RAFFLES INSTITUTION

Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

Tutorial 15 D.C. Circuits Suggested Solutions

D1 (a) R2 C (b)
A R1 C R2
R1 R3 A A
R5
R4 B
A B R3
From the above circuit diagram:
From the above circuit diagram:
Equivalent resistor RAC
• R1 and R2 are in series between R1 is between A and C;
A and C; R2 is between A and C;
• R3 is between A and C; R3 is between B and C.
RAC and R5 are in series between A and
B; Hence, the equivalent circuit is
R4 is between A and B;
R1
Hence, the equivalent circuit is C R3 B
A
R1 R2
R5 R2
A C B
R3
R4 1 1 1 , R = 0.5R
= + AC
RAC R R
1 1 1 2R
= + ⇒ RAC =
RAC 2R R 3 RAB = 0.5R + R = 1.5R
1 1 1 1 1 8
= + = + =
RAB 2
3 R +R R 5
3 R R 5R
5
⇒ RAB = R = 0.625R
8

(c) (d) C R3 C
A R1 R2 A
B R1 R4
A R3 B B
A B
R2 C R5
From the above circuit diagram:
From the above circuit diagram:
R1 is between A and B;
R2 is between A and B; 0 =>
R3 is between C and C i.e. ∆VR 3 =
R3 is between A and B. Remove
Both R1 and R2 are between A and C;
Hence the equivalent circuit is Both R4 and R5 are between C and B;

Hence, the equivalent circuit is:

R1 R4
A B
A C C B
1 R2
R=
AB = R 0.333R R5
3
−1
 1 1
RAB=  +  × 2= R
R R

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 RAFFLES INSTITUTION
Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

D2 (a) (i) P = IV
9.0 = I(30)
I = 0.30 A
(ii) 30
=
V = 2.5 V
12
(iii) V 2.5
=
R = = 8.3 Ω
I 0.30
(b) (i) The power supply is faulty and is not supplying a p.d. across the circuit, or
wire between M and power supply (or that between A and the power supply) is
broken.
(ii) The filament of the lamp between E and F is broken.
(iii) Two or more of the wires between A and M are broken, or filament of more than one
lamp is broken.

D3 1.0 Ω 2.0 Ω
X

1.0 Ω 3.0 Ω
3.0 V
Y Z
2.0 Ω 3.0

 3.0 
p.d. between X and
= Z = VXZ  =  × 3.0 1.5 V
 1.0 + 2.0 + 3.0 
 3.0 + 2.0 
p.d. between Y and
= Z = VYZ  =  × 3.0 2.5 V
 1.0 + 2.0 + 3.0 
Potential of X is 1.5 V higher than potential at Z, whilst potential of Y is 2.5 V higher than that at
Z.
Hence p.d. between X and Y = 2.5 − 1.5 = 1.0 V

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 RAFFLES INSTITUTION
Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

D4 (a) (b)
10 V 10 V

P Q R S P Q R S
4Ω 10 Ω 6Ω 4Ω 10 Ω 6Ω
V/V V/V
7.0
5.0

2.0
0P Q R S 0P Q R S
−3.0
−5.0

−8.0

D5 (a) (i) 20
When S is at Y, p.d. across XY = × 12 =10 V
20 + 4.0
When S is at X, VXS = 0 V and when S is at Y, VXS = 10 V.
Voltage range is from 0 V to 10 V and S is negative with respect to X.
(ii) When S is at Y, p.d. across YZ = 12 – 10 = 2 V
When S is at X, VSZ = 12 V. When S is at Y, VSZ = 2 V.
Voltage range is from 2 V to 12 V and S is positive with respect to Z.
(b) The 10 kΩ resistance of the resistance track is in parallel with the 10 kΩ voltmeter.
Hence, their combined resistance RSY = 5.0 kΩ.
 RSY   5.0 
=VSY  = VXZ  =  × 12 3.2 V
 RXS + RSY + RYZ   10 + 5.0 + 4.0 

D6 (a) The nightlight should be connected across the LDR. At night, the resistance of the LDR is
high. There will be a higher p.d. across the LDR and the nightlight will be turned on.
During the day, the resistance of the LDR is low. The p.d. across the LDR will be lower and
the nightlight will be turned off.

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 RAFFLES INSTITUTION
Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

(b) At night, LDR resistance = 2.0 MΩ,

Equivalent resistance of nightlight and LDR = 1.0 MΩ
1.0 × 106
2.5 < × 3.0 ⇒ Rn < 2.0 × 105 Ω
1.0 × 106 + Rn
(For R below 2.0 × 105 Ω, the nightlight will be switched on when p.d. is above 2.5 V.)

During the day, LDR resistance = 100 Ω

Equivalent resistance of nightlight and LDR = 100 Ω
100
0.50 > × 3.0 ⇒ Rd > 500 Ω  
100 + Rd
(For R above 500 Ω, the nightlight will be switched off when p.d. is below 0.50 V.)
Range of R has to be between 0.50 kΩ and 200 kΩ.
(c) V2 2.52
P == 6
3.13 × 10 −6 W =
= 3.13 μW
R 2.0 × 10
(d) This design of a nightlight is impractical, because the power delivered to the nightlight is
too low. For reference, the power rating of a normal desktop light is on the order of 10 W.

(In realistic designs of nightlight, the LDR is used to control an electromagnet, which in turn
is used to control the switch of the nightlight.)

D7 (a) The internal resistance can be considered to be negligible as it is only ~ 0.0066% of the
total resistance of a circuit (at 20°C) in which all circuit components are in series.

Note: There are two (equivalent) criteria to determine if a resistor is negligible in an

arrangement:
1. If, upon removing the resistor, the effective resistance of the arrangement changes
little, then the removed resistor is negligible;
2. If the power dissipated in a resistor is negligible compared to that in the other
resistors, then the resistor is negligible.
According to either of these criteria, a resistor with small resistance is negligible in the
series arrangement, whereas a resistor with large resistance is negligible in the parallel
arrangement.
(b) (i) 4000
= V = × 3.0 2.0 V
4000 + 2000
(ii) 1800
= V = × 3.0 1.4 V
1800 + 2000

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 RAFFLES INSTITUTION
Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

(c) At 0°C,
R
× 3.0= 1.2 V ⇒ R= 2700 Ω
4000 + R

At 20°C,
R
× 3.0= 2.4 V ⇒ R= 7200 Ω
1800 + R
There is no single value of R that will satisfy both conditions.

D8 (a) VXY = 2.0 V, VXP = e.m.f. of B = 1.2 V as no current passes through B at balance point.
V L 1.2
At balance point, XP = XP ⇒ LXP = × 100 = 60.0 cm
VXY LXY 2.0
(b) VXP = 1.2 V
8.0
VXY = × 2.0 =
1.6 V
8.0 + 2.0
VXP LXP V  1.2
At balance point, = ⇒ LXP =  XP  LXY = × 100 = 75.0 cm
VXY LXY  VXY  1.6
(c) No current flows through the lower branch at balance point. The resistor has no effect on
the p.d. being measured, which is still the e.m.f. of B.
LXP = 60.0 cm
(d) Current I flowing through B = 1.2
= 0.48 A
0.50 + 2.0
Using V = E – Ir,
V = 1.2 – (0.48)(0.50) = 0.96 V
LXP = 0.96 × 100 =
48.0 cm
2.0

D9 (a)  RAB  10.0

When S1 and S2 are open,
= VAB  =  E1 = × 2.0 0.80 V
 RAB + R1  10.0 + 15.0
VAJ = E2
When no current passes through the galvanometer,
L  31.25
E2 =  AJ VAB = × 0.80 = 0.50 V
 LAB  50.0
L  5.0
When S1 and S2 are closed, VAB = 2.0 V, VAJ =  AJ VAB = × 2.0 = 0.20 V
 LAB  50.0
0.20
Current I flowing through R2 = = 0.040 A
5.0
Using V = E – Ir,
0.20 = 0.50 – 0.040r
r = 7.5 Ω

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 RAFFLES INSTITUTION
Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

(b) When S1 is open and S2 is closed, VAB = 0.80 V and VAJ = 0.20 V
V  0.20
LAJ =  AJ  LAB = × 50.0 = 12.5 cm
 VAB  0.80

(c) When S2 is open and S1 is closed, VAB = 2.0 V, VAJ = 0.50 V

V  0.50
LAJ =  AJ  LAB = × 50.0 = 12.5 cm
 VAB  2.0

D 10 (a) (i) With switches S1 and S2 both closed,

80.0
=
VAC 1.50 1.20 V
×=
80.0 + 20.0
V  1.20
LAC =  AC  LAB = × 100 = 60.0 cm
 VAB  2.00

(ii) With switch S1 open and S2 closed, VAC = 1.50 V as no current passes through the
galvanometer and hence no p.d. across the 20.0 Ω resistor.
V  1.50
LAC =  AC  LAB = × 100 = 75.0 cm
 VAB  2.00

(b) For (a)(i), a smaller p.d. will be set up across the 80.0 Ω resistor, hence the balance
length will be shorter.
For (a)(ii), the p.d. being balanced is still the e.m.f. 1.50 V as there will be no current
through the internal resistance and 20.0 Ω resistor when the galvanometer reads zero.
Hence, there will be no change in the balance length.
Di Questionslenging

Question

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 RAFFLES INSTITUTION
Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

C1 (a) 1 1 1
= +
RCD R r
rR
RCD =
R+r
rR rR + 2r (R + r )
RAB = RCD + 2r = + 2r =
R+r R+r
3rR + 2r 2
RAB =
R+r
(b) Since the extra segment makes no difference to the overall resistance, set RAB = RCD = R
3rR + 2r 2
=RAB = R
R+r
2
3rR + 2r = R(R + r )
R 2 − 2rR − 2r 2 =
0
Solving for R,
−( −2r ) ± ( −2r )2 − 4(1)( −2r 2 )
R=
2(1)
2r ± 12r 2
=
2
2r ± 2r 3
=
2
(
1 + 3 r or
= ) (1 − 3 ) r (rejected as R cannot be negative)
Hence, R= (1 + 3 ) r

C2 (a) With S1 closed and S2 open, resistance of length AJ of wire RAJ = 0.900 × 2.00 = 1.80 Ω.
 RAJ  1.80
=
VAJ  =
VCJ × 1.00
= 0.01768 V
 RAJ + 100  1.80 + 100

 LAB  100.0
VAB =  VAJ = × 0.01768 =0.01965 V
 LAJ  90.0
With S2 closed and S1 open, VAJ = E and VAB = 0.01965 V
E = 0.45 × 0.01965 = 8.8 mV
(b) With S1 closed and S2 open,
100
=
VCA × 1.00
= 0.9823 V
1.80 + 100
VR = 2.00 – 0.9823 – 0.0196 = 0.9980 V
R
0.9980
= × 2.00
R + 100 + 2
R = 101.6 Ω ≈ 102 Ω