Professional Documents
Culture Documents
11. The potential energy possessed per unit of charge at any given Answer: DF
location is referred to as the electric ___. For a circuit to be established, there must be a closed conducting loop
a. current b. resistance c. potential d. power from the positive terminal to the negative terminal. This would mean that
circuits D, E and F would all be circuits. But in order for the light bulb to
Answer: C light, it must be included as part of the electric circuit. So in E, the bulb
This is the definition of electric potential - a concept you should does not light since the loop does not extend up into and through the light
internalize. bulb; charge would simple flow out of the + terminal battery and directly
back into - terminal the battery.
12. One ampere is the amount of current that exists when ____ flows by
For Questions #15-#17:
a certain point in a conductor in ____.
A simple circuit containing a battery and a light bulb is
a. one watt; one second b. one joule; one hour
shown in the diagram at the right. Use this diagram to
c. one electron; one second d. one electron; one hour
answer the next several questions.
e. one volt; one second f. one volt; one hour
15. The current through the battery is ___.
g. one coulomb; one second h. one coulomb; one hour
a. greater than that through theb. less than that through the light
light bulb bulb
c. the same as that through thed. greater than that through each
Answer: G light bulb wire
An ampere is a unit of electric current. And electric current is defined as e. less than that through each wire
the rate at which charge moves past a point on a circuit as measured in
standard units of Coulombs of charge per second. Answer: C
Charge is a conserved quantity; it is never gained nor lost. In an electric
circuit, the charge present in the wires and conducting elements is what
moves through the circuit. This charge is enclosed in the wires and
13. If 6 coulombs of charge flow past point 'A' in a circuit in 4 seconds, unable to escape (assuming there is no fault in the circuit). As the charge
then ____ coulombs of charge will flow past point 'A' in 8 seconds. flows, it does not accumulate in a given location. And charge is not used
a. 0.67 b. 1.5 c. 2 d. 3 e. 4 up as though it were a consumable quantity. Nor is charge transformed
f. 6 g. 8 h. 12 i. 24 into another type of entity. Given all this reasoning, one would conclude
that the current at one location in an electric circuit is the same as the
Answer: H current at any other location in an electric circuit.
The current (I) is the quantity of charge flowing past a point (Q) in a given
amount of time (t). That is, I = Q/t. So in this case, the current at point A 16. Charge flowing through this circuit is most energized at ____. Choose
is (6 C) / (4 s) or 1.5 amperes. Thus the Q/t ratio is 1.5 regardless of the the one best answer.
time. So solve the equation a. the + terminal of the battery
1.5 C/s = Q / (8 s) b. the - terminal of the battery
for Q to obtain the answer. c. just prior to entering the light bulb
d. just after exiting the light bulb a. are stored in the outlets at your home
e. ... nonsense! The energy of the charge is the same everywhere b. are created when an appliance is turned on
throughout the circuit. c. originate at the power (energy) company
d. originate in the wires between your home and the power company
Answer: A e. already exist in the wires at your home
The + terminal of the battery is the high energy terminal of the battery.
Answer: E
This question targets a common misconception about electric circuits.
17. The role or purpose of the battery in this circuit is to ____. Choose The misconception presumes that the role of the electric outlet, the
three. battery, or the power company is to provide the charge required to move
a. supply electric charge so that a current can exist through the home. But the power company is only the source of the
b. supply energy to the charge energy required to set the charge in motion by the establishment of an
c. move the charge from the - to the + terminal of the battery electric potential difference. The charge itself is present in the wires and
d. transform energy from electrical energy into light energy conducting elements of your home in the form of mobile electrons.
e. establish an electric potential difference between the + and - terminals
f. replenish the charge which is lost in the light bulb 20. Approximately how long would it take an electron to travel from the
g. offer resistance to the flow of charge so that the light bulb can get hot battery of a car to a head light and back (complete loop)?
Answer: BCE a. seconds b. hours
To establish an electric circuit, charge must be moved from low energy to c. years d. one-millionth of a second
high energy. Once at high energy, the charge spontaneously flows e. one-tenth of a second
through the conducting wires and other conducting elements of the circuit
back down to the low energy terminal. A battery's role is to supply the
energy which is required to move the charge from the - terminal to the +
Answer: B
terminal of the battery. By placing a large quantity of like charge at one
Electric charge drifting through an electric circuit moves at a rather slow
location, an electric pressure or potential difference is established,
pace. Quite surprising to many, the distance traversed per unit of time is
forcing the like charges to move away from this location to the location of
on the order of 1 meter per hour.
opposite charge (the - terminal).
18. A 12-Volt battery would supply ___. List all that apply.
a. 3 Coulombs of charge with 4 Joules of energy 21. The electric circuit shown at the right consists of a
b. 4 Coulombs of charge with 3 Joules of energy battery and three identical light bulbs. Which of the
c. 12 Coulombs of charge with 1 Joule of energy following statements are true concerning this circuit?
d. 1 Coulomb of charge with 12 Joules of energy List all that apply.
e. 0.5 Coulombs of charge with 24 Joules of energy a. The current through point X will be greater than that
f. 24 Coulombs of charge with 2 Joules of energy through point Z.
Answer: D b. The current through point Z will be greater than that through point Y.
Electric potential (or voltage) is defined as the electric potential energy c. The current will be the same through points X, Y and Z.
per charge. It is the Joules of energy per coulomb of charge possessed d. The current through point X will be greater than that through point Y.
by some quantity of charge at some location in an electric circuit. A 12 e. The current through point Y will be greater than that through point X.
Volt battery moves some quantity of charge from the - terminal to the +
terminal, giving the charge energy. Each coulomb of charge would
acquire 12 Joules of energy. The energy/charge ratio would be 12 J/C.
19. The charges that flow through the wires in your home ____.
e. The point where charge possesses the least amount of electric
Answer: C
potential energy is point W.
As discussed in Question #15 above, the current in an electric circuit is
everywhere the same. So the current at these three locations is the
Answer: ACE
same.
The battery is referred to as the internal circuit. Charge moves in the
internal circuit from the - terminal to the + terminal (in the direction from
22. The electric circuit shown at the right consists of a W towards Z). The wires and light bulbs comprise the external circuit;
battery and three identical light bulbs. Which of the charge moves through the external circuit from the + terminal to the -
following statements are true concerning this circuit? terminal (in the direction of X to Y to Z to W).
List all that apply.
a. The electric potential difference between X and Y is 24. Voltage ____ an electrical circuit.
more than that between Y and Z. a. goes through b. is expressed across
b. The electric potential difference between X and Z is more than that d. is the rate at which charges
c. is constant throughout
between Y and W. move through
c. The electric potential difference between X and Y is the same as that
between Y and Z. Answer: B
d. The electric potential difference between X and Z is the same as that Voltage or electric potential is not a thing which moves. Thus, choices A
between Y and W. and D are not the answers since they imply movement of voltage. And
e. The electric potential difference between Y and W is more than that the voltage or electric potential of a charge is not something which is
between X and Y. constant throughout the circuit as choice C suggests.
Voltage or electric potential is a measure of how energized a quantity of
Answer: DE charge is at a given location relative to the - terminal. It is often
The electric potential difference across a light bulb (or any resistor) in an expressed as a difference across two points. Perhaps you have noted
electric circuit is simply the product of the current at that bulb multiplied this language of "the potential across ..." in several of the answers in this
by the resistance of the bulb. Each bulb has the same resistance (since Review.
they're identical) and the same current (since the current is everywhere
the same). So the electric potential difference across each bulb is the 25. Two or more of the following words and phrases mean the same
same. And the potential drop across any two consecutive bulbs is the thing. Identify them by listing their letters.
same. And the potential drop across two bulbs would be greater than that c. Electric Potential
a. Voltage b. Wattage
across one bulb. Difference
d. Rate at which
e. Electric Pressure f. Energy
23. The electric circuit shown at the right consists of a charge flows
battery and three identical light bulbs. Which of the
following statements are true concerning this circuit? Answer: ACE
List all that apply. The voltage or electric potential difference are synonymous terms.
a. Conventional current is directed through the external Voltage is not synonymous with energy. While voltage (or electric
circuit from point X to Y to Z to W. potential difference) is a measure of how energized a quantity of charge
b. Conventional current is directed through the external circuit from point is at a given location, voltage is expressed as the energy per charge (and
W to Z to Y to X. not simply as energy). Drawing from the analogy between a water park
c. Conventional current is directed through the internal circuit from point and an electric circuit, voltage is a measure of the quantity of electric
W to point X. pressure placed upon a charge in inducing it to move from one location
d. Conventional current is directed through the internal circuit from point to another location.
X to point W. Wattage is synonymous with power. Current is synonymous with the rate
at which charge flows.
In order for charge to flow between two locations, there must be an
26. A high voltage battery can ____. electric potential difference established between those two locations. If a
a. do a lot of work on each charge it encounters bird places its left foot on an electric power line and his right foot a few
b. do a lot of work over the course of its lifetime centimeters away on the same electric power line, then there is little to no
c. push a lot of charge through a circuit difference in potential between his two feet. Without an electric potential
d. last a long time difference, charge will not flow through the bird and the bird is safe.
Answer: A 29. When the light bulb in your lamp no longer works, it is because the
Voltage refers to the energy/charge. A battery rated with a high voltage bulb has _____.
can do a lot of work per every Coulomb of charge which it encounters. It a. run out of energy and can no longer pump charge
may or may not be able to do a lot of work over its lifetime, depending b. run out of voltage and must be recharged
upon the size of the battery. c. run out of electrons and so there is no more current
d. burned all of its watts and can no longer shine
e. tripped a circuit breaker and must be fixed at the fuse box
27. Which one of the following occurs when a rechargeable battery is f. a broken filament which has resulted in an open circuit
recharged? g. ... nonsense! The bulb is fine; your family just needs to fully pay their
a. The battery, which has run out of watts, has its wattage restored. power bill.
b. The battery, which has run out of amps, has current placed back into it. Answer: F
c. The battery, which has run out of charge, has charge returned to it. The most common cause for the inability of a light bulbs to light is a
d. The battery, which has run out of chemical reactants, has its chemicals broken filament. A coiled wire of tungsten stretches between two vertical
reformed. supports. If disturbed while hot or if overworn, the tungsten metal can
Answer: D break and leave a gap between the two vertical supports. This gap
Batteries perform their energy-supplying tasks by using the energy from represents a break in the circuit; a closed conducting loop is no longer
an exothermic oxidation-reduction reaction to do work upon charge within established and charge will not flow.
the electric circuit. When a battery no longer works, its reactants are
consumed to the point that the electric potential which the reactants are 30. A battery is needed in the circuit of your flashlight so that ____.
capable of producing is small compared to the overall resistance of the a. charge is provided to the wires
circuit. At such an instant in time, the ability to induce a current is limited b. the energy of the light is balanced by the battery
to the point that the external circuit elements are no longer functional. c. an exothermic, light-creating reaction is possible
Not all batteries are rechargeable. Those that are rechargeable can have d. an electric potential difference is maintained across the circuit
the products transformed back into reactants. The recharger utilizes e. electrons are supplied in order to light the bulb
electrical energy from an outlet to reverse the previously exothermic
reaction, turning its products back into reactants. Answer: D
One of the roles of a battery is to simply establish a difference in electric po
28. Birds can safely stand on high voltage electric power lines. This is between its two terminals. Charge at the high potential will flow through the e
because ____. circuit to the low potential location.
a. they are at low potential with respect to the ground. 31. When you turn on the room lights, they light immediately. This is best
b. they offer no resistance to current. explained by the fact that ____.
c. they always choose power lines that are not in use. a. electrons move very fast from the switch to the light bulb filament
d. the potential difference between their feet is low. b. electrons present everywhere in the circuit move instantly
e. they are perfect insulators. Answer: B
f. they are perfect conductors. Electrons move very slowly from one location to another location. But
once a circuit is closed, they start moving immediately. While electrons
Answer: D move about a meter or in an hour, the actual signal which tells them to
start moving can travel at the speed of light. So once the switch is turned of voltage per unit of charge (V/Q). Since voltage is the energy per
on, a signal is circulated throughout the circuit to start the charge, we would expect that energy would be equivalent to voltage •
electrons marching. The electrons present in the filament of the circuit. charge. Thus, it is incorrect to equate units of energy to units of voltage
per charge.
32. The drift velocity of mobile charge carriers in electric circuits is ____. In choice c, a Watt is a unit of power (P) and a Joule•second is a unit of
a. very fast; less than but very close to the speed of light energy (E) multiplied by a unit of time (t). But power is energy / time and
b. fast; faster than the fastest car but nowhere near the speed of light not energy • time so this is not a correct unit equivalency.
c. slow; slower than Michael Jackson runs the 220-meters In choice d, a Watt is a unit of power (P). On the right side, a Volt is a unit
d. very slow; slower than a snail of voltage (V) and a Coulomb / second is a unit of current (I). So since P
= I • V, this is a correct unit equivalency.
Answer: D In choice e, a Joule / Ohm is a unit of energy per unit of resistance (E /
Drift velocity is the distance which a charge moves per unit of time. This R). An Ampere • Coulomb is a unit of current multiplied by a unit of
value is very small since electrons move very, very slowly. Moving at charge (I • Q). Thus, the equation is suggesting that E / R = I • Q. This
about 1 meter per hour, they are literally slower than a snail. can be rearranged algebraically to say that E / Q = I • R. Since voltage is
the energy per charge (E / Q), the equation can be rewritten as V = I • R.
33. Suppose that the current in a typical circuit (DC) is large. This is an This is thus a correct unit equivalency.
indication that ____. In choice f, a Joule• Ohm is a unit of energy multiplied by a unit of
a. the mobile charge carriers are moving very fast resistance (E • R). A Volt2 / second is a unit of voltage2 multiplied by a
b. a large number of mobile charge carriers are moving forward per unit of time (V2 • t). So this equation is suggesting that E • R = V 2 • t. This
second can be rearranged algebraically to say that E / t = V 2 / R. The right side of
c. both a and b are true the equation is equivalent to power, so the equation can be rewritten as P
= V2 / R. Since this is a correct way of writing the power equation, the
Answer: B given unit equivalency is correct.
Current (the rate at which charge moves past a point on the circuit) and
drift velocity (the distance a charge moves in a second) should not be 35. Which of the following diagrams represents resistors connected in in
confused (and often are). If a current is large, one can be sure of only series? List all that apply.
one thing: a lot of charges are moving forward past a point on the circuit
every second.
Charge receives an increase in 40. These two resistors are connected in ____.
electric potential of 12 volts when moving through the internal circuit (the a. series b. parallel c. neither
battery). So as a charge leaves the battery and traverses the external
circuit, there must be a total drop in electric potential of 12 Volts. This Answer: B
drop in voltage occurs in a two-step fashion as the charge passes One can start at the positive terminal of the battery and begin tracing
through each of the resistors. The charge will lose 6 volts in the first their finger along the wire. If there is ever a point where the wire comes
resistor and 6 volts in the second resistor, bringing it back to zero volts by to a junction and branches in two or more directions, then the circuit has
the time it returns to the - terminal of the battery. The potential diagram at a parallel connection. Otherwise, it is a series circuit. In this diagram,
the right is a visual means of representing this important concept. there is some branching. Once the charge reaches the branching point, it
will either pass through the resistor in the left branch (R 1) or through the
38. If a third resistor (R3), identical to the other two, is added in series resistor in the right branch (R2). Thus, it is a parallel circuit.
with the first two, then the overall resistance will ____ and the overall
current will ____. 41. The electric potential difference (voltage drop) across each resistor is
a. increase, increase b. decrease, decrease ___ Volts.
c. increase, decrease d. decrease, increase a. 6 b. 12 c. 24
e. increase, remain the same f. decrease, remain the same d. ... nonsense!. The electric potential difference is dependent upon
g. remain the same, increase h. remain the same, decrease the actual resistance of the resistors
i. remain the same, remain the
same Answer: B
Charge receives an increase in electric potential of 12 volts when moving
Answer: C through the internal circuit (the
Increasing the number of resistors in a series circuit will increase the
overall resistance of that circuit and cause the current to decrease. (The
opposite is true of a parallel circuit.)
Answer: C
The electric potential difference across any branch is equal to the
voltage of the battery. Adding a new branch can alter the overall
resistance and the overall current, but it does not alter the electric
potential difference across the battery nor across the branches.
battery). So as a charge 44. The resistance of a charge-carrying conducting wire will increase as
leaves the battery and traverses the external circuit, there must be a total the ____. Choose all that apply.
drop in electric potential of 12 Volts. This drop in voltage occurs in a a. length of the wire is increased
single step since the charge will only pass through a single resistor on its b. cross-sectional area of the wire is increased
path back to the battery. So since the charge chooses either the left or c. temperature of the wire is increased
the right branch (and not both), either branch must provide the 12-Volt d. voltage impressed across the ends of the wire is increased
drop in voltage. In parallel circuits, the the electric potential difference e. wire is placed closer and closer to the + terminal of the circuit
across the battery is equal to the electric potential difference across
either branch. The potential diagram at the right is a visual means of Answer: AC
representing this important concept. Resistance of a wire increases with increasing length and (to a smaller
extent) with increasing temperature. Increasing wire length increases the
42. If a third resistor (R 3), identical to the other two, is added in parallel number of atom-charge collisions and thus the amount of resistance.
with the first two, then the overall resistance will ____ and the overall Increasing the temperature increases the resistivity of the material and
current will ____. thus increases the overall resistance.
a. increase, increase b. decrease, decrease
c. increase, decrease d. decrease, increase 45. When plugged into a 120-Volt outlet, a light bulb consumes 300
e. increase, remain the same f. decrease, remain the same joules of energy over a 5 second time period. The power of the light bulb
g. remain the same, increase h. remain the same, decrease is ____ Watts.
i. remain the same, remain the a. 0.0167 b. 0.50 c. 2.0 d. 2.50
same e. 60 f. 600 g. 1500 h. 7200
Answer: D Answer: E
Adding an identical resistor in a separate branch will provide more Power is simply the rate at which energy is supplied to a circuit or
pathways by which charge can traverse through the loop of the circuit. transformed by a circuit. In this case, the power is the energy consumed
This would be the equivalent of adding another booth at a toll station on a per time.
tollway in parallel with an existing booth. Opening up another lane for P = (300 J) / (5 seconds) = 60 Watts
traffic will reduce the overall resistance and cause an increase in the car
flow rate. The same occurs with charge in parallel circuits. More 46. A certain electrical circuit contains a battery, wires and a light bulb. If
branches means less resistance and an increased current. potential energy is gained by charges at the battery location, then
charges lose potential energy ____.
43. If a third resistor (R 3), identical to the other two, is added in parallel a. in the wires only
with the first two, then the electric potential difference (voltage drop) b. in the bulb only
across each of the three individual resistors will ____. c. equally in the wires and the bulb
a. increase b. decrease c. remain the same d. mostly in the wires but a little in the bulb
e. mostly in the bulb but a little in the wires
f. nowhere
Answer: E
Charge will lose energy as they pass through locations of resistance. c. decrease the resistance of two of the bulbs
When in series, locations of greatest resistance will transform electrical d. increase the voltage of the battery
energy into other forms at a greater rate. So energy will be lost in the e. decrease the voltage of the battery
light bulb and in the wires to a much lesser extent. f. remove one of the bulbs
47. A high resistance light bulb and a low resistance light bulb are Answer: CDF
connected in series to a 6-Volt pack of batteries. Which of the two light The current in a series circuit (both total current and current through
bulbs will shine the brightest? individual resistors) is directly dependent upon the battery voltage and
a. They will have the same brightness. inversely dependent upon the total circuit resistance. This current can be
b. The low-R bulb will shine more brightly. increased by increasing the battery voltage. It can also be increased by
c. The high-R bulb will shine more brightly. decreasing the total resistance. Removing a bulb would decrease the
d. There is no way to make such a prediction since bulb brightness is total resistance and decreasing the resistance of any individual bulb
independent of bulb resistance. would decrease the total resistance.
Answer: C
Since the two light bulbs are in series, the same current (i) is experienced 50. Three identical light bulbs (labeled X, Y and
by each. The power will be given by the i 2•R product. Since i is the same Z) are connected to a battery as shown at the
for each light bulb, the bulb with the greatest resistance will have the right. Which adjustments could be made to the
greatest power. So the high-R light bulb will transform electrical energy circuit below that would increase the current at
into light energy at the greatest rate and thus shine most brightly. point P? List all that apply.
a. increase the resistance of one of the bulbs
48. A high resistance light bulb and a low resistance light bulb are b. increase the resistance of two of the bulbs
connected in parallel and powered by a 6-Volt pack of batteries. Which of c. decrease the resistance of two of the bulbs
the two light bulbs will shine the brightest? d. increase the voltage of the battery
a. They will have the same brightness. e. decrease the voltage of the battery
b. The low-R bulb will shine more brightly. f. remove one of the bulbs
c. The high-R bulb will shine more brightly. Answer: CD
d. There is no way to make such a prediction since bulb brightness is Point P represents the location where the total current of this parallel
indepenent of bulb resistance. circuit can be measured. The total current would vary directly with the
Answer: B total voltage and inversely with the total resistance. Increasing the battery
Since the two light bulbs are in parallel, the same voltage drop (V) is voltage would increase the current at location P. Decreasing the total
experienced by each. The power will be given by the i 2•R product. Since resistance would increase the current at location P. The total resistance
V is the same for each light bulb, the bulb with the greatest resistance will can be decreased by adding another resistor in a separate branch or by
have the lest current. Current is of the greatest importance in determining decreasing the resistance of any of the branches.
the power of the light bulb since it is squared in the equation. So the low-
R light bulb will have the greatest current and thus transform electrical 51. Three identical light bulbs (labeled X, Y and
energy into light energy at the greatest rate; it will shine most brightly. Z) are connected to a battery as shown at the
right. Which adjustments could be made to the
49. Three identical light bulbs are connected to circuit below that would decrease the current in
a battery as shown at the right. Which bulb Z? List all that apply.
adjustments could be made to the circuit that a. increase the resistance of bulb X
would increase the current being measured at X? b. decrease the resistance of bulb X
Include all that apply. c. increase the resistance of bulb Z
a. increase the resistance of one of the bulbs d. decrease the resistance of bulb Z
b. increase the resistance of two of the bulbs e. increase the voltage of the battery
f. decrease the voltage of the battery
g. remove bulb Y
Answer: CF
The current in bulb Z is dependent upon the voltage drop across bulb Z
and the resistance of bulb Z. In equation form, Answer: See answers below.
IZ = VZ / RZ This question tests your understanding of current as the rate at which
An increase in battery voltage would increase the voltage drop across charge (expressed here in Coulombs) flows past a point on a circuit.
bulb Z (VZ) and thus provide a greater current through the bulb. A Current is found as the charge/time ratio. For a series circuit such as this
decrease in the resistance of bulb Z would also increase the current one, the current is everywhere the same.
through the bulb. However, making a change in bulb X or Y would have a. B; the current is 2.0 amperes at point A. To be the same 2.0 Amperes at
no effect on the VZ / RZ ratio. point B, 4 Coulombs must pass the point in 2 seconds.
b. A; the current is 2.0 amperes at point A. To be the same 2.0 Amperes at
Part C: Diagramming and Analysis point B, 2 Coulombs must pass the point in 1 second. In a lesser amount of
52. Consider the diagram at the right to answer the time, less charge will flow past the point.
following questions. c. C; the current is 2.0 amperes at point A. To be the same 2.0 Amperes at
a. If 4 Coulombs of charge flow past point A in 2 seconds, point B, 8 Coulombs must pass the point in 4 seconds. In a greater amount
then ___ Coulombs of charge flow past point B in 2 of time, more charge will flow past the point.
seconds. d. 8; the current is 2.0 amperes at point A. To be the same 2.0 Amperes at
a. less than 4 b. 4 c. more than 4 point B,8 Coulombs must pass point B in 4 seconds.
d. impossible to make such a prediction without e. 8; the current is 2.0 amperes at point A. To be the same 2.0 Amperes at
knowledge of the resistances. point B,8 Coulombs must pass point C in 4 seconds.
b. If 4 Coulombs of charge flow past point A in 2 seconds, then ___ f. decrease; increasing the resistance of a light bulb for a series of
Coulombs of charge flow past point B in 1 second. consecutive light bulbs will increase the overall resistance of the circuit and
a. less than 4 b. 4 c. more than 4 cause the current throughout the entire circuit to decrease.
d. impossible to make such a prediction without knowledge of the
resistances.
c. If 4 Coulombs of charge flow past point A in 2 seconds, then ___
Coulombs of charge flow past point B in 4 seconds.
a. less than 4 b. 4 c. more than 4
d. impossible to make such a prediction without knowledge of the 53. The diagram at the right shows three identical
resistances. light bulbs wired in series. Several points along
d. If 4 Coulombs of charge flow past point A in 2 seconds, then ___ the circuit are labeled with letters. Compare the
Coulombs of charge flow past point B in 4 seconds. electric potential and the electric potential energy
e. If 4 Coulombs of charge flow past point A in 2 seconds, then ___ of the various points. For each comparison, use a
Coulombs of charge flow past point C in 4 seconds. greater than (>), less than (<), or approximately
f. Suppose that the resistance of the light bulb located between points A equal to (=) symbol.
and B is increased. This would cause the current through the other light
bulb to ____ (increase, decrease, remain the same). Electric Potential Potential Energy
Comparison Comparison
VA = VB PEA = PE B
VB > VC PE B > PE C
VC = VD PE C = PE D
VD > VE PE D > PE E
VE = VF PE E = PE F
VF > VG PE F > PE G
VG = VH PE G = PE H
VH < VA PE H < PE A Answer: See diagram below.
Since the two resistors are in series, the total or equivalent resistance is
Answer: See table above. simply the sum of the individual resistances. The total resistance is 6
Point A corresponds to the positive terminal of the battery. At point A, ohms. The total current in the circuit can be found by the ratio of battery
charge possesses the greatest amount of electric potential energy. It has voltage to total resistance:
a high voltage at this location. In the process of moving through the ITOT = ΔVTOT / RTOT = (6 V) / (6 ohms) = 1 Amp
circuit to the - terminal, the charge will have its electric potential energy Since it is a series circuit, the current through the battery is the same as
converted to light energy (and heat energy) in the light bulbs. It will lose a the current through each of the resistors.
portion of its electrical energy in each light bulb. The light bulb simply
serves as an energy conversion device which transforms electric
potential energy into non-electrical forms. As such, the potential energy
(and thus the voltage) will drop in value every time the passes by a light
bulb and reaches a point further from the high energy + terminal. Finally,
at point H, all the electrical energy and voltage has been lost and the
charge is in need of some energy input from the battery.