AP Physics 1 : Electricity

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics 1

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Example Questions

Example Question #1321 : Ap Physics 1

Basic circuit2

In the circuit above:

\(\displaystyle V_{in}=12V\)

\(\displaystyle Z_1=11\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle Z_2=21\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle Z_3=16\Omega\)

What is the total current in the circuit before it is encounters the parallel connection?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 0.750A\)

\(\displaystyle 128A\)

\(\displaystyle 0.375A\)

\(\displaystyle 1.125A\)

\(\displaystyle 0.250A\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1.125A\)

Explanation:

Begin by finding the resistance of the parallel connection:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{Z}=\frac{1}{Z_1+Z_2}+\frac{1}{Z_3}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{Z}=\frac{1}{32\Omega}+\frac{1}{16\Omega}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{Z}=\frac{3}{32\Omega}\)

\(\displaystyle Z=\frac{32}{3}\Omega\)

The total current is then found using Ohm's law:

\(\displaystyle I=\frac{V_{in}}{Z}\)

\(\displaystyle I=\frac{12V}{\frac{32}{3}\Omega}\)

\(\displaystyle I=1.125A\)

Example Question #61 : Circuits

The following symbol represents what item in a circuit?

Capacitor

Possible Answers:

Inductor

Capacitor

Battery

Resistor

Correct answer:

Capacitor

Explanation:

The symbol for a capacitor is written as a break in the circuit separated by two parallel lines of equal length as shown below. This loosely resembles the most common type of capacitor, a parallel plate capacitor.

Capacitor

Example Question #1 : Series And Parallel

A circuit has a resistor with a resistance of \(\displaystyle 3 \Omega\) followed by three parallel branches, each holding a resistor with a resistance of \(\displaystyle 5 \Omega\). What is the total equivalent resitance of the circuit?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{18}{5}\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{24}{3}\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{14}{3}\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{13}{5}\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle 18 \Omega\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{14}{3}\Omega\)

Explanation:

First, we need to calculate the equivalent resistance of the three resistors in parallel. To do this, we will use the following equation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{R_{eq}} = \sum\frac{1}{R} = \frac{1}{5}+\frac{1}{5}+\frac{1}{5} = \frac{3}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle R_{eq} = \frac{5}{3}\Omega\)

Now, to get the total equivalent resistance, we can simply add the two remaining values, since they are in series:

\(\displaystyle R_{total} = 3\Omega+\frac{5}{3}\Omega = \frac{14}{3}\Omega\)

Example Question #1 : Series And Parallel

Consider the given circuit:

Circuit_2

A voltage is applied across points A and B so that current flows from A, to R2, to B. What is the value of this voltage if the current through R2 is 4A?

\(\displaystyle R1 = 3\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle R2 = 2\Omega\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2.1V\)

\(\displaystyle 5.6V\)

\(\displaystyle 3.2V\)

\(\displaystyle 4.2V\)

\(\displaystyle 1.9A\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 3.2V\)

Explanation:

First, we need to calculate the current flow through R2 without the extra voltage attached. We will need to calculate the total equivalent resistance of the circuit. Since the two resistors are in series, we can simply add them.

\(\displaystyle R_{eq} = R1 + R2 = 3\Omega+2\Omega=5\Omega\)

Then, we can use Ohm's law to calculate the current through the circuit:

\(\displaystyle V = IR\)

\(\displaystyle I=\frac{V}{R}=\frac{12V}{5\Omega} = 2.4A\)

Now that we have the current, we can calculate the additional current that the new voltage contributes:

\(\displaystyle I_{tot}=I+I_{new}\)

\(\displaystyle I_{new}=4A\)

\(\displaystyle I_{new} = 4A-2.4A= 1.6A\)

There is only one resistor (R2) in the path of the new voltage, so we can calculate what that voltage needs to be to deliver the new current:

\(\displaystyle V=IR = (1.6A)(2\Omega)=3.2V\)

Example Question #1 : Series And Parallel

Photo

What is the effective resistance of this DC circuit?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 6.5\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle 2\Omega\)

None of the other answers

\(\displaystyle 13\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle 5.7\Omega\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 6.5\Omega\)

Explanation:

First, let's remind ourselves that the effective resistance of resistors in a series is \(\displaystyle R_{eff}=R_{1}+R_{2}+...\) and the effective resistance of resistors in parallel is \(\displaystyle R_{eff}=\frac{1}{\frac{1}{R_{1}}+\frac{1}{R_{2}}+...}\).

Start this problem by determining the effective resistance of resistors 2, 3, and 4:

\(\displaystyle R_{x}=R_{2}+R_{3}+R_{4}=3\Omega +2\Omega+1\Omega=6\Omega\) (This is because these three resistors are in series.)

Now, the circuit can be simplified to the following:

 Photo1

Next, we will need to determine the effective resistance of resistors \(\displaystyle x\) and 6:

\(\displaystyle R_{y}=\frac{1}{\frac{1}{R_{x}}+\frac{1}{R_{6}}}=\frac{1}{\frac{1}{6\Omega }+\frac{1}{2\Omega }}=1.5\Omega\)

Again, the circuit can be simplified:

Photo2

From here, the effective resistance of the DC circuit can be determined by calculating the effective resistance of resistors \(\displaystyle y\), 1, and 5:

\(\displaystyle R_{eff}=R_{1}+R_{y}+R_{5}=1\Omega+1.5\Omega+4\Omega=6.5\Omega\)

Example Question #1 : Series And Parallel

Two lightbulbs, one graded at \(\displaystyle 40W\) and one graded at \(\displaystyle 60W\) are connected in series to a battery. Which one will be brighter? What if they are connected in parallel?

Possible Answers:

Series: \(\displaystyle 60W\)

Parallel: \(\displaystyle 60W\)

Series: \(\displaystyle 40W\)

Parallel: \(\displaystyle 60W\)

There's not enough information to complete this problem

Series: \(\displaystyle 40W\)

Parallel: \(\displaystyle 60W\)

Series: \(\displaystyle 40W\)

Parallel: \(\displaystyle 60W\)

Series: \(\displaystyle 40W\)

Parallel: \(\displaystyle 40W\)

Correct answer:

Series: \(\displaystyle 40W\)

Parallel: \(\displaystyle 60W\)

Explanation:

The first step to figuring out this problem is to figure out how resistances of light bulb correlate to the power rating. For a resistor, the power dissipated is:

\(\displaystyle P=IV=\frac{V^{2}}{R}\)

Thus, there is an inverse relationship between the resistance of the lightbulb and the power rating. 

The second step is to take a look at circuit elements in series and in parallel. In series, they share the same current; in parallel they share the same voltage. Thus, for the two lightbulbs in series, the one with the higher resistance (lower wattage) will be brighter, and for a parallel configuration the one with the lower resistance (higher wattage) will be brighter.

Example Question #1 : Series And Parallel

If we have 3 resistors in a series, with resistor 1 having a resistance of \(\displaystyle 5\Omega\), resistor 2 having a resistance of \(\displaystyle 10\Omega\), and resistor 3 having a resistance of \(\displaystyle 15\Omega\), what is the equivalent resistance of the series?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 40\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle 30\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle 10\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle 20\Omega\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 30\Omega\)

Explanation:

The total resistance of resistors in a series is the sum of their individual resistances. In this case,

\(\displaystyle R_{tot}=R_1+R_2+...+R_n\)

\(\displaystyle R_{tot}=5\Omega +10\Omega + 15\Omega=30\Omega\)

Example Question #1 : Series And Parallel

You are presented with three resistors, each measure \(\displaystyle 3 \Omega\). What is the difference between the total resistance of the resistors combined in series, and the total resistance of the resistors combined in parallel?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 0\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle 6\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle 1\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle 9\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle 8\Omega\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 8\Omega\)

Explanation:

Resistors in series:

\(\displaystyle R_s = R_1+R_2+R_3\)

\(\displaystyle R_s=3\Omega+3\Omega+3\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle R_s=9\Omega\)

Resistors in parallel:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{R_p}=\frac{1}{R_1}+\frac{1}{R_2}+\frac{1}{R_3}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{R_p}=\frac{1}{3\Omega}+\frac{1}{3\Omega}+\frac{1}{3\Omega}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{R_p}=\frac{3}{3\Omega}\)

\(\displaystyle R_p=1\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle R_s-R_p=8\Omega\)

Example Question #1 : Series And Parallel

What is the total resistance of three resistors, \(\displaystyle 100\Omega\)\(\displaystyle 10\Omega\), and \(\displaystyle 1\Omega\), in parallel?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 111\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle 11.1\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle 9.0\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle 0.9\Omega\)

\(\displaystyle 1.1\Omega\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 0.9\Omega\)

Explanation:

The equation for equivalent resistance for multiple resistors in parallel is:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{R_{eq}}=\frac{1}{R_1}+\frac{1}{R_2}+...+\frac{1}{R_n}\)

Plug in known values and solve. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{R_{eq}}=\frac{1}{100\Omega}+\frac{1}{10\Omega}+\frac{1}{1\Omega}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{R_{eq}}=\frac{111}{100\Omega}\)

\(\displaystyle R_{eq}=0.9\Omega\)

Notice that for resistors in parallel, the total resistance is never greater than the resistance of the smallest element.

Example Question #1 : Series And Parallel

Series parallel circuit jpeg

A circuit is created using a battery and 3 identical resistors, as shown in the figure. Each of the resistors has a resistance of \(\displaystyle 100\Omega\). If resistor \(\displaystyle R3\) is removed from the circuit, what will be the effect on the current through resistor \(\displaystyle R1\)?

Possible Answers:

The current through \(\displaystyle R1\) will increase by a factor of four

The current through \(\displaystyle R1\) will remain the same

The current through \(\displaystyle R1\) will decrease

The current through \(\displaystyle R1\) will increase by a factor of two

Cannot be determined without knowing the resistivity of the wire

Correct answer:

The current through \(\displaystyle R1\) will decrease

Explanation:

Since the resistors \(\displaystyle R2\) and \(\displaystyle R3\) form a parallel network, removing \(\displaystyle R3\) from the circuit increases the resistance of that part of the circuit. Because the new circuit is the series combination of \(\displaystyle R1\) and \(\displaystyle R2\), the increased resistance leads to lower current in each of these resistors.

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