D.C.

CIRCUITS
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
Difference between Electromotive Force (e.m.f) & LGS, BLL, ALJT, ALBT, TCS-Ravi
TCS-ALCG, SALT Academy
Potential Difference (p.d.):
teacher_786@hotmail.com
e.m.f p.d.

Definition 1
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
LGS, BLL, ALJT, ALBT, TCS-Ravi
TCS-ALCG, SALT Academy
teacher_786@hotmail.com

Definition 2

Q.1 An electrical
Converted by a source in driving unit charge round
a complete circuit. What is this quantity called?
A current B potential difference C electromotive force D power
{June 06/Q. 30, une 03/Q. 25, June 02/Q. 26}
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
Circuit Symbols: LGS, BLL,
LGS, BLL, ALJT,
ALJT, ALBT,
ALBT, TCS-Ravi
TCS-Ravi
TCS-ALCG, SALT Academy
teacher_786@hotmail.com
Arrangement of Cells:

Arrangement Series combination Parallel Combination

Current /A

Voltage /A
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
Measuring Devices: LGS, BLL, ALJT, ALBT, TCS-Ravi
TCS-ALCG, SALT Academy
teacher_786@hotmail.com
Ammeter Voltmeter

Purpose

Symbol

Connectivity

Note

Combination of Resistors:
Combination Series combination Parallel combination

Circiut

Identification

Current

Voltage (pd)
Total
Resistance

Total Resistance of two resistors in parallel:

Hint to attempt questions:

Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
LGS, BLL, ALJT, ALBT, TCS-Ravi
TCS-ALCG, SALT Academy
teacher_786@hotmail.com
Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
LGS, BLL, ALJT, ALBT, TCS-Ravi
TCS-ALCG, SALT Academy
teacher_786@hotmail.com
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
Types of Circuit: LGS, BLL, ALJT, ALBT, TCS-Ravi
TCS-ALCG, SALT Academy
teacher_786@hotmail.com
Type Open Circuit Closed Circuit Short Circuit

Arrangemet

Current/A
Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
LGS, BLL, ALJT, ALBT, TCS-Ravi
TCS-ALCG, SALT Academy
teacher_786@hotmail.com
 14

7 A network of resistors, each of resistance R, is shown in Fig. 7.1. For

Examiner’s
Use
A Z

R R

R
B Y

R
C X

Fig. 7.1

(a) Calculate the total resistance, in terms of R, between points

(i) A and C,

resistance = ................................................ [1]

(ii) B and X,

resistance = ................................................ [1]

(iii) A and Z.

resistance = ................................................ [1]

© UCLES 2009 9702/21/M/J/09

 13

7 (a) A network of resistors, each of resistance R, is shown in Fig. 7.1. For

Examiner’s
Use

R R
X

S1 S2
Y

R R

Fig. 7.1

Switches S1 and S2 may be ‘open’ or ‘closed’.

Complete Fig. 7.2 by calculating the resistance, in terms of R, between points X and Y
for the switches in the positions shown.

switch S1 switch S2 resistance between points X and Y

open open ..............................................................

open closed ..............................................................

closed closed ..............................................................

Fig. 7.2
[3]

© UCLES 2009 9702/22/M/J/09 [Turn over

 14 For
Examiner’s
Use
7 A circuit contains three similar lamps A, B and C. The circuit also contains three switches,
S1, S2 and S3, as shown in Fig. 7.1.

A
X

S1 S2 S3

B C

Fig. 7.1

One of the lamps is faulty. In order to detect the fault, an ohm-meter (a meter that measures
resistance) is connected between terminals X and Y. When measuring resistance, the ohm-
meter causes negligible current in the circuit.

Fig. 7.2 shows the readings of the ohm-meter for different switch positions.

switch meter reading

S1 S2 S3 /Ω

open open open ∞

closed open open 15 Ω
open closed open 30 Ω
open closed closed 15 Ω

Fig. 7.2

(a) Identify the faulty lamp, and the nature of the fault.

faulty lamp: .......................................................................................................................

nature of fault: ............................................................................................................. [2]

(b) Suggest why it is advisable to test the circuit using an ohm-meter that causes negligible
current rather than with a power supply.

..........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

© UCLES 2006 9702/02/M/J/06

 15 For
Examiner’s
Use
(c) Determine the resistance of one of the non-faulty lamps, as measured using the ohm-
meter.

resistance = …………………… Ω [1]

(d) Each lamp is marked 6.0 V, 0.20 A.

Calculate, for one of the lamps operating at normal brightness,

(i) its resistance,

resistance = …………………… Ω [2]

(ii) its power dissipation.

power = …………………… W [2]

(e) Comment on your answers to (c) and (d)(i).

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................[2]

© UCLES 2006 9702/02/M/J/06 [Turn over

 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
DC CIRCUITS MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
teacher_786@hotmail.com

1. A cell of e.m.f. 2.0 V and negligible internal

resistance is connected to the network of resistors
shown.

V1 is the potential difference between S and P. V2

is the potential difference between S and Q. What
is the value of V1 V2?
A +0.50 V B +0.20 V
C 0.20 V D 0.50 V
{Q.33/P1/June 2007, Q.14/P1/9243-Nov. 2000}
2. The diagram represents a circuit.

{Q.37/P1/ Nov. 2006}

5. A p.d. of 12 V is connected between P and Q.

Some currents have been shown on the diagram. What is the p.d. between X and Y?
What are the currents I1 and I2? A0V B4V C6V D8V
I1 I2 {Q.33/P1/June 2006}
A 0.2 mA 10.8 mA 6. The diagram shows an arrangement of resistors.
B 0.2 mA 30.8 mA
C -0.2 mA 20.0 mA
D -0.2 mA 30.8 mA
{Q.36/P1/Nov. 2006}
3. When four identical lamps P, Q, R and S are
connected as shown in diagram 1, they have
normal brightness.
What is the total electrical resistance between X and
Y?
A B
C D
{Q.35/P1/June 2006}
7. The diagram shows a battery, a fixed resistor, an
ammeter and a variable resistor connected in series.
A voltmeter is connected across the fixed resistor.
The four lamps and the battery are then connected
as shown in diagram 2.
Which statement is correct?
A The lamps do not light.
B The lamps are less bright than normal.
C The lamps have normal brightness.
D The lamps are brighter than normal.
{Q.36/P1/June 2006}
4. The value of the variable resistor is reduced.Which
the terminals? correctly describes the changes in the readings of the
ammeter and of the voltmeter?
ammeter voltmeter
A decrease decrease
B decrease increase
C increase decrease
D increase increase
{Q. 35/P1/June 2004}
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
DC CIRCUITS MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
teacher_786@hotmail.com

8. Three resistors are connected in series with a 12. When four identical lamps P, Q, R and S are
battery as shown in the diagram. The battery has connected as shown in diagram 1, they have normal
negligible internal resistance. brightness.

When the four lamps are connected as shown in

resistor? diagram 2, which statement is correct?
A 1.6 V B 2.4 V C 3.6 V D 6.0 V A The lamps do not light.
{Q.36/P1/Nov. 2005} B The lamps are less bright than normal.
C The lamps have normal brightness.
9. The diagram shows a circuit in which the battery D The lamps are brighter than normal.
has negligible internal resistance. {Q.32/P1/June 2002}

13. In the circuit shown, the ammeters have negligible

resistance and the voltmeters have infinite
resistance.

What is the value of the current I ?

A 1.0A B 1.6A C 2.0A D 3.0A
{Q.31/P1/Nov. 2003,Q.14/P1/9243-Nov. 1999}

10. Which diagram shows a potential divider circuit

that can vary the voltage across the lamp?

The readings on the meters are I1, I2, V1 and V2, as

labelled on the diagram. Which is correct?
A I1 > I2 and V1 > V2 B I1 > I2 and V1 < V2
C I1 < I2 and V1 > V2 D I1 < I2 and V1 < V2
{Q.37/P1/Nov. 2004}

14. The diagram shows two circuits. In these circuits,

only the internal resistances differ.

{Q.33/P1/Nov. 2003}
11. The diagram shows a parallel combination of
three resistors.The total resistance of the Which line in the table is correct?
combination is 3 potential difference power dissipated
resistor
greater in X than in less in X than in
A
Y Y
greater in X than in greater in X than
B
Y in Y
less in X than in
What is the resistance of resistor X? C less in X than in Y
Y
A B greater in X than
C D D less in X than in Y
in Y
{ Q. 37/P1/June 2004} {Q.34/P1/Nov. 2003}
The diagram shows an arrangement of four
resistors.

What is the resistance between X and Y?

A B C D
{Q.33/P1/June 2003}
The circuit diagram shows a network of resistors,
each of resistance R.

What is the effective resistance between the points

X and Y.
A 2R / 7 BR/2
C 2R / 3 D 5R / 8

A cell has internal resistance. It is connected to a

resistor R, a switch and a high resistance voltmeter
as shown in the diagram.

When the switch is closed, what does the reading

on the voltmeter represent?
A the electromotive force of the cell
B the potential difference across R
C the
resistance
D the sum of the potential difference across R and

The e.m.f. of the cell in the following circuit is

9.0V. The reading on the high-resistance
voltmeter is 7.5V.

What is the current I ?

A 0.1A B 0.5A
C 0.6A D 2.0A
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
POTENTIOMETER (Page 1) MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
teacher_786@hotmail.com

1. A circuit is set up with an LDR and a fixed

resistor as shown.

What are the conditions of temperature and light

level?
temperature light level
A low low
The voltmeter reads 4 V. B low high
The light intensity is increased. C high low
What is a possible voltmeter reading? D high high
A 3V B 4V C 6V D8V {Q.37P1/Nov. 2005}
{Q.34/P1/June 2007} The diagram shows a potential divider circuit
2. The diagram shows a potentiometer and a fixed 5. designed to provide a variable output p.d.
resistor connected across a 12 V battery of
negligible internal resistance.

Which gives the available range of output p.d?

Maximum output Minimum output
The fixed resistor and the potentiometer each have A 3.0 V 0
B 4.5 V 0
provide a variable output voltage. C 9.0 V 0
What is the range of output voltages? D 9.0 V 4.5 V
A0 6V B 0 12 V {Q. 36/P1/Nov. 2004}
C 6 12 V D 12 20 V 6. The diagram shows a potential divider connected to
{Q.34/P1/ Nov. 2006} a 9.0 V supply of negligible internal resistance.
3. The diagram shows a light-dependent resistor
(LDR) and a thermistor forming a potential
divider.

What range of voltages can be obtained between P

and Q?
A zero to 1.5V B zero to 7.5V
C 1.5 V to 7.5V D 1.5 V to 9.0V
{Q.34/P1/June 2003}
7. A light-dependent resistor (LDR) and a resistor of
Under which set of conditions will the potential
difference across the thermistor have the greatest lines held at +30 V and 0 V as shown.
value?
illumination temperature
A low low
B high low
C low high
D high high
{Q.37/P1/June 2006}
4. In the circuit shown on next column, the reading
VT on the voltmeter changes from high to low as
the temperature of the thermistor changes. The
reading VL on the voltmeter changes from high to What is the corresponding change in the potential at
low as the level of light on the light-dependent X?
resistor (LDR) changes.The readings on VT and A a rise of 15 V B a fall of 15 V
VL are both high. C a fall of 25 V D a rise of 25 V
{Q.36/P1/Specimen paper June 2001}
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
POTENTIOMETER (Page 2) MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
teacher_786@hotmail.com

8. Which diagram shows a potential divider circuit Theory question:

that can vary the voltage across the lamp? Figure 1 shows a linear variable resistor of resistance

variable potential difference across a circuit.

6.0 V

CIRCUIT

Figure 1
{Q.33/P1/Nov. 2003}
9. A potential divider is used to give outputs of 2 V (a) Determine the potential difference across the
and 3V from a 5 V source, as shown. circuit when the slider is
(i) at A

(ii) at B

[2]
(b)
potential difference across the circuit when th slider
is half-way between A and B.

What are possible values for the resistances R1, R2

and R3?
R1 / R2 / R3 /
A 2 1 5
B 3 2 2
C 4 2 4
D 4 6 10
{Q.35/P1/June 2002, Q.35/P1/June 2001}
10.
connected to a 2 V cell of negligible internal
resistance.

Potential difference with slider at half-way position

(c) On Figure 2, sketch how the potential difference

across the circuit varies as the slider is moved from
A to B. [2]

V/V

What is the potential difference between terminals

X and Y?
A 2/3V B 8/9 V C 4/3V D 2V
{Q.36/P1/Nov. 2002} .
A position of slider B
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
POTENTIAL DIVIDER M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)

1 Potential differences across two resistors of 3 A potentiometer circuit is used to determine the
resistances R1 and R2 are compared using a unknown electromotive force (e.m.f.) of a cell X.
potentiometer wire (uniform resistance wire) in In the circuit shown, E is a cell with an e.m.f. that is
the electrical circuit shown. known accurately. QR is the potentiometer wire,
which has a movable contact S. Contact S is
connected to a galvanometer and to cell X.

One terminal of a galvanometer is connected to

point X. The galvanometer reads zero when its What is not a necessary requirement to determine
other terminal is connected to a point that is a the e.m.f. of X from the circuit?
distance of 60 cm from one end of the A The e.m.f. of cell X must be lower than the e.m.f.
potentiometer wire. of cell E.
One terminal of a second galvanometer is B The internal resistance of cell X must be known.
connected to point Y. This galvanometer reads C The lengths QS and QR must be determined
zero accurately.
when its other terminal is connected to a point that D The resistance of the wire QR must be
is a distance of 80 cm from the same end of the proportional to its length.
potentiometer wire.
A cell of constant electromotive force (e.m.f.) but
4 with internal resistance is connected to a fixed
resistor R using a potentiometer. A voltmeter
measures the potential difference (p.d.) between the
terminals of the cell.

A battery of electromotive force (e.m.f.) 9.0 V and

2 internal resistance 1.0 is connected to a fixed
resistor of resistance 5.0 and a potentiometer of
maximum resistance 3.0 , as shown.

Which statement explains the change to the reading

of the voltmeter as contact Z is moved
towards end X of the potentiometer?
A The voltmeter reading decreases because the
current through the cell decreases.
B The voltmeter reading decreases because the
current through the cell increases.
C The voltmeter reading increases because the
current through the cell decreases.
The sliding contact of the potentiometer is moved D The voltmeter reading increases because the
over its full range of movement. current through the cell increases.
What is the maximum value of the potential
difference that is measured by the voltmeter?
A 3.0 V B 3.4 V C 4.5 V D 5.4 V
 14

7 A battery of e.m.f. 4.50 V and negligible internal resistance is connected in series with a fixed
For
resistor of resistance 1200 Ω and a thermistor, as shown in Fig. 7.1. Examiner’s
Use

1200 Ω

4.50 V B

Fig. 7.1

(a) At room temperature, the thermistor has a resistance of 1800 Ω. Deduce that the
potential difference across the thermistor (across AB) is 2.70 V.

[2]

(b) A uniform resistance wire PQ of length 1.00 m is now connected in parallel with the
resistor and the thermistor, as shown in Fig. 7.2.

C P

1200 Ω

4.50 V B V 1.00 m

A Q

Fig. 7.2

© UCLES 2005 9702/02/O/N/05

 15

A sensitive voltmeter is connected between point B and a moveable contact M on the

For
wire. Examiner’s
Use
(i) Explain why, for constant current in the wire, the potential difference between any
two points on the wire is proportional to the distance between the points.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................[2]

(ii) The contact M is moved along PQ until the voltmeter shows zero reading.

1. State the potential difference between the contact at M and the point Q.

potential difference = …………………………. V [1]

2. Calculate the length of wire between M and Q.

length = ………………………….. cm [2]

(iii) The thermistor is warmed slightly. State and explain the effect on the length of wire
between M and Q for the voltmeter to remain at zero deflection.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................[2]

© UCLES 2005 9702/02/O/N/05 [Turn over