Clicker Questions
ConcepTests
Chapter 21
Physics, 3rd Edition
James S. Walker
© 2007 Pearson Prentice Hall
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ConcepTest 21.1
Which is the correct way to
light the lightbulb with the
Connect the Battery
4) all are correct
5) none are correct
battery?
1)
2)
3)
ConcepTest 21.1
Which is the correct way to
light the lightbulb with the
Connect the Battery
4) all are correct
5) none are correct
battery?
1)
2)
3)
Current can only flow if there is a continuous connection from
the negative terminal through the bulb to the positive terminal.
This is only the case for Fig. (3).
ConcepTest 21.2
Ohm’s Law
You double the voltage across 1) Ohm’s law is obeyed since the
current still increases when V
a certain conductor and you
increases
observe the current increases
2) Ohm’s law is not obeyed
three times. What can you
3) this has nothing to do with Ohm’s
conclude?
law
ConcepTest 21.2
Ohm’s Law
You double the voltage across 1) Ohm’s law is obeyed since the
current still increases when V
a certain conductor and you
increases
observe the current increases
2) Ohm’s law is not obeyed
three times. What can you
3) this has nothing to do with Ohm’s
conclude?
law
Ohm’s Law, V = I R, states that the
relationship between voltage and
current is linear. Thus for a conductor
that obeys Ohm’s Law, the current must
double when you double the voltage.
Follow-up: Where could this situation occur?
ConcepTest 21.3a
Wires I
Two wires, A and B, are made of the
1) dA = 4 dB
same metal and have equal length,
2) dA = 2 dB
but the resistance of wire A is four
times the resistance of wire B. How
do their diameters compare?
3) dA = dB
4) dA = 1/2 dB
5) dA = 1/4 dB
ConcepTest 21.3a
Wires I
Two wires, A and B, are made of the
1) dA = 4 dB
same metal and have equal length,
2) dA = 2 dB
but the resistance of wire A is four
times the resistance of wire B. How
do their diameters compare?
3) dA = dB
4) dA = 1/2 dB
5) dA = 1/4 dB
The resistance of wire A is greater because its area is less than
wire B. Since area is related to radius (or diameter) squared,
the diameter of A must be two times less than B.
L
R
A
ConcepTest 21.3b
Wires II
A wire of resistance R is
1) it decreases by a factor 4
stretched uniformly (keeping its
2) it decreases by a factor 2
volume constant) until it is twice
3) it stays the same
its original length. What happens
4) it increases by a factor 2
to the resistance?
5) it increases by a factor 4
ConcepTest 21.3b
Wires II
A wire of resistance R is
1) it decreases by a factor 4
stretched uniformly (keeping its
2) it decreases by a factor 2
volume constant) until it is twice
3) it stays the same
its original length. What happens
4) it increases by a factor 2
to the resistance?
5) it increases by a factor 4
Keeping the volume (= area x length) constant means
that if the length is doubled, the area is halved.
L
Since R   , this increases the resistance by four.
A
ConcepTest 21.4a
Series Resistors I
1) 12 V
Assume that the voltage of the battery
is 9 V and that the three resistors are
identical. What is the potential
difference across each resistor?
2) zero
3) 3 V
4) 4 V
5) you need to know the
actual value of R
9V
ConcepTest 21.4a
Series Resistors I
1) 12 V
Assume that the voltage of the battery
is 9 V and that the three resistors are
identical. What is the potential
difference across each resistor?
2) zero
3) 3 V
4) 4 V
5) you need to know the
actual value of R
Since the resistors are all equal,
the voltage will drop evenly
across the 3 resistors, with 1/3 of
9 V across each one. So we get a
3 V drop across each.
9V
Follow-up: What would be the potential difference if
R= 1 W, 2 W, 3 W ?
ConcepTest 21.4b
Series Resistors II
1) 12 V
In the circuit below, what is the
2) zero
voltage across R1?
3) 6 V
4) 8 V
5) 4 V
R1= 4 W
R2= 2 W
12 V
ConcepTest 21.4b
Series Resistors II
1) 12 V
In the circuit below, what is the
2) zero
voltage across R1?
3) 6 V
4) 8 V
5) 4 V
The voltage drop across R1 has
to be twice as big as the drop
across R2. This means that V1 =
R1= 4 W
R2= 2 W
8 V and V2 = 4 V. Or else you
could find the current I = V/R =
(12 V)/(6 W) = 2 A, then use
12 V
Ohm’s Law to get voltages.
Follow-up: What happens if the voltage is doubled?
ConcepTest 21.5a
Parallel Resistors I
1) 10 A
In the circuit below, what is the
2) zero
current through R1?
3) 5 A
4) 2 A
5) 7 A
R2= 2 W
R1= 5 W
10 V
ConcepTest 21.5a
Parallel Resistors I
1) 10 A
In the circuit below, what is the
2) zero
current through R1?
3) 5 A
4) 2 A
5) 7 A
The voltage is the same (10 V) across each
R2= 2 W
resistor because they are in parallel. Thus,
we can use Ohm’s Law, V1 = I1 R1 to find the
R1= 5 W
current I1 = 2 A.
10 V
Follow-up: What is the total current through the battery?
ConcepTest 21.5b
Points P and Q are connected to a
Parallel Resistors II
1) increases
battery of fixed voltage. As more
2) remains the same
resistors R are added to the parallel
3) decreases
circuit, what happens to the total
4) drops to zero
current in the circuit?
ConcepTest 21.5b
Parallel Resistors II
Points P and Q are connected to a
1) increases
battery of fixed voltage. As more
2) remains the same
resistors R are added to the parallel
3) decreases
circuit, what happens to the total
4) drops to zero
current in the circuit?
As we add parallel resistors, the overall
resistance of the circuit drops. Since V =
IR, and V is held constant by the battery,
when resistance decreases, the current
must increase.
Follow-up: What happens to the current through each resistor?
ConcepTest 21.6a
Current flows through a
Short Circuit I
1) all the current continues to flow through
the bulb
connected across the
2) half the current flows through the wire,
the other half continues through the
bulb
bulb, what happens?
3) all the current flows through the wire
lightbulb. If a wire is now
4) none of the above
ConcepTest 21.6a
Current flows through a
Short Circuit I
1) all the current continues to flow through
the bulb
connected across the
2) half the current flows through the wire,
the other half continues through the
bulb
bulb, what happens?
3) all the current flows through the wire
lightbulb. If a wire is now
4) none of the above
The current divides based on the
ratio of the resistances. If one of the
resistances is zero, then ALL of the
current will flow through that path.
Follow-up: Doesn’t the wire have SOME resistance?
ConcepTest 21.6b
Two lightbulbs A and B are
connected in series to a
constant voltage source.
When a wire is connected
across B, bulb A will:
Short Circuit II
1) glow brighter than before
2) glow just the same as before
3) glow dimmer than before
4) go out completely
5) explode
ConcepTest 21.6b
Two lightbulbs A and B are
connected in series to a
constant voltage source.
When a wire is connected
across B, bulb A will:
Short Circuit II
1) glow brighter than before
2) glow just the same as before
3) glow dimmer than before
4) go out completely
5) explode
Since bulb B is bypassed by the wire,
the total resistance of the circuit
decreases. This means that the current
through bulb A increases.
Follow-up: What happens to bulb B?
ConcepTest 21.7a
Circuits I
The lightbulbs in the circuit below
1) circuit 1
are identical with the same
2) circuit 2
resistance R. Which circuit
produces more light? (brightness
 power)
3) both the same
4) it depends on R
ConcepTest 21.7a
Circuits I
The lightbulbs in the circuit below
1) circuit 1
are identical with the same
2) circuit 2
resistance R. Which circuit
produces more light? (brightness
 power)
In #1, the bulbs are in parallel,
lowering the total resistance of the
circuit. Thus, circuit #1 will draw
a higher current, which leads to
more light, because P = I V.
3) both the same
4) it depends on R
ConcepTest 21.7b
The three lightbulbs in the circuit all have
Circuits II
1) twice as much
the same resistance of 1 W . By how
2) the same
much is the brightness of bulb B greater
3) 1/2 as much
or smaller than the brightness of bulb A?
(brightness  power)
4) 1/4 as much
5) 4 times as much
A
C
B
10 V
ConcepTest 21.7b
The three lightbulbs in the circuit all have
Circuits II
1) twice as much
the same resistance of 1 W . By how
2) the same
much is the brightness of bulb B greater
3) 1/2 as much
or smaller than the brightness of bulb A?
(brightness  power)
4) 1/4 as much
5) 4 times as much
A
We can use P = V2/R to compare the power:
C
B
PA = (VA)2/RA = (10 V) 2/1 W = 100 W
PB = (VB)2/RB = (5 V) 2/1 W = 25 W
Follow-up: What is the total current in the circuit?
10 V
ConcepTest 21.8a
More Circuits I
What happens to the voltage
1) increase
across the resistor R1 when the
2) decrease
switch is closed? The voltage will:
3) stay the same
R1
S
R3
V
R2
ConcepTest 21.8a
More Circuits I
What happens to the voltage
1) increase
across the resistor R1 when the
2) decrease
switch is closed? The voltage will:
3) stay the same
R1
With the switch closed, the addition of
R2 to R3 decreases the equivalent
S
resistance, so the current from the
battery increases. This will cause an
R3
V
increase in the voltage across R1 .
Follow-up: What happens to the current through R3?
R2
ConcepTest 21.8b
More Circuits II
1) increases
What happens to the voltage
across the resistor R4 when the
2) decreases
switch is closed?
3) stays the same
R1
S
R3
V
R2
R4
ConcepTest 21.8b
More Circuits II
1) increases
What happens to the voltage
across the resistor R4 when the
2) decreases
switch is closed?
3) stays the same
We just saw that closing the switch
causes an increase in the voltage
across R1 (which is VAB). The
voltage of the battery is constant,
so if VAB increases, then VBC must
A
R1
B
S
R3
V
R2
decrease!
Follow-up: What happens to the current through R4?
C
R4
ConcepTest 21.9
Even More Circuits
1) R1
Which resistor has the
2) both R1 and R2 equally
greatest current going
through it? Assume that all
3) R3 and R4
the resistors are equal.
4) R5
5) all the same
V
ConcepTest 21.9
Even More Circuits
1) R1
Which resistor has the
2) both R1 and R2 equally
greatest current going
through it? Assume that all
3) R3 and R4
the resistors are equal.
4) R5
5) all the same
The same current must flow
through left and right
combinations of resistors.
On the LEFT, the current
splits equally, so I1 = I2. On
the RIGHT, more current will
go through R5 than R3 + R4
since the branch containing
R5 has less resistance.
V
Follow-up: Which one has the
smallest voltage drop?
ConcepTest 21.10
Dimmer
1) the power
When you rotate the knob of a
2) the current
light dimmer, what is being
3) the voltage
changed in the electric circuit?
4) both (1) and (2)
5) both (2) and (3)
ConcepTest 21.10
Dimmer
1) the power
When you rotate the knob of a
2) the current
light dimmer, what is being
3) the voltage
changed in the electric circuit?
4) both (1) and (2)
5) both (2) and (3)
The voltage is provided at 120 V from the
outside. The light dimmer increases the
resistance and therefore decreases the current
that flows through the lightbulb.
Follow-up: Why does the voltage not change?
ConcepTest 21.11a
Lightbulbs
Two lightbulbs operate at 120 V, but
1) the 25 W bulb
one has a power rating of 25 W while
2) the 100 W bulb
the other has a power rating of 100 W.
3) both have the same
Which one has the greater
4) this has nothing to do
with resistance
resistance?
ConcepTest 21.11a
Lightbulbs
Two lightbulbs operate at 120 V, but
1) the 25 W bulb
one has a power rating of 25 W while
2) the 100 W bulb
the other has a power rating of 100 W.
3) both have the same
Which one has the greater
4) this has nothing to do
with resistance
resistance?
Since P = V2 / R , the bulb with the lower
power rating has to have the higher
resistance.
Follow-up: Which one carries the greater current?
ConcepTest 21.11b
Two space heaters in your living
room are operated at 120 V.
Space Heaters I
1) heater 1
Heater 1 has twice the resistance
2) heater 2
of heater 2. Which one will give
3) both equally
off more heat?
ConcepTest 21.11b
Two space heaters in your living
room are operated at 120 V.
Space Heaters I
1) heater 1
Heater 1 has twice the resistance
2) heater 2
of heater 2. Which one will give
3) both equally
off more heat?
Using P = V2 / R, the heater with the smaller resistance
will have the larger power output. Thus, heater 2 will
give off more heat.
Follow-up: Which one carries the greater current?
ConcepTest 21.12
Junction Rule
1) 2 A
What is the current in branch P?
2) 3 A
3) 5 A
4) 6 A
5) 10 A
5A
P
8A
2A
ConcepTest 21.12
Junction Rule
1) 2 A
2) 3 A
What is the current in branch P?
3) 5 A
4) 6 A
5) 10 A
The current entering the junction
S
5A
in red is 8 A, so the current
leaving must also be 8 A. One
exiting branch has 2 A, so the
other branch (at P) must have 6 A.
P
8A
junction
2A
6A
ConcepTest 21.13
Kirchhoff’s Rules
The lightbulbs in the
1) both bulbs go out
circuit are identical. When
2) intensity of both bulbs increases
the switch is closed, what
3) intensity of both bulbs decreases
happens?
4) A gets brighter and B gets dimmer
5) nothing changes
ConcepTest 21.13
Kirchhoff’s Rules
The lightbulbs in the
1) both bulbs go out
circuit are identical. When
2) intensity of both bulbs increases
the switch is closed, what
3) intensity of both bulbs decreases
happens?
4) A gets brighter and B gets dimmer
5) nothing changes
When the switch is open, the point
between the bulbs is at 12 V. But so is
the point between the batteries. If
there is no potential difference, then
no current will flow once the switch is
closed!! Thus, nothing changes.
Follow-up: What happens if the bottom
battery is replaced by a 24-V battery?
24 V
ConcepTest 21.14
Wheatstone Bridge
An ammeter A is connected
1) I
between points a and b in the
2) I/2
circuit below, in which the four
3) I/3
resistors are identical. The current
4) I/4
through the ammeter is:
5) zero
a
b
V
I
ConcepTest 21.14
Wheatstone Bridge
An ammeter A is connected
1) I
between points a and b in the
2) I/2
circuit below, in which the four
3) I/3
resistors are identical. The current
4) I/4
through the ammeter is:
5) zero
Since all resistors are identical,
a
the voltage drops are the same
across the upper branch and the
lower branch. Thus, the
potentials at points a and b are
b
also the same. Therefore, no
current flows.
V
I
ConcepTest 21.15
More Kirchhoff’s Rules
1) 2 – I1 – 2I2 = 0
Which of the equations is valid
2) 2 – 2I1 – 2I2 – 4I3 = 0
for the circuit below?
3) 2 – I1 – 4 – 2I2 = 0
4) I3 – 4 – 2I2 + 6 = 0
5) 2 – I1 – 3I3 – 6 = 0
1W
I2
2W
6V
22 VV
4V
I1
1W
I3
3W
ConcepTest 21.15
More Kirchhoff’s Rules
1) 2 – I1 – 2I2 = 0
Which of the equations is valid
2) 2 – 2I1 – 2I2 – 4I3 = 0
for the circuit below?
3) 2 – I1 – 4 – 2I2 = 0
4) I3 – 4 – 2I2 + 6 = 0
5) 2 – I1 – 3I3 – 6 = 0
Equation 3 is valid for the left
loop: The left battery gives +2V,
then there is a drop through a
1W resistor with current I1
flowing. Then we go through the
middle battery (but from + to –
!), which gives –4V. Finally,
there is a drop through a 2W
resistor with current I2.
1W
I2
2W
6V
22 VV
4V
I1
1W
I3
3W
ConcepTest 21.16a
Capacitors I
1) Ceq = 3/2 C
What is the equivalent capacitance,
2) Ceq = 2/3 C
Ceq , of the combination below?
3) Ceq = 3 C
4) Ceq = 1/3 C
5) Ceq = 1/2 C
o
Ceq
o
C
C
C
ConcepTest 21.16a
Capacitors I
1) Ceq = 3/2 C
What is the equivalent capacitance,
2) Ceq = 2/3 C
Ceq , of the combination below?
3) Ceq = 3 C
4) Ceq = 1/3 C
5) Ceq = 1/2 C
The 2 equal capacitors in series add
o
up as inverses, giving 1/2 C. These
are parallel to the first one, which
Ceq
add up directly. Thus, the total
equivalent capacitance is 3/2 C.
o
C
C
C
ConcepTest 21.16b
Capacitors II
How does the voltage V1 across
1) V1 = V2
the first capacitor (C1) compare
2) V1 > V2
to the voltage V2 across the
3) V1 < V2
second capacitor (C2)?
4) all voltages are zero
C2 = 1.0 mF
10 V
C1 = 1.0 mF
C3 = 1.0 mF
ConcepTest 21.16b
Capacitors II
How does the voltage V1 across
1) V1 = V2
the first capacitor (C1) compare
2) V1 > V2
to the voltage V2 across the
3) V1 < V2
second capacitor (C2)?
4) all voltages are zero
The voltage across C1 is 10 V.
The combined capacitors
C2+C3 are parallel to C1. The
voltage across C2+C3 is also
10 V. Since C2 and C3 are in
series, their voltages add.
Thus the voltage across C2
and C3 each has to be 5 V,
which is less than V1.
C2 = 1.0 mF
10 V
C1 = 1.0 mF
C3 = 1.0 mF
Follow-up: What is the current in this
circuit?
ConcepTest 21.16c
How does the charge Q1 on the first
Capacitors III
1) Q1 = Q2
2) Q1 > Q2
capacitor (C1) compare to the
charge Q2 on the second capacitor
3) Q1 < Q2
(C2)?
4) all charges are zero
C2 = 1.0 mF
10 V
C1 = 1.0 mF
C3 = 1.0 mF
ConcepTest 21.16c
How does the charge Q1 on the first
Capacitors III
1) Q1 = Q2
2) Q1 > Q2
capacitor (C1) compare to the
charge Q2 on the second capacitor
3) Q1 < Q2
(C2)?
4) all charges are zero
We already know that the
C2 = 1.0 mF
voltage across C1 is 10 V
and the voltage across both
C2 and C3 is 5 V each. Since
Q = CV and C is the same for
all the capacitors, then since
V1 > V2 therefore Q1 > Q2.
10 V
C1 = 1.0 mF
C3 = 1.0 mF