If we did all things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.

– Thomas A. Edison

Monday, October 23, 2006

Direct Current Circuits

The following simple question appeared in Kerala Medical Entrance 2006 test paper:
Four cells each of emf 2V and internal resistance 1Ω are connected in parallel to a load resistor of 2Ω. Then the current through the load resistor is
(a) 2A (b) 1.5A (c) 1A (d) 0.888A (e) 0.75A
Since the cells are connected in parallel, the internal resistance of the combination is 1/4=0.25Ω. If ‘R’ is the load resistance and ‘r’ is the internal resistance, the current through load resistance= V/(R+r) = 2/(2+0.25) = 0.888A. So (d) is the correct option.
Now consider the following M.C.Q. which appeared in the question paper of Karnataka C.E.T.2003:
Two wires of the same dimensions but resistivities ρ1 and ρ2 are connected in series. The equivalent resistivity of the combination is
(a) 2(ρ1 + ρ2) (b) √(ρ1ρ2) (c) (ρ1 + ρ2)/2 (d) ρ1 + ρ2
If R1 and R2 are the resistances of the wires, R1 = ρ1L/A and R = ρ2L/A where L and A are the length and the cross section area respectively. When the wires are connected in series the total length is 2L and the total resistance is R1 + R2. Hence the resistivity of the combination is given by ρ = (R1 + R2)A/2L = (R1A/2L) + (R2A/2L) = ρ1/2 + ρ2/2. The correct option therefore is (c).
Suppose we make this question a bit more complicated by making the lengths of the two wires different (say, L1 and L2). Then, ρ = (R1 + R2)A/(L1 + L2) = [(ρ1L1/A) + (ρ2 L2/A)] A/(L1 + L2) = (ρ1L1 + ρ2L2)/(L1 + L2).
Now, consider the following question:
The heat produced per second in a 2Ω resistor on connecting it across a battery is the same as the heat produced per second in an 8Ω resistor on connecting it across the same battery after disconnecting the 2Ω resistor. The internal resistance of the battery is
(a) 4Ω (b) 5Ω (c) 6Ω (d) √10 Ω (e) 3.3Ω

It is convenient to remember the internal resistance as √(R1R2) in situations like this. The answer is √(2×8) = 4 Ω. You can work it out from ‘first principles’ like this:
The currents through the resistors in the two cases are V/(2 + r) and V/(8 + r) with usual notations. Equating the powers (I2R values), we have, [V/(2 + r)]2×2 = [V/(8 + r)]2×8, from which r = 4 Ω.
Let us consider the following question also taken from Karnataka C.E.T.2003 question paper:
If a 30V, 90W bulb is to be worked on 120V line, the resistance to be connected in series with the bulb is
(a) 40 Ω (b) 30 Ω (c) 20 Ω (d) 10 Ω
30V, 90W bulb means the power consumed by the bulb on connecting it across a 30volt supply is 90 watt. The current drawn by this bulb (while incandescent) is 90watt/30 volt = 3 ampere and the resistance of this bulb is 30V/3A = 10 Ω. The problem is basically to find out the resistance required to limit the current to 3A. If R is the resistance required in series with the bulb, we have, 120volt/(10 + R)ohm = 3 ampere. Therefore, R = 30 Ω.

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