CHAPTER 7: ELECTRICITY

7.1 CHARGE AND ELECTRIC CURRENT

Exercise 7.1
1. 5 C of charge flows through a wire in 10 s. What is the current in the wire?

2.

A charge of 300 C flow through a bulb in every 2 minutes. What is the electric
current in the bulb?

3.

The current in a lamp is 0.2 A. Calculate the amount of electric charge that passes
through the lamp in 1 hour.

4.

If a current of 0.8 A flows in a wire, how many electrons pass through the wire in one
minute? (Given: The charge on an electron is 1.6 x 10-19 C)

An electric current of 200 mA flows through a resistor for 3 seconds, what is the
(a)

electric charge

(b)

the number of electrons which flow through the resistor?

-1-

Exercise 7.2
1.

Tick () the correct answers

True

False

(a) Unit of potential difference is J C-1

(b) J C-1 volt, V
The potential difference between two points is 1 volt if 1 joule
(c) of work is required to move a charge of 1 coulomb from one

(d)

point to another.
2 volt is two joules of work done to move 2 coulomb of charge
from one to another in an electric field.

(e) Potential difference Voltage

2.

I
t

t
I

i) Electric charge,

Q = ( It /

ii) Work done,

W = (QV / Q /
)
V

iii) Base on your answer in 2(i) and (ii) derive the work done, W in terms of I, V and t.
W

QV

ItV

3. If a charge of 5.0 C flows through a wire and the amount of electrical energy converted
into heat is 2.5 J. Calculate the potential differences across the ends of the wire.
W

QV

2.5

5.0 (V)

0.5 V

4. A light bulb is switched on for a period of time. In that period of time, 5 C of charges
passed through it and 25 J of electrical energy is converted to light and heat energy. What
is the potential difference across the bulb?
W

QV

20

6 (V)

V
=
3.33 V
5. The potential difference of 10 V is used to operate an electric motor. How much work is
done in moving 3 C of electric charge through the motor?
-2-

QV

3 (10)

30 J

6. When the potential difference across a bulb is

20 V, the current flow is 3 A. How much work
done to transform electrical energy to light and
heat energy in 50 s?
W

VIt

20 (3) (50)

3000 J

Bulb

3A
A
20
V

7. What is the potential difference across a light bulb

of resistance 5 when the current that passes
through it is 0.5 A?
V

IR

0.5 (5)

2.5 V

8. A potential difference of 3.0 V applied across a resistor of resistance R drives a current of

2.0 A through it. Calculate R.
V

IR

3.0

2.0 (R)

1.5

9. What is the value of the resistor in the figure, if

the dry cells supply 2.0 V and the ammeter
reading is 0.5 A?
V

IR

2.0

0.5 (R)

-3-

10. If the bulb in the figure has a resistance of 6 ,

what is the reading shown on the ammeter, if the
dry cells supply 3 V?
V

IR

3.0

6 (R)

0.5

11. If a current of 0.5 A flows through the resistor of

3 in the figure, calculate the voltage supplied
by the dry cells?
V
R

IR

0.5 (3)

1.5

12. The graph shows the result of an experiment to

determine the resistance of a wire. The resistance
of the wire is
From V-I graph, resistance

V/V
1.2

= gradient
=
= 2.4
0

13. An experiment was conducted to measure the

current, I flowing through a constantan wire when
the potential difference V across it was varied.
The graph shows the results of the experiment.
What is the resistance of the resistor?
From V-I graph, resistance

= gradient
=
= 2.0 x 10-3

-4-

I/A

14.Referring to the diagram on the right, calculate

(a) The current flowing through the resistor.
V

IR

12

I (5)

2.4 A

(b) The amount of electric charge that passes

through the resistor in 30 s
Q

It

2.4 (30)

72 C

(c) The amount of work done to transform the

electric energy to the heat energy in 30 s.
W

QV

or

72 (12)

= 12(2.4)(30)

864 C

= 864 C

15. Figure shows a torchlight that uses two 1.5 V dry

cells. The two dry cells are able to provide a
current of 0.3 A when the bulb is at its normal
brightness. What is the resistance of the filament?
V

IR

3.0

0.3(R)

10

16. The diagram shows four metal rods of P, Q, R

and S made of the same substance.
a) Which of the rod has the most
resistance?
P
b) Which of the rod has the least
resistance?
S

-5-

= VIt

+ 1.5 V -

+ 1.5 V -

17. The graph shows the relationship between the

V/V

potential difference, V and current, I flowing

through two conductors, X and Y.

X
8
Y

a) Calculate the resistance of conductor X.

From V-I graph, resistance

= gradient
=

2
0
0

I/A

= 4
b) Calculate the resistance of conductor Y.
From V-I graph, resistance

= gradient
=
= 1

c) If the cross sectional area of X is 5.0 x 10-6

m2, and the length of X is 1.2 m, calculate its
resistivity.

18. The graph shows a graph of I against V for three

conductors, P, Q and R.
i)

Compare the resistance of

I/A

conductor P, Q and R.
R

ii)

Explain your answer in (a)

From V-I graph, resistance = gradient
The greater the gradient, the greater the resistance
Gradient of P > Gradient of Q > Gradient of R

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V/V

19. Figure shows a wire P of length, l with a crosssectional area, A and a resistance, R. Another
wire, Q is a conductor of the same material with
a length of 3l and twice the cross-sectional area
of P. What is resistance of Q in terms of R?
Conductor P

Conductor Q

(notes: P and R have the same resistivity, )

=
=

R
20. PQ, is a piece of uniform wire of length 1 m
with a resistance of 10. Q is connected to an
ammeter, a 2 resistor and a 3 V battery. What
is the reading on the ammeter when the jockey
is at X?
Resistance in the wire
R is directly proportional to l
= 10

100 cm

Hence, 20 cm =
R

(10)

= 2

Total resistance
2 + 2 = 4
Current, I

=
=

= 0.75 A

-7-

21. Figure shows the circuit used to investigate the relationship between potential
difference, V and current, I for a piece of constantan wire. The graph of V against I
from the experiment is as shown in the figure below.

(a)

What quantities are kept constant in this experiment?

Length // cross-sectional area // type of material // temperature of the wire

(b)

State the changes in the gradient of the graph, if

i) the constantan wire is heated
R , gradient // the resistance increases, hence the gradient increases
ii) a constantan wire of a smaller cross-sectional area is used
R , gradient // the resistance increases, hence the gradient increases
iii)a shorter constantan wire is used
R , gradient // the resistance decreases, hence the gradient decreases

-8-

7.3 SERIES AND PARALLEL CIRCUITS

Ammeter reading Current

Voltmeter reading Potential difference Voltage

-9-

Effective resistance, R

(a)
(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(h)

(g)

(i)

(j)

- 10 -

Solve problems using V = IR

Exercise 7.3
1.

The two bulbs in the figure have a resistance of 2 and 3

respectively. If the voltage of the dry cell is 2.5 V, calculate
(a) the effective resistance, R of the circuit
Effective R = 2 + 3 = 5
(b) the main current, I in the circuit

(c) the potential difference across each bulb.

2: V = IR = (0.5)(2) = 1V
3: V = IR = (0.5)(3) = 1.5 V

V = IR
2.5 =I(5)
= 0.5 A
2.

There are two resistors in the circuit shown. Resistor R1 has a

resistance of 1. If a 3V voltage causes a current of 0.5A to flow
through the circuit, calculate the resistance of R2.
V = IR
3=0.5(1+R2)
R2 = 5

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3.

The electrical current flowing through each branch, I1 and I2, is 5

A. Both bulbs have the same resistance, which is 2. Calculate
the voltage supplied.
Parallelcircuit;V =V1=V2 = IR1 or
= IR2
= 5(2)
= 10 V

4.
The voltage supplied to the parallel is 3 V. R1 and R2
have a resistance of 5 and 20. Calculate
(a) the potential difference across each resistor
3 V (parallel circuit)
(b) the effective resistance, R of the circuit
1/R = 1/5 + 1/20 =1/4
R=4
(c) the main current, I in the circuit

(d) the current passing through each resistor

5: V = IR
3 =I(5)
I = 0.6 A

V = IR
3 =I(4)
= 0.75 A
5.

In the circuit shown, what is the reading on the ammeter

when switch, S
(a) is open?
Effective R = 6
V = IR
12 =I(6)
I=2A

6.

20 :

(b) is closed?
Effective R = 4
V = IR
12 =I(4)
I=3A

Determine the voltmeter reading.

Determine the ammeter reading.

(a)

(a)

(b)

- 12 -

V = IR
3 =I(20)
I = 0.15 A

7.

Calculate

(d) (i) The potential difference across 8

(a) The effective resistance, R

resistor.

R = 12

V = IR

(b) The main current, I

= 2(8) = 16 V

I=2A

(ii) The potential difference across 2.5

(c) The current passing through 8 and 2.5

resistor.

resistors.

V = IR

I=2A

= 2(2.5) = 5 V
(e) The current passing through 6 resistor.
V = V8 + V2.5 +Vparallel
24 = 16 + 5 + Vparallel
Vparallel = 3V
V = IR
3 = I(6)
I = 0.5 A

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7.4 ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE AND INTERNAL RESISTANCE

Electromotive force
Figure (a)

Figure (b)

Voltmeter reading,
potential difference, V < e.m.f.,
E

Voltmeter reading,
e.m.f.

E,r

R
Current flowing

No current flow

1. An electrical circuit is set up as shown in figure (a). A high resistance voltmeter is

connected across a dry cell which labeled 1.5 V.
a) Figure (a) is (an open circuit / a closed circuit)
b) There is (current flowing / no current flowing) in the circuit. The bulb (does not light up /
lights up)
c) The voltmeter reading shows the (amount of current flow across the dry cell / potential
difference across the dry cell)
d) The voltmeter reading is (0 V / 1.5 V / Less than 1.5 V)
e) The potential difference across the cell in open circuit is (0 V / 1.5 V / Less than 1.5 V).
Hence, the electromotive force, e.m.f., E is (0 V / 1.5 V / Less than 1.5 V)
f) It means, (0 J / less than 1.5 J / 1.5 J / 3.0 J) of electrical energy is required to move 1 C
charge across the cell or around a complete circuit.
- 14 -

2. The switch is then closed as shown in figure (b).

a)

Figure (b) is (an open circuit / a closed circuit)

b)

There is (current flowing / no current flowing) in the circuit. The bulb (does not light
up / lights up)

c)

The voltmeter reading is the (potential difference across the dry cell / potential
difference across the bulb / electromotive force).

d)

The reading of the voltmeter when the switch is closed is (lower than/ the same as /
higher than) when the switch is open.

e)

If the voltmeter reading in figure (b) is 1.3 V, it means, the electrical energy
dissipated by 1C of charge after passing through the bulb is (0.2 J / 1.3 J / 1.5 J)

f) The potential difference drops by (0.2 V/ 1.3 V / 1.5 V). It means, the potential difference
lost across the internal resistance, r of the dry cell is (0.2 V/ 1.3 V / 1.5 V).
g) State the relationship between e.m.f , E , potential difference across the bulb, VR and drop
in potential difference due to internal resistance, Vr.

- 15 -

Exercise 7.4
A voltmeter connected directly across a battery gives a reading of 1.5 V.

The voltmeter reading drops to 1.35 V when a bulb is connected to the

battery and the ammeter reading is 0.3 A. Find the internal resistance of
the battery.
E = 3.0 V, V = 1.35 V, I = 0.3 A
Substitute in :

E = V + Ir
1.5 = 1.35 + 0.3(r)
r = 0.5

2. A circuit contains a cell of e.m.f 3.0 V and internal resistance, r. If the external resistor has a value of 10.0
and the potential difference across it is 2.5 V, find the value of the current, I in the circuit and the internal
resistance, r.
E = 3.0 V, R = 10 , V = 2.5 V
Calculate current : V = IR
Calculate internal resistance : E = I(R + r)

r = 2.0
A simple circuit consisting of a 2 V dry cell with an internal resistance of 0.5. When the switch is
closed, the ammeter reading is 0.4 A.
Calculate
(a) the voltmeter reading in open circuit
The voltmeter reading = e.m.f. = 2 V
(b) the resistance, R

(c) the voltmeter reading in closed circuit

E = I(R + r)
2

V = IR

= 0.4(R + 0.5)

= 0.4 (4.5)

R = 4.5

= 1.8 V
Find the voltmeter reading and the resistance, R of the

resistor.
E = V + Ir
12 = V + 0.5 (1.2)
V = 11.4 V
V = IR
e.m.f.

11.4 = 0.5 (R)

R = 22.8

- 16 -

5
/V

A cell of e.m.f., E and internal resistor, r is connected to

a rheostat. The ammeter reading, I and the voltmeter
6

reading, V are recorded for different resistance, R of the

rheostat. The graph of V against I is as shown.

From the graph, determine

a)

/A
2
b) the internal resistor, r of the cell

the electromotive force, e.m.f., E

E = V + Ir

Rearrange

:V = E - Ir

Equivalent

: y = mx + c

r = - gradient
= - (6 - 2)
2
=2

Hence, from V I graph : E = c = intercept of V-axis

=6V

V/V

The graph V against I shown was obtained from an experiment.

1.5
a) From the graph, determine
i) the internal resistance of the battery

ii) the e.m.f. of the battery

0.2
E = c = intercept of V-axis

r = -gradient
= 0.26

= 1.5 V

1/A

A graph of R against 1/I shown in figure was obtained

R/

from an experiment to determine the electromotive force,

1.3

e.m.f., E and internal resistance, r of a cell. From the

graph, determine
a)

0.5

1 (A-1)
I

- 0.2

- 17 -

the internal resistance of the cell

7.5 ELECTRICAL ENERGY AND POWER

Electrical Energy
1.

Energy Conversion
battery
(chemical energy)

(a)

current

(b)

current

battery
(chemical energy)

current

current

Light and heat

energy

Energy Conversion:
Electrical energy Light energy
+ Heat energy

Energy Conversion:
Electrical energy Kinetic
energy

1. When an electrical appliance is switched on, the flows and the .............................. energy
supplied by the source is ................................... to other forms of energy.
2. Therefore, we can define electrical energy as :

- 18 -

Electrical Energy and Electrical Power

1. Potential difference, V across two points is the ............................ dissipated or
transferred by a coulomb of charge, Q that moves across the two points.
2. Therefore,
3. Hence, E = VQ

Potential difference, V = Electrical energy dissipated, E

Charge, Q

4. Power is defined as the rate of energy dissipated or transferred.

5. Hence, Power, P = Energy dissipated, E

time, t
Electrical Energy, E
From the definition of potential

Electrical Power, P
Power is the rate of transfer of electrical energy,

difference, V

Electrical energy converted, E

E = VQ

; where Q = It

Hence,

E = VI t

; where V = IR

Hence,

E = I2R

; where I = V
R

Hence,

SI unit : Joule

P = VQ
t

P = VI

2
P= I R
t

P = I2 R

2
E= V t
R

(J)

SI unit : Joule

per second // J s-1 // Watt(W)

Power Rating and Energy Consumption of Various Electrical Appliances

- 19 -

1.

The amount of electrical energy consumed in a given period of time can be calculated
by
Energy consumed
E

Power rating x

Time

Pt

energy, E is in Joules

where

power, P is in watts
time, t is in seconds
2.

The unit of measurement used for electrical energy consumption is the

...
1 kWh

1000 x 3600 J

3.6 x 106 J

1 unit

3. One kilowatt-hour is the electrical energy dissipated or transferred by a .. kW device in

... hour
4. Household electrical appliances that work on the heating effect of current are usually
marked with, and ..
5. The energy consumption of an electrical appliance depends on the and
the., , E = Pt
6. Power dissipated in a resistor, three ways to calculate:

R= 100, I=0.5 A, P=?

P = I2R
= (0.5)2 100
= 25 watts

R= 100, V=50 W, P=?

P = (V/R)2 R
= V2/R
= (50)2 /100
= 2500/100
= 25 watts

Exercise 7.5
- 20 -

V=50 V, I=0.5 A, P=?

P = I2(V/I)
= IV
= (0.50)50
= 25 watts

1. How much power dissipated in the bulb?

R = 10

(a)

5V

(b)

R = 10
R = 10
5V

2.

V= 15V

R1=2

R2=4

R3=4

Calculate
(a) the current, I in the circuit

(b) the energy released in R 1 in 10 s.

(b) the electrical energy supplied by the battery in 10 s.

2. A lamp is marked 12 V, 24 W. How many joules of electrical energy does it consume

in an hour?

- 21 -

3. A current of 5A flows through an electric heater when it is connected to the 24 V mains

supply. How much heat is released after 2 minutes?

4. An electric kettle is rated 240 V 2 kW. Calculate the resistance of its heating element and
the current at normal usage.

5. An electric kettle operates at 240 V and carries current of 1.5 A.

(a) How much charge will flow through the heating coil in 2 minutes.

(b) How much energy will be transferred to the water in the kettle in 2 minutes?

(c) What is the power dissipated in the kettle?

6. An electric kettle is labeled 3 kW, 240 V.

- 22 -

(a) What is meant by the label 3 kW, 240 V?

The electric kettle dissipates electrical power 3 kW if it operates at 240 V
(b) What is the current flow through the kettle?

(c) Determine the suitable fuse to be used in the kettle.

12 A
(d) Determine the resistance of the heating elements in the kettle.

7. Table below shows the power rating and energy consumption of some electrical appliances
when connected to the 240 V mains supply.
Appliance

Quantity

Power rating / W

Time used per day

Kettle jug

2000

1 hour

Refrigerator

400

24 hours

Television

200

6 hours

Lamp

60

8 hours

Electricity cost: RM 0.218 per kWh

Calculate
(a) Energy consumed in 1 day
Energy consumed
Kettle jug,

= Quantity x Power rating (kW) x Time used

=1x2x1

= 2 kWh

Refrigerator

= 1 x 0.4 x 24 = 9.6 kWh

Television

= 1 x 0.2 x 6
= 1.2 kWh

Lamp

= 5 x 0.06 x 8
= 2.4 kWh

Total energy consumed = 15.2 kWh

(b) How much would it cost to operate the appliances for 1 month?
Cost

= 1K.58 kWh x 30 x RM 0.218

- 23 -

= RM 108.43
8. A vacuum cleaner consumes 1 kW of power but only delivers 400 J of useful work per
second. What is the efficiency of the vacuum cleaner?

9. An electric motor is used to lift a load of mass 2 kg to a height 5 m in 2.5 s. If the supply
voltage is 12 V and the flow of current in the motor is 5.0 A, calculate
(a) Energy input to the motor

(b) Useful energy output of the motor

(c) Efficiency of the motor

Reinforcement Exercise Chapter 7

Part A: Objective Questions

- 24 -

1.

What is the unit of electric charge?

A.

A. Ampere, A
B. kelvin,K
C. Coulomb, C
D. Volt, V
2. Which of the following diagrams

B.

shows the correct electric field?

A.

C.
B.

C.

D.

3. A small heater operates at 12 V, 2A.

How much energy will it use when it is
run for 5 minutes?
A. 90 J
B. 120 J

3. Which of the following graphs shows

C. 1800 J

the correct relationship between the

D. 7200 J

potential difference, V and current, I

for an ohmic conductor?
- 25 -

4. The electric current supplied by a

battery in a digital watch is 3.0 x 10-5
A. What is the quantity of charge that
flows in 2 hours?
A. 2.5 x 10-7 C
B. 1.5 x 10-5 C

2. Why is the filament made in the

C. 6.0 x 10-5 C

shape of a coil?

D. 3.6 x 10-3 C

A. To increase the length and produce

E. 2.2 x 10-1 C

a higher resistance.
B. To increase the current and produce

6. Which of the following circuits can be

used to determine the resistance of the
bulb?

more energy.
C. To decrease the resistance and
produce higher current

A.

D. To decrease the current and produce

a higher potential difference
8. Which of the following will not
affect the resistance of a conducting
wire.

B.

A. temperature
B. length
C. cross-sectional area
D. current flow through the wire

1. The potential difference between two

C.

points in a circuit is
A. the rate of flow of the charge from
one point to another
B. the rate of energy dissipation in
moving one coulomb of charge
from one point to another

D.

- 26 -

C. the work done in moving one

coulomb of charge from one point
to another
D. the work done per unit current
flowing from one point to another
A. P and Q
10.

An electric kettle connected to the

B. P and S

240 V main supply draws a current

C. Q and R

of 10 A. What is the power of the

D. R and S

kettle?

E.

A. 200 W
B. 2000 W
C. 2400 W
D. 3600 W
E. 4800 W
13. In the circuit above, what is the

11. An e.m.f. of a battery is defined as

ammeter reading when the switch S

is turned on?

A. the force supplied to 1 C of charge

A. 1.0 A

B. the power supplied to 1 C of charge

B. 1.5 A

C. the energy supplied to 1 C of

C. 2.0 A

charge

D. 9.0 A

D. the pressure exerted on 1 C of

E. 10.0 A

charge

14. A 2 kW heater takes 20 minutes to

12. Which two resistor combinations have

heat a pail of water. How much

the same resistance between X and Y?

energy is supplied by the heater to

the water in this period of time?
A. 1.2 x 106 J
B. 1.8 x 106 J
C. 2.4 x 106 J

- 27 -

D. 3.6 x 106 J

motor is 80%, how long does it take

E. 4.8 x 106 J

to lift a load of 600 N through a

15. All bulbs in the circuits below are

vertical height of 4 m

identical. Which circuit has the

A. 20 s

B. 40 s

smallest effective resistance?

C. 60 s

D. 80 s

A.

E. 100 s
17. The kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of
measurement of
A. Power

B. Electrical energy

C. Electromotive force
B.

C.

18. The circuit above shows four

D.

identical bulbs to a cell 6 V. Which

bulb labeled A, B, C and D is the
brightest?
19. A 24 resistor is connected across
the terminals of a 12 V battery.
Calculate the power dissipated in the
resistor.

16. An electric motor lifts a load with a

A. 0.5 W

2.0 W

potential difference 12 V and fixed

B. 4.0 W

6.0 W

current 2.5 A. If the efficiency of the

C. 8.0 W

- 28 -