Physics 302/328 Homework

Chapter 1, #1,3,5,12,14,15,23,25,27,28

1.1 If 60 C of charge pass through an electric conductor in 30 seconds,

determine the current in the conductor.
Solution: I = DQ/Dt = 60 C / 30 s = 2 C/s = 2 Amperes

1.3 If the current in an electric conductor is 1.5 A, how many coulombs of

charge pass any point in a time interval of 1.5 minutes?
Solution: DQ = I Dt = 1.5 C/s * 90 s
In[1]:=
Out[1]=

1.5 HCoulomb SecondL * 90 Second

135. Coulomb

1.5 A lightning bolt carrying 20,000 A lasts for 70 microseconds. If the

lightning strikes a tractor, what charge is deposited on the tractor it the
tires are assumed to be perfect insulators?
Solution: DQ = I Dt = 20,000 C/s * 70 ms
In[2]:=
Out[2]=

20 000 HCoulomb SecondL * I70 * 10-6 SecondM N

1.4 Coulomb

Chapter 1.nb

1.12 Determine the missing quantity in the circuits below.

Solution:
a) I = P/ V = 72 W / 24 V = + 3 A
b) P = 6 V * (-4 A) = - 24 Watts (remember the passive sign convention?)

1.14 Determine the missing quantity in the circuits below.

Solution:
a) I = P/ V = 12 W / (-6 V) = - 2 A (Hint: redraw the circuit with the + sign at the top and V1
= +6V... The current must flow into the square box for P to be positive => I must be
negative.)
b) V = P / I = - (- 24 W) / (2 A) = -12 V (Current entering the negative side of the square
box, should produce negative power dissipated, according to the passive sign convention.
In this case, V * I = - P, V = - P / I.)

1.15 Two elements are connected in series, as shown below. Element 1

supplies 24 W of power. Is element 2 absorbing or supplying power, and

Chapter 1.nb

1.15 Two elements are connected in series, as shown below. Element 1

supplies 24 W of power. Is element 2 absorbing or supplying power, and
how much?

Chapter 1.nb

Solution:
Element 1 -> - 24 W of power => I = -24 W / 3 V = - 8 A. The current into the + terminal is 8 A, which is equivalent to + 8 A going out of the + terminal.
This means that + 8 A is going into the + terminal of element 2. Element 2 is absorbing
power (P is positive), and P = 6 V * 8 A = +48 W

1.23 Find the power that is absorbed or supplied by each of the circuit
elements in the two circuits shown in the figure below.

Solution:
a) P(voltage source) = 12V * (- 2 A) = - 24 W absorbed = + 24 W supplied.
P(element 1) = 4 v * 2 A = + 8 W absorbed
P(element 1) = 8 V * 2 A = + 16 W absorbed.
Note that power absorbed = -24 W + 8 W + 16 W = 0 W
=> power absorbed = power supplied
b) P(24 volt source) = 24V * (- 1 A) = - 24 W absorbed = + 24 W supplied.
P(8 volt source) = 8 v * 1 A = + 8 W absorbed
P(element 1) = 16 V * 1 A = + 16 W absorbed.
Note that power absorbed = -24 W + 8 W + 16 W = 0 W
=> power absorbed = power supplied

1.25 Is the source Vs in the network below absorbing of supplying power,

and how much?

Chapter 1.nb

1.25 Is the source Vs in the network below absorbing of supplying power,

and how much?

Solution:
P(10 V element) = 10 V * (+3 A) absorbed = +30 W absorbed
P(6 V element) = 6 V * 3 A = +18 W absorbed
P(8 V element) = 8 V * 6 A = + 48 W absorbed
P(current source) = 16 V * (-9 A) = - 144 W absorbed= +144 W supplied
Adding up the powers: 30W + 18W + 48W + (-144W) = -48 W => the supply with Vs
absorbs +48 W.
Unknown supply: +48W / 6 A = +8 V = Vs

1.27 Find Vx in the network shown below.

Chapter 1.nb

Chapter 1.nb

Solution:
In the next chapter, we will use Kirchhoff's currnet law to solve problems like this one. In
this chapter, we will use power calculations.
12V (1 A) + 12 V (1 A) + 24 V (1 A) + 24 V(-4 A) + 16 V(2 A) + Vx (2 A) = 0
Vx = 8 V

1.28 Compute the power that is absorbed or supplied by each of the

elements in the network shown below

Solution:
P(36 V) = 36 V (-4 A) = -144 W => +144 W supplied.
P(element 1) = 12 V (4 A) = +48 W absorbed
P(element 2) = 24 V (2 A) = +48 W absorbed
P(element 3) = 28 V(2 A) = +56 W absorbed
P(dependent source) = 4V (-2 A) = -8 W absorbed = +8 W supplied.