CURRENT ELECTRICITY

Section A

1. In the circuit shown in Fig. the reading of the ammeter is (assume internal resistance of
the battery be to zero)

40 10 5
(a) A (b) A (c) A (d) 2A
29 9 3

2. In the circuit shown in Fig. , resistors X and Y, each with resistance R, are connected
to a 6 V battery of negligible internal resistance. A voltmeter, also of resistance R, is
connected across Y.

What is the reading of the voltmeter?

(a) zero (b) between zero and 3 V
(c)3V (d) between 3 V and 6 V

3. In the shown arrangement of a meter bridge, if AC corresponding to null deflection of

galvanometer is x, what would be its value if the radius of the wire AB is doubled?

(a) x (b) x/4 (c) 4x (d) 2x

4. The length of a wire of a potentiometer is 100 cm, and the emf of its standard cell is E
volt. It is employed to measure the emf of a battery whose internal resistance is 0.5 .
If the balance point is obtained at l = 30 cm from the positive end, the emf of the battery
is
30E 30E 30E 30(E − 0.5i)
(a) (b) (c) (d)
100 100.5 (100 − 0.5) 100

5. In a meter bridge experiment, the null point is obtained at 20 cm from one end of the
wire when resistance X is balanced against another resistance Y. If X <Y, then where
will be the new position of the null point from the same end, if one decides to balance
a resistance of AX against Y ?
(a) 50 cm (b) 80 cm (c) 40 cm (d) 70 cm

6. In the circuit shown in Fig., the galvanometer G shows zero deflection. If the batteries
A and B have negligible internal resistance, the value of the resistor R will be

(a) 1000 (b) 500 (c) 100 (d) 200

7. In a potentiometer experiment, the balancing with a cell is at length 240 cm. On

shunting the cell with a resistance of 2 , the balancing length becomes 120 cm. The
internal resistance of the cell is
(a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 0.5 (d) 1

8. If in an experiment of Wheatstone bridge, the positions of cells and galvanometer are

interchanged, then the balance points will
(a) change (b) remain unchanged
(c) depend on the internal resistance of the cell and resistance of the galvanometer
(d) none of these

9. Sensitivity of a potentiometer can be increased by

(a) increasing the emf of the cell (b) increasing the length of the potentiometer
(c) decreasing the length of the potentiometer wire (d) none of the above

10. The resistance of a galvanometer is 10 . It gives full-scale deflection when 1 mA

current is passed. The resistance connected in series for converting it into a voltmeter
of 2.5 V will be
(a) 24.9 (b) 249 (c) 2490 (d) 24900
11. A milliammeter of range 10 mA has a coil of resistance 1 . To use it as an ammeter of
range 1A, the required shunt must have a resistance of
1 1 1 1
(a) (b) (c) (d)
101 100 99 9

12. Two cells of emfs E1 and E2 (E1 > E2) are connected as shown in Fig.

When a potentiometer is connected between A and B, the balancing length of the

potentiometer wire is 300 cm. On connecting the same potentiometer between A and
C, the balancing length is 100 cm. The ratio E1/E2 is
(a) 3 : 1 (b) 1 : 3 (c) 2 : 3 (d) 3 : 2

13. Figure shows a Wheatstone net, with P = 1000 , Q = 10.0 , R (unknown), S variable
and near 150 for balance. If the connections across A, C and B, D are interchanged,
the error range in R determination would

(a) remain unaffected (b) increase substantially

(c) increase marginally (d) decrease substantially

14. An ideal ammeter (zero resistance) and an ideal voltmeter (infinite resistance) are
connected as shown in Fig. The ammeter and the voltmeter readings are

(a) 6.25 A, 3.75 V (b) 3.00 A, 5 V (c) 3.00 A, 3.75 V (d) 6.00 A, 6.25 V
15. In which of the following arrangements of resistors does the meter M, which has a
resistance of 2 , give the largest reading when the same potential difference is applied
between points P and Q ?

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

16. Figure shows a simple potentiometer circuit for measuring a small emf produced by a
thermocouple.

The meter wire PQ has a resistance of 5 and the driver cell has an emf of 2.00 V. If a
balance point is obtained 0.600 m along PQ when measuring an emf of 6.00 mV, what
is the value of resistance R ?
(a) 95 (b) 995 (c) 195 (d) 1995

17. Figure shows a balanced Wheatstone net. Now, it is disturbed by changing P to 11 .

Which of the following steps will not bring the bridge to balance again?

(a) increasing R by 2 (b) increasing S by 20

(c) increasing Q by 10 (d) making product RQ = 2200 ( )2
18. In an experiment to measure the internal resistance of a cell by a potentiometer, it is
found that the balance point is at a length of 2 m when the cell is shunted by a 5
resistance and is at a length of 3 m when the cell is shunted by a 10 resistance, the
internal resistance of the cell is then
(a) 1.5 (b) 10 (c) 15 (d) 1

19. An 80 galvanometer deflects full-scale for a potential of 20 mV. A voltmeter

deflecting full-scale of 5 V is to be made using this galvanometer. We must connect
(a) a resistance of 19.92 k parallel to the galvanometer
(b) a resistance of 19.92 k in series with the galvanometer
(c) a resistance of 20k parallel to the galvanometer
(d) a resistance of 20k in series with the galvanometer

20. A voltmeter having a resistance of 1800 is employed to measure the potential

difference across 200 resistance, which is connected to dc power supply of 50 V and
internal resistance 20 . What is the approximate percentage change in the potential
difference across 200 resistance as a result of connecting the voltmeter across it?

(a) 2.2% (b) 5% (c) 10% (d) 20%

21. In the given circuit, the voltmeter and the electric cell are ideal. Find the reading of the
voltmeter

(a) 1 V (b) 2 V (c) 3 V (d) none of these

22. A, B, and C are voltmeters of resistance R, 1.5R, and 3R, respectively. When some
potential difference is applied between X and Y, the voltmeter readings are VA, VB, and
VC, respectively. Then

(a) VA = VB = VC (b) VA VB = VC (c) CA = VB VC (d) VB VA = VC

23. A milliammeter of range 10 mA and resistance is joined in a circuit as shown in Fig.

The meter gives full-scale deflection for current I when A and B are used as its
terminals. If current enters at A and leaves at B (C is left isolated), the value of I is

(a) 100 mA (b) 900 mA (c) 1A (d) 1.1 A

24. If a shunt 1/10 of the coil resistance is applied to a moving coil galvanometer, its
sensitivity becomes
1 1
(a) 10 fold (b) 11 fold (c) fold (d) fold
10 11

25. In Fig., when an ideal voltmeter is connected across 4000 resistance, it reads 30 V.
If the voltmeter is connected across 3000 resistance, it will read

(a) 20 V (b) 22.5 V (c) 35 V (d) 40 V

26. A voltmeter has a resistance of G ohm and range V volt. The value of resistance used
in series to convert it into voltmeter of range nV volt is
(a) nG (b) (n - 1)G (c) G/n (d) G/(n - 1)

27. A galvanometer has a resistance of 3663 . A shunt S is connected across it such that
1/34 of the total current passes through the galvanometer. The value of the shunt is
(a) 3663 (b) 111 (c) 107.7 (d) 3553.3

28. Equivalent resistance between A and B in Fig. is

(a) 8r/7 (b) 7r/8 (c) 3r/4 (d)

29. In the circuit shown in Fig., the current I has a value equal to

(a) 1A (b) 2 A (c) 4 A (d) 3.5 A

30. Figure shows two squares, X and Y, cut from a sheet of metal of uniform thickness t.
X and Y have sides of length L and 2 L, respectively.

The resistances Rx and Ry of the squares are measured between the opposite faces
shaded in Fig.. What is the value of Rx/Ry ?
(a) ¼ (b) 1/2 (c) 1 (d) 2
31. The equivalent resistance between A and B in the network in Fig. is

4 3
(a) (b) (c) 3 (d) 2
3 2

32. The masses of the three wires of copper are in the ratio 1 : 3 : 5. And their lengths are
in the ratio 5 : 3 : 1. The ratio of their electrical resistance is
(a) 1 : 3 : 5 (b) 5 : 3 : 1 (c) 1 : 15 : 125 (d) 125 : 15 : 1

33. In the part of a circuit shown in Fig., the potential difference (VG - VH) between points
G and H will be

(a) 0 V (b) 15 V (c) 7 V (d) 3 V

34. What resistor should be connected in parallel with the 20 resistor in branch ADC in
the circuit shown in Fig. so that potential difference between B and D may be zero?

(a) 20 (b) 10 (c) 5 (d) 15

35. Find out the value of resistance R in Fig.

(a) 100 (b) 200 (c) 50 (d) 150

1. In Fig., find the value of resistor to be connected between C and D, so that the resistance
of the entire circuit between A and B does not change with the number of elementary
sets.

(a) R (b) R ( )
3 −1 (c) 3R (d) R ( )
3 +1
2. A wire of length L and three identical cells of negligible internal resistances are
connected in series. Due to the current, the temperature of the wire is raised by T in a
time t. A number N of similar cells is now connected in series with a wire of the same
material and cross section but of length 2L. The temperature of the wire is raised by the
same amount T in the same time t. The value of N is
(a) 4 (b) 6 (c) 8 (d) 9

3. To get maximum current through a resistance of 2.5 , one can use m rows of cells,
each row having n cells. The internal resistance of each cell is 0.5 . What are the
values of n and m, if the total number of cells is 45.
(a) 3, 15 (b) 5,6 (c) 9,5 (d) 15,3

4. In the given circuit, with steady current, the potential of point A must be

(a) 1 V (b) 3 V (c) 4 V (d) 2 V

5. The operating temperature of the filament of lamp is 2000°C. The temperature

coefficient of the material of the filament is 0.005 °C-1. If the atmospheric temperature
is 0°C, then the current in the 100 W-200 V lamp when it is switched on is nearest to
(a) 2.5 A (b) 3.5 A (c) 4.5 A (d) 5.5 A
6. All bulbs in Fig. are indentical. Which bulb lights more brightly?

(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 4

7. Which of the two switches S1 and S2 shown in Fig. will produce short-circuiting?

(a) S1 (b) S2 (c) Both S1 and S2 (d) Neither S1 nor S2

8. Two similar headlight lamps are connected in parallel to each other. Together, they
consume 48 W from a 6 V battery. What is the resistance of each filament?
(a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 3.0 (d) 1.5

9. Two electric bulbs, rated for the same voltage, have powers of 200 W and 100 W,
respectively. If their resistances are r1 and r2, respectively, then
(a) r1 = 2r2 (b) r2 = 2r1 (c) r2 = 4r1 (d) r1 = 4r2

10. If the current in an electric bulb decreases by 0.5%, the power in the bulb decreases by
approximately
(a) 1% (b) 2% (c) 0.5% (d) 0.25%

11. An electric bulb rated for 500 W at 100 V is used in a circuit having a 200 V supply.
The resistance R that must be put in series with the bulb, so that the bulb draws 500 W,
is
(a) 18 (b) 20 (c) 40 (d) 700

12. A 1°C rise in temperature is observed in a conductor by passing a certain current. If the
current is doubled, then the rise in temperature is approximately
(a) 2.5°C (b) 4°C (c) 2°C (d) 1°C
13. Two electric bulbs have tungsten filament of same length. If one of them gives 60 W
and the other 100 W, then
(a) 100 W bulb has thicker filament (b) 60 W bulb has thicker filament
(c) both filaments are of same thickness
(d) it is not possible to get different wattages unless the lengths are different
14. n identical light bulbs, each designed to draw p power from a certain voltage supply,
are joined in series across that supply. The total power which they will draw is
(a) nP (b) P (c) P/n (d) P/n2

15. How many calories of heat will be approximately developed in a 210 W electric bulb
+in 5 min ?
(a) 15,000 (b) 1050 (c) 63,000 (d) 80,000
 Answer

1. Sol. (d) Voltage across 5 is 10 V. Therefore,

2. Sol. (b) The circuit may be redrawn as follows:

6 4
Current is given by I = = A
3
R R
2
Therefore, current through the voltmeter is I/2 or2/R A.
Hence, the reading of the voltmeter is (2/R)(R) or 2 V.
10
I= A = 2A
5

3. Sol. (a) At null point, R1/R2= R3/R4 = x/(100 - x). If radius of the wire is doubled, then the
resistance of AC will change and the resistance of CB will also change. But since
R1/R2 does not change, so R3/R4 should also not change at null point. Therefore, point
C does not change.

4. Sol. (a) Using the principle of potentiometer, V l. So

V l l 30 30E
= or V = E = E=
E L L 100 100

X 20 1
5. Sol. (a) = = or Y = 4X
Y 80 4
4X l 4X l
= or = or l = 50 cm
Y 100 − I 4X 100 − l

6. Sol. (c) Current through R is 12/(500 + R)

12R
Voltage across R is
500 + R
Since galvanometer shows zero deflection, so
 12R
=2 or R = 100
500 + R

l1 − l2 240 − 120
7. Sol. (a) r = R= ×2 =2
l2 120

8. Sol. (b) When Wheatstone bridge is balanced,

P R P Q
= or =
Q S R S
If the galvanometer is replaced with a cell in balanced Wheatstone bridge, the

condition for

balanced bridge will be P/R = Q/S, which is there. Hence, balance point will remain
unchanged, where galvanometer shows no current.

9. Sol. (b) Sensitivity of potentiometer means the smallest potential difference it can
measure. It can be increased by reducing the potential gradient. The same is possible
by increasing the length of the potentiometer.

V 2.5
10. Sol. (c) ig = or 10−3 = or R = 2490
G+R 10 + R

ig G 0.01 1 1
11. Sol. (c) S = = =
(I − i g ) 1 − 0.02 99

12. Sol. (d)

E1 300, E1 - E2 100
E1
= 3 or E1 = 3E1 - 3E2
E1 − E 2
E1 3
or 3E2 = 2E1 or =
E2 2

13. Sol. (d)

R is the order of 15,000 . The junctions of the highest two and the lowest two
resistances are A and C, and for better sensitivity, the galvanometer will be between
these. So, error will decrease with the suggested interchange. Alternatively: Let R be
not exactly 15,000 . Then some potential difference will be created between points
B and D, Let it be V1. Now suppose the connections are interchanged, then the same
type of potential difference will be created between points A and C. Let it be V2. On
calculating, we can find that V2 > V1.
 So larger current will flow through galvanometer in the second case telling us that
value of R needs to be changed. And we will try to put more accurate value of R. In
this way, error will decrease.

14. Sol. (b) Total resistance is

5 15
+ 1.25
5 + 15
75
= + 1.25 = (3.75 + 1.25) =5
20
20
I= A = 4A
5
Voltmeter reading = Potential drop across 1.25 = 4 × 1.25V = 5V

1.03 = 1 × R or R = 1.03

15. Sol. (c) If V is the potential difference applied across P and Q, the current through M is
determined as follows:
Circuit Current

(a) V/4

(b) 3V/8

(c) V/2

(d) V/3

Hence, circuit arrangement (c) gives the largest reading in ammeter M.

16. Sol. (b) The voltage per unit length on the meter wire PQ is
6.00mV
or 10 mVm-1
0.60m
Hence, potential across the meter wire PQ is 10 mVm-1(1 m) = 10 mV. Current drawn
from the driver cell is
10mV
I= = 2mA
5
Resistance of the resistor R is
2V − 10mV 1990mV
R= = = 995
2mA 2mV

17. Sol. (b) P/Q = R/S. If P is increased, then either R or Q should be increased or S should
be decreased.
18. Sol. (b) In case of internal resistance measurement by potentiometer,
V1 l1 [ER 1 /(R 1 + r)] R 1 (R 2 + r)
= = =
V2 l2 [ER 2 /(R 2 + r)] R 2 (R 1 + r)
Here l1 =2m, l2 = 3m, R1 = 5 , and R2 = 10 . So
2 5(10 + r)
= or r = 10
3 10(5 + r)

19. Sol. (b) The current through the galvanometer producing full-scale deflection is
V 20 10−3
I= = = 2.5 10−4 A
R 80
To convert the galvanometer into a voltmeter, a high resistance is connected in series
with the galvanometer.
Therefore, 5 V = (2.5 × 10-4)(R + 80) or R = 19.92 k

50
20. Sol. (a) V1 =E - ir = 50 - 20
220
= 50 - 4.6 = 45.4 V
50
Now, V2 = 50 - × 20 = 44.4 V
180
50
Now, V2 = 50 - × 20 = 44.4 V
180
V − V2
Percentage change = 1 × 100
V1
= 2.27 (also see the question)

21. Sol. (a) The electric current through ideal voltmeter is zero. According to the loop rule,
E 2
E - 1 × I - 1 × 1 = 0 or I = = = 1A
2 2
Reading of the voltmeter is
VA - VB = [1 × I] = [1 × 1] = 1V

22. Sol. (a) VA = iR,

2i
VB = × 1.5R = iR, VC = (i/3)(3R) = iR
3

23. Sol. (c) ig= 10mA = 0.01 A

VA - VB = (I - ig) 0.1 = ig(9 + 0.9)
 10 0.01
or I= = 1A
0.1

Ig S (G /10) 1
24. Sol. (d) = = =
I S + G (G /10) + G 11
Initially, 1 = /Ig (i)
Finally, after the shunt is used,
f = /I

/ I Ig 1
f
= = = (ii)
i / Ig I 11
So current sensitivity becomes 1/11-fold.

25. Sol. (b) Let I be the current in the circuit, then I × 4000 = 30 V.
If voltmeter is put across 3000 resistance, then reading of voltmeter is I × 3000 =
30
× 3000 = 22.5 V
4000

26. Sol. (b) We know that

V
R = −G
Ig
The voltmeter gives the full-scale deflection for potential difference V. Its resistance
is G.
Hence, Ig = (V/G).
Given that V = nV. Therefore,
nV
R= - G = (n - 1)G
(V / G)

Ig S 1 S
27. Sol. (b) = or =
I S + G 34 S + G
S = (G/33) = (3663/33) = 111

28. Sol. (b) The figure can be redrawn as shown. Connect a battery between
A and B. Now Req = V/I.
 I − 2I1
In ACEA, I1r = r + (I - 2I1)r or 3I = 8I1
2
I 3 I 7r
In FACBGF, V = I1r + r = Ir + r = I
2 8 2 8
V 7r
or R eq = =
I 8

29. Sol. (a) The equivalent resistance of resistors is

4 15 E 10
R = 2+ + =9 , I = = = 1A
2 3 r + R 1+ 9

30. Sol. (c) The resistance of the square X is given by

L
RX = =
Lt t
Where is the resistivity on the metal. Similarly,
2L
RY = =
(2L)t t
same as before. Hence, RX/RY = 1

31. Sol. (a) The equivalent of the network is given in Fig.

The equivalent of the above network is a parallel combination of 3 , 4 and 6 , i.e.,

1 1 1 1 4
= + + or R =
R 3 4 6 3

l l2 l2 l2 dl2 l2
32. Sol. (d) R = = = = = or R
A Al V m / d m m
l12 l22 l32 25 9 1
R1 : R 2 : R 3 = : : = : : = 125 :15 :1
m1 m 2 m3 1 3 5
33. Sol. (c) Current through 1 resistance will be 2 A in the upward direction.
VG - 2 × 4 + 3 - 2 × 2 + 2 × 1 = VH or VG - VH = 7V

(20R) /(20 + R) 20
34. Sol. (a) = or R = 20
5 10

35. Sol. (a) Potential difference across C and D is 100 V.

100
Hence, I1 = = 1A, VAC = 120 - 100 = 20 V
100
20
And I = = 2A.
10
Hence, I2 = 2 - 1 = 1 A
R =100/I2 = 100

36. Sol. (b) Let the resistor to be connected across CD be x. Then the equivalent resistance
across EF should be x and also across AB should be x. So we get

(2R + x)R
=x
3R + x
Solve to get x = ( 3 − 1)R

37. Sol. (b) Let R be the resistance of the wire and let R' be the resistance of the wire. Energy
released in t seconds is (3V2)/R × t.
R' = 2R (as length is twice)
(NV 2 )
Therefore, energy released in t seconds is t
2R
But Q = mc T
(N 2 V 2 )
Q' = t
2R
 (9V 2 )
mc T = t
R
Applying Q' = m'c T,
Applying Q' = m'c T,
(N 2 V 2 )
2mc T = t
2R
Dividing Eq. (ii) by Eq. (i), we get
mc T 9V 2 t / R
= 2 2
2mc T N V t / 2R
1 9 2
= or N=6
2 N2

38. Sol. (d) Since total number of cell is 45, mn = 45 (i)

Now n cells are in series, then resistance is n × 0.5
Now there are m rows with such series, then
1 1 1
= + + ......(m times)
R eq n 0.5 n 0.5

n 0.5 nE
R eq = = 2.5 I=
m R + req
n = 5m (ii)
Using Eqs. (i) and (ii), m = 3 and n = 15

39. Sol. (d) In the steady state condition, no current will flow through the capacitor C.
2V − V V
Current in the outer circuit is I = =
2R + R 3R
Potential difference between A and B is Va - V + V + IR = VB
V V
VB − VA = IR = R=
3R 3

200 200
40. Sol. (d) R 200 = = 400
100
So 400 = R0 [1+ 0.005 × 2000]
400
or R0 = = 36
11
Hence, current
200
I= = 5.5A
R0

41. Sol. (a) Maximum current flows through bulb 1.

42. Sol. (b) When switch S2 is closed, the whole of current shall flow through the
connecting wire only, which is supposed to have zero resistance.

43. Sol. (d) Power consumed by each lamp is 24 W.

Hence, using R = (V2/P), we find R = (36/24) = 1.5 .

V 2 P1 R 2
44. Sol. (b) P = , = or r2 = 2r1
R P2 R1

dP dI
45. Sol. (a) p = i2R, = 2 = 2 × 0.5% = 1%
P I

P 500W
46. Sol. (b) P = VI OR I = or I = = 5A
V 100V

Now, 5R = 100 or R = 20

47. Sol. (b) When current is doubled, heating effect increases four times.
Now, Q T. So, T increases four times.

48. Sol. (a) P = V2/R. If P is more, R is less.

R = l/a.
For less R, a is more. So the 100 W bulb has thicker element.

nV 2
49. Sol. (c) Total resistance = .
P
V2P P
Power = =
nV 2 n

210 5 60
50. Sol. (a) Heat in calories = = 15, 000
4.2