2

T101-Q18.
In Figure 10, ε 1 = 4.0 V, ε 2 = 12 V, R1 = 4.0 Ω, R2 =
12 Ω, C = 3.0 µF, Q = 18 µC, and I = 2.5 A. What is
the potential difference Va – Vb?
A) –30 V
T101-Q19.
In an RC circuit, how much time (in terms of the time constant τ) does it
require an initially uncharged capacitor to reach 80 % of its maximum
potential difference?
A) 1.6 τ
 T92-Q13.
Four 20-Ω resistors are connected in parallel and the combination is connected
to a 20-V emf device. The current in the device is:
A) 4.0 A

T92-Q14.
Resistor 1 has twice the resistance of resistor 2. They are connected in
parallel to a battery. If the power dissipated in R1 is P1 and the power
dissipated in R2 is P2, then P1/P2 is:
A) 0.50

T92-Q15.
Find the current in 8.00-Ω resistor in the
circuit shown in Figure 4?
A) 2.25 A toward the left

T92-Q16. The capacitor shown in Figure 14 is initially

charged. Switch S is closed at time t = 0. At the end of
10.0 ms, the charge on the capacitor is one third the initial
value. The time constant of this circuit is:
A) 9.10 ms
T92-Q17.
In the circuit of Figure 5: E = 30 V, and the resistance
of each resistor is 10 Ω. What is the potential
difference VA – VB?
A) – 20 V

T91-Q13.
For the circuit shown in Figure 4, which
equation is correct for loop 2?

A) E2 + R3I3 - E3 + R2I2 = 0

T91-Q14.
Initially, for the circuit shown in Figure 5, the
switch S is open and the capacitor is
uncharged. The switch S is closed at time t = 0. At
what time will the current be half its initial
value?
A) 12.5 s
T91-Q15.
The circuit in Figure 6 shows three identical
resistors connected to a battery and an
ammeter. The current measured by the
ammeter is Io. If resistor R2 is removed, the
current measured by the ammeter will be
A) 3Io /4.

T91-Q16.
In the circuit shown in Figure 7, ε1 = 28 V,
ε2 = 42 V, R1 = 2.0 Ω, R2 = 5.0 Ω, R3 =
1.0 Ω, and I1 = 7.5 A. Calculate the
potential difference VA – VB.
A) + 13 V

T91-Q17.
In the circuit shown in Figure 8, what
power is dissipated in the 4-Ω resistor?
A) 16 W