Electricity Practice Problems

  1. Which unit is used to measure resistance in a circuit?
  1. Ω
  2. W
  3. V
  4. A
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The correct answer is A!

Resistance is measured in ohms (Ω). Watts (W) measure power, volts (V) measure potential difference, and amperes (A) measure current.

 

  1. Which of the following is the correct expression of Ohm’s law?
  1. \(I = \dfrac{R}{V}\)
  2. \(R = \dfrac{P}{V}\)
  3. \(I = \dfrac{P}{V}\)
  4. \(I = \dfrac{V}{R}\)
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The correct answer is D!

Ohm’s law states that current equals voltage divided by resistance:

\(I=\dfrac{V}{R}\)

The other expressions mix in power or invert the relationship.

 

  1. An operating lamp draws a current of 0.4 amperes. What is the amount of charge passing through the lamp in 10 seconds?
  1. 0.045 C
  2. 4.0 C
  3. 5.0 C
  4. 6.24 C
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The correct answer is B!

Charge is current (\(I\)) times time (\(t\)):

\(Q=It=0.4\ \text{A}\times10\ \text{s}=4.0\ \text{C}\)

 

  1. To increase the brightness of a desk lamp, a student replaces a 50 W light bulb with a 100 W light bulb. Compared to the 50 W light bulb, the 100 W light bulb has…
  1. Less resistance and draws more current
  2. Less resistance and draws less current
  3. More resistance and draws more current
  4. More resistance and draws less current
Show Answer
The correct answer is A!

At the same supply voltage, \(P=\tfrac{V^2}{R}\). Higher power means lower resistance.

Also, \(I=\tfrac{P}{V}\), so the 100 W bulb draws more current.

 

  1. An electric dryer consumes \(6.0 \times 10^6\) joules of energy when operating at 220 volts for 30 minutes. During operation, the dryer draws a current of approximately how many amperes?
  1. 10
  2. 15
  3. 20
  4. 25
Show Answer
The correct answer is B!

Use \(E=VIt\):

\(I=\dfrac{E}{Vt}\) \(=\dfrac{6.0\times10^6}{220\times(30\times60)}\approx15\ \text{A}\)

 

  1. When 8.0 eV photons strike a photoemissive surface, the maximum kinetic energy of ejected photoelectrons is 6.0 eV. What is the work function of the photoemissive surface?
  1. 0.01 eV
  2. 1.0 eV
  3. 2.0 eV
  4. 3.0 eV
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The correct answer is C!

The photoelectric equation is \(K_{\max}=hf-\phi\). Thus:

\(\phi=8.0-6.0=2.0\ \text{eV}\)

 

  1. What is created when a high resistance is connected in series with the internal coil of a galvanometer?
  1. An ammeter
  2. A motor
  3. A generator
  4. A voltmeter
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The correct answer is D!

Adding a large series resistor makes the instrument respond to voltage (voltmeter). An ammeter uses a low-resistance shunt in parallel instead.

 

  1. In a transformer, two coils are wound around a common iron core. What is required for the transformer to operate properly?
  1. More turns in the secondary coil than in the primary coil
  2. More turns in the primary coil than in the secondary coil
  3. A direct current source connecting to the secondary coil
  4. An alternating current source connecting to the primary coil
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

Transformers require a changing magnetic flux. An AC source on the primary produces the time-varying flux that induces voltage in the secondary.

 

  1. Which device can be used to increase voltage from a source of direct current?
  1. Generator
  2. Electroscope
  3. Induction coil
  4. Mass spectrometer
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The correct answer is C!

An induction coil (with an interrupter) takes DC and creates rapid current changes in a primary, inducing a higher voltage in the secondary. A transformer alone needs AC.

 

  1. A transformer on a power pole steps down the voltage from 10,800 volts to 120 volts. If the secondary coil contains 360 turns, how many turns are found on the primary coil?
  1. 603
  2. 900
  3. 15,000
  4. 32,400
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

Use \(\dfrac{V_p}{V_s}=\dfrac{N_p}{N_s}\). Here, \(\tfrac{10,800}{120}=90\), so:

\(N_p=90\times360=32,400\)

 

  1. An electric motor draws 150 amperes of current while operating at 240 volts. What is the power rating of this motor?
  1. \(2.1 \times 10^4 \text{ W}\)
  2. \(2.7 \times 10^5 \text{ W}\)
  3. \(3.6 \times 10^4 \text{ W}\)
  4. \(4.1 \times 10^4 \text{ W}\)
Show Answer
The correct answer is C!

Power is:

\(P=VI=240\times150\) \(=36,000\ \text{W}=3.6\times10^{4}\ \text{W}\)

 

  1. What is the potential difference across a 2.0 ohm resistor that draws 2.0 coulombs of charge per second?
  1. 1.0 V
  2. 2.0 V
  3. 3.0 V
  4. 4.0 V
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

Current is charge per time:

\(I=\dfrac{Q}{t}=2.0\ \text{A}\)

\(V=IR=2.0\times2.0=4.0\ \text{V}\)

 

  1. If a 15 ohm resistor is connected in parallel with a 30 ohm resistor, what is the equivalent resistance?
  1. 5 Ω
  2. 7 Ω
  3. 10 Ω
  4. 15 Ω
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The correct answer is C!

For two in parallel:

\(\dfrac{1}{R_\text{eq}}=\dfrac{1}{15}+\dfrac{1}{30}=\dfrac{3}{30}=\dfrac{1}{10}\)

This means \(R_\text{eq}=10\ \Omega\).

 

  1. A metal wire has length \(L\) and cross-sectional area \(A\). Which of the following is the resistance of the wire directly proportional to?
  1. \(\dfrac{L}{A}\)
  2. \(\dfrac{A}{L}\)
  3. \(L+A\)
  4. \(L \times A\)
Show Answer
The correct answer is A!

For a uniform wire, \(R=\rho\tfrac{L}{A}\).

Thus, holding material constant (ρ), resistance increases with \(L\) and decreases with \(A\).

 

  1. A wire carries a current of 2 amperes. How many electrons pass a given point in this wire in one second?
  1. \(1.3 \times 10^{18}\)
  2. \(2.0 \times 10^{18}\)
  3. \(1.3 \times 10^{19}\)
  4. \(2.0 \times 10^{19}\)
Show Answer
The correct answer is C!

Current is charge per second. One electron has \(e=1.602\times10^{-19}\ \text{C}\), so:

\(N=\dfrac{I}{e}=\dfrac{2}{1.602\times10^{-19}}\) \(\approx1.25\times10^{19} \text{ electrons/sec}\)

This is closest to \(1.3\times10^{19}\).