Solution Sheet for Chapter 1

Section 1.2: Circuits, currents and voltages.

P.1.6. In a fluid analogy for electrical circuits what is analogous to:
a. A conductor: A conductor is analogous to frictionless pipe.
b. An open switch: an open switch is similar to a closed valve.
c. A resistance: A resistance is analogous to a constriction in a pipe or to a pipe with a friction.
d. A battery is analogous to a pump.
P.1.7. The ends of a length of wire are labeled a and b. The current in the wire is = , are
electrons moving towards a or b? How much charge passes through a cross section of the wire in 3
seconds?
Sol: The reference direction for points from a to b. Because has negative value, the current is
equivalent to positive charge moving opposite to the reference direction. Finally some electrons have
negative charge, they are moving in the reference direction (i.e. from a to b).
For a constant (DC) current, the charge equals current times the time interval. Thus,
= (3) (3) = 9
P.1.9. The current through a given circuit element is given by () = A. As usual, time t is in
seconds. Find the net charge that passes through the element from = to = .
Sol:

= () = 2 = 2 |
0 =2
0

P.1.10. A certain acid lead acid storage battery has a mass of 30 kg. Starting from a fully charged state,
it can supply 5A for 24 hours with a terminal voltage of 12 V before it is totally discharged.
(A) If the energy stored in the fully charged battery is used to lift the battery is used to lift the battery
with 100 percent efficiency, what height is attained? Assume that acceleration due to gravity is
. / and is constant.
Sol: The charge flowing through the battery is
= (5 ) (24 3600) = 432 103 Coulombs
The energy stored is,
= = (432 103 ) (12) = 5.184 106

Equating the gravitational potential energy which is mass times the height and the acceleration due to
gravity, to the energy stored in the battery.
=

5.184 106
=
= 17.6

30 9.8

(b) If the stored energy is used to accelerate the battery with 100 percent efficiency, what velocity is
attained?
2
=
= 587.9/

(c) Gasoline contains about . /. Compare this with energy content per unit mass for the
fully charged battery.
Sol: The energy density of the battery is

5.184106
30

= 172.8 103 / which is about 0.384 of the energy

density of gasoline.
P.1.18. The charge carried by the electrons Is . . Suppose that an electron moves
through a voltage of 120V from negative polarity to positive polarity. How much energy is
transferred? Does the electron gain or lose energy?
Sol: The electron gains 1.6 1019 120 = 19.2 1018
Section 1.3: Power and Energy
P.1.21. Compute the power for each of the elements shown in the below figure. For each of the
element, state whether energy is being absorbed by the element or supplied by it.

(a) = = 30 , Energy is being absorbed by the element.

(b) = = 30 , Energy is being absorbed by the element.
(a) = = 60 , Energy is being supplied by the element.
P.1.22. Certain battery have their terminals labeled at a and b. The battery voltage is = . To
increase the chemical energy stored in the battery by 600 J, how much charge should move through
the battery? Should the electrons move from a to b or b to a?

Sol:
=

600
=
= 50

12

To increase the chemical energy stored in the battery, positive charge should move through the battery
from the positive terminal to the negative terminal, in other words from a to b. Electrons move from b
to a.
P.1.25. Suppose the cost of electrical energy is $0.12 per kilowatt hour and your electricity bill for 30
days is $60. Assume that the power delivered is constant over entire 30 days. What is the power in
Watts? If a Voltage of 120V supplies this power, what current flows? Part of your electric load is 60 W
light that is on continuously. By what percentage can you reduce your energy consumption by turning
the light off?
Sol:
=
=

$60
=
= 500
0.12$/

500
=
= 694.4

30 24
=

694.4
=
= 5.787

120

60
100% = 8.64%
694.4

P.1.28. The below figure shows an ammeter (AM) and voltmeter connected to measure the current
and voltage respectively, for circuit element A. The current actually enters the positive terminal of the
ammeter the reading is positive and when the current leave the positive terminal then the reading is
negative. The actual voltage polarity is positive at the positive terminal of the VM, the reading is
positive; otherwise the reading is negative. (Actually for the connection shown below, the ammeter
shows the sum of current in element A and a very small current taken by the voltmeter. For the
purpose of this question assume the current through the voltmeter is negligible). Find the power for
element and state whether the energy is being delivered to element A or taken from it.
Sol:

(a) The ammeter reading is +2A and the voltmeter reading is -25V.
Sol: P = 50W taken from element A.
(b) The ammeter reading is -2A and voltmeter reading is +25V.
Sol: P = 50W taken from element A.
(c) The ammeter reading is -2A and voltmeter reading is -25V.
Sol: P = 50W delivered to element A.
Section 1.4: Kirchhoffs Current Law
P.1.32. Use KCL to find the values of , and for the circuit. Which elements are connected in series
in this circuit?
Sol: Applying KCL, we find,
= + 3 = 4
+ = 3
= 3 2 = 1
=
= 2

P.1.37. Given that = , = , = and = . Determine other values current in the

figure.

Sol: Applying KCL, we find,

= = 1

 = + = 5
= + = 3
= = 7
Section 1.5: Kirchhoffs Voltage Law
41. Use KVL and KCL to solve for the labeled currents and voltages in the below figure. Compute the
power for each element and show that power is conserved

Sol:
Applying KVL and KCL we have,
= = 1
= = 2
= = 6
= = 4
The power for each element is,
= = 20
= = 12
= = 4
= = 4
Thus,
+ + + = 0
46. Identify the nodes in the below figure. Which elements are in series? Which are in parallel?

Sol: There are two nodes; One at the center of the diagram and other at the outer periphery of the
circuit. Elements A, B, C, and D are in parallel. No elements are in series.
Section 1.6: Introduction of circuit elements
55. Suppose that certain wire has a resistance of 10 ohm. Find the new resistance,
a. If the length of the wire is doubled.
b. If the diameter is doubled.
Sol:
Resistance is written as,

Hence if the length of the wire is doubled, the resistance doubles to 20 ohm.
Similarly, if the diameter doubles. The area of cross section is doubled. And the resistance is decreased
by a factor of four to 2.4 ohm.
=

57. A power of 100W is delivered to a certain resistor when applied voltage is 100 V. Find the
resistance. Suppose that voltage is reduced by 10 percent (to 90V). By what percentage is the power
reduced? Assume that resistance remains constant.
Sol:
=

2 1002
=
= 100

100

=
Which is a 19% reduction in power.

2 902
=
= 81

100

Section 1.7: Introduction to circuits

62. Which of the following is are self-contradictory combination of circuit elements.
a. A 12 V voltage source in parallel with a 2A current source.
b. A 2A current source in series with 3A current source.
c. A 2A current source in parallel with a short circuit.
d. A 2A current source in series with open circuit.
e. A 5V voltage source in parallel with a short circuit
Sol:
a. Not contradictory.
b. A 2A current source in series with 3A current source is contradictory because current in series
must be equal.
c. Not contradictory.
d. A 2A current source in series with an open circuit is contradictory because current through the
open circuit is 0 by definition and current in series must be equal.
e. A 5V voltage source in parallel with a short circuit is contradictory because the voltage across
parallel elements must be equal and the voltage across a short circuit is 0 by definition.
63. Consider the circuit shown in figure below. Use repeated application of ohms law, KVL and KCL to
eventually find .

Sol:
Applying Ohms law we have,
2 = (5) (1) = 5
However 2 is the voltage across all the three resistors that are in parallel.
Thus,
3 =
2 =

2
= 1
5
2
= 0.5
10

Applying KCL we have,

1 = 2 + 3 + 1 = 2.5
By Ohms law we have,
1 = 5 1 = 12.5
Finally using KVL we have,
= 1 + 2 = 17.5

64. Consider the circuit shown in the figure below, Find the current flowing through the resistor.
Find the power for each element in the circuit. Which elements are absorbing power?

Sol: As shown above, the 2A current circulates clockwise through all three elements in the circuit.
Applying KVL we have,
= + 10 = 10 + 5 = 20
= = 40, Thus the current source delivers power.
= 2 = 22 5 = 20, Thus the resistor absorbs power.

= 10 = 20, Thus the voltage source absorbs power.

P.1.66. Consider the circuit given below.
a. which elements are in parallel?
b. which elements are in series?
c. Apply Ohms law and Kirchhoffs law to solve for ?

Sol:
(a) The 1 ohm resistance, the 2 ohm resistance and the voltage source are in series.

(b) The 6-ohm and 3-ohm resistance are in parallel.

(c) Applying ohms law to the 6-ohm resistance we determine that 1 = 6. Then applying ohms
law to the 3-ohm resistance we have 1 = 2. Then KCL yields 2 = 3. Next, applying ohms
law we get 3 = 3 and 2 = 6. Finally applying KVL, we get = 1 + 2 + 3 = 15 .

P.1.67.Given the circuit below, Find the power for each source. Which source is delivering power and
which is absorbing power?

Sol: The power for each element is 120 W in magnitude. The voltage source absorbs power and current
source delivers it.

P.1.72. Consider the circuit shown below

a. Which elements are in parallel?
b. Which elements are in series?
c. Apply ohms and Kirchhoffs law to solve for .

Sol:
(a) None of the elements are in series.
(b) Rx and 2-ohm resistor are in parallel. 4-ohm and 8-ohm resistor are in parallel.
(c) Applying Ohms law
2 = 2 2 = 4
1 = 12 2 = 8
=

1 2
+
= 3
4
8

= 2 = 1
=

2
= 4