12 - PHYSICS - (STATE BOARD)

Unit: 2 Current Electricity 1

2. Current Electricity
1. Define Drift velocity. (Mar07), (Oct08), (Jun09), (Oct09), (Mar10) Drift velocity is defined as the velocity with which free electrons get drifted towards the positive terminal, when an electric field is applied. It is of the order of 0.1 cm s1. 2. Define Mobility. Give its unit. (Oct06) , (Mar08), (Mar09) Mobility is defined as the drift velocity acquired per unit electric field. Its unit is m2V1s1. 3. Distinguish between drift velocity and mobility. (BB) Drift velocity Drift velocity is defined as the velocity with which free electrons get drifted towards 1 the positive terminal, when an electric field is applied. It is unit is cm s1. 2 It is of the order 0.1 cm s-1 Mobility Mobility is defined as the drift velocity acquired per unit electric field. Its unit is m2V1s1

4. Define Current density. Current density at a point is defined as the quantity of charge passing per unit time through unit area, taken perpendicular to the direction of flow of charge at that point. Current density is a vector quantity. Its unit is A m2 5. State Ohms law. (BB), (Mar06), (Oct07), (Oct09), (Mar10) The law states that, at a constant temperature, the steady current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference between the two ends of the conductor. IV 6. Define Resistance and conductance of a conductor. Resistance: Resistance of a conductor is defined as the ratio of potential difference across the conductor to the current flowing through it. The unit of resistance is ohm (). Conductance: The reciprocal of resistance is conductance. Its unit is mho (1). 7. Write a note on How materials are classified on the basis of resistivity. (BB) (The resistivity of a material is the characteristic of that particular material. The materials can be broadly classified into conductors and insulators.) Conductors: The metals and alloys which have low resistivity of the order of 106 108 m are good conductors of electricity. They carry current without appreciable loss of energy. Example: silver, aluminium, (copper, iron, tungsten, nichrome, manganin, constantan). (The resistivity of metals increase with increase in temperature). Insulators: Insulators are substances which have very high resistivity of the order of 108-1014 m. They offer very high resistance to the flow of current and are termed non-conductors. Example: glass, mica, (amber, quartz, wood, teflon, bakelite). Semiconductors: In between these two classes of materials lie the semiconductors. They are partially conducting. The resistivity of semiconductor is 10-2 104 m. Example : germanium, silicon. 8. Define resistivity (specific resistance) of a material. (BB) Electrical resistivity of a material is defined as the resistance offered to current flow by a conductor of unit length having unit area of cross section. The unit is ohm-m.

Physics M.PALANICHAMY,M.Sc.,M.Ed.,M.Phil.,P.G TEACHER IN PHYSICS,(CELL:94421-36775)

12 - PHYSICS - (STATE BOARD) 9. Define electrical conductivity. Give its unit.

Unit: 2 Current Electricity 2

1

The reciprocal of electrical resistivity, is called electrical conductivity. = The unit of conductivity is : mho-m
-1

10. What is super conductivity? What are super conductors? (BB) The ability of certain metals, their compounds and alloys to conduct electricity with zero resistance at very low temperatures is called superconductivity. The materials which exhibit this property are called superconductors. 11. What is transition temperature or critical temperature? The temperature at which electrical resistivity of the material suddenly drops to zero and the material changes from normal conductor to a superconductor is called the transition temperature or critical temperature. 12. What are the changes observed at the transition temperature? (Jun10) At the transition temperature the following changes are observed: (i) the electrical resistivity drops to zero (ii) the conductivity becomes infinity (iii) the magnetic flux lines are excluded from the material. 13. Mention the applications of superconductors. (BB), (Jun06), (Oct06), (Jun07), (Oct07) Applications of superconductors (i) Superconductors form the basis of energy saving power systems, namely the superconducting generators, which are smaller in size and weight, in comparison with conventional generators. (ii) Superconducting magnets have been used to levitate trains above its rails. They can be driven at high speed with minimal expenditure of energy. (iii) Superconducting magnetic propulsion systems may be used to launch satellites into orbits directly from the earth without the use of rockets. (iv) High efficiency ore-separating machines may be built using superconducting magnets which can be used to separate tumor cells from healthy cells by high gradient magnetic separation method. (v) Since the current in a superconducting wire can flow without any change in magnitude, it can be used for transmission lines. (vi) Superconductors can be used as memory or storage elements in computers. 14. What are carbon resistors? Why they are preferred over wire-wound resistors? Carbon resistor consists of a ceramic core, on which a thin layer of crystalline carbon is deposited. Carbon resistors are cheaper, stable and small in size. Wire wound resistors are expensive and huge in size. 15. Colour coding table: B B Black Brown 0 1 16. Tolerance Value Table : R Red 2 O Orange 3 Y Yellow 4 Great Green 5 Britains Blue 6 Very Violet 7 Good Green 8 Writer White 9

Brown 1%

Red 2%
3

Gold 5%

Silver 10 %

No band 20 %

17. The colours of a carbon resistor are orange, orange, and orange. What is the value of resistor? (BB) Orange 3, Orange 3, and Orange - 10

= 33 x 103 = 33 k

Physics M.PALANICHAMY,M.Sc.,M.Ed.,M.Phil.,P.G TEACHER IN PHYSICS,(CELL:94421-36775)

12 - PHYSICS - (STATE BOARD)

Unit: 2 Current Electricity 3

18. Define temperature coefficient of resistance. Give its unit. (Jun08) The temperature coefficient of resistance is defined as the ratio of increase in resistance per degree rise in temperature to its resistance at 0 oC. Its unit is per oC. 19. What is a thermistor? How the resistivities of materials vary with temperature? A material with a negative temperature coefficient is called a thermistor. Metals: have positive temperature coefficient of resistance, i.e., their resistance increases with increase in temperature. Insulators and semiconductors: have negative temperature coefficient of resistance, i.e., their resistance decreases with increase in temperature. The temperature coefficient is low for alloys. 20. What is internal resistance of a cell ? The current flows through the electrolyte of the cell, from its negative terminal to positive terminal. During this process of flow of current inside the cell, a resistance is offered to current flow by the electrolyte of the cell. This is termed as the internal resistance of the cell. (A freshly prepared cell has low internal resistance and this increases with ageing.) 21. State Kirchoffs law in current electricity. (BB), (Jun06), (Mar07) , (Mar08), (Mar09), Kirchoffs first law (current law): Kirchoffs current law states that the algebraic sum of the currents meeting at any junction in a circuit is zero. Kirchoffs second law (voltage law): Kirchoffs voltage law states that the algebraic sum of the products of resistance and current in each part of any closed circuit is equal to the algebraic sum of the emfs in that closed circuit. This law is a consequence of conservation of energy. 22. Distinguish between emf and potential difference. (Jun07), (Oct08) emf The difference of potentials between the two terminals of a cell in an open circuit is called the emf of a cell. The emf is independent of external resistance of the circuit Potential difference The difference in potentials between any two points in a closed circuit is called potential difference. Potential difference is proportional to the resistance between any two points

1 2

23. Differentiate Electric power and Electric Energy: (BB), (Jun08), (Jun09) Power Energy Electric energy is defined as the capacity to Electric power is defined as the rate of 1 do work. doing electric work. 2 3 Its unit is watt. In practice, the electrical power is measured by horse power. Its unit is joule. In practice, the electrical energy is measured by kilowatt hour.

24. Write a note on Wattmeter. A wattmeter is an instrument used to measure electrical power consumed i.e energy absorbed in unit time by a circuit. The wattmeter consists of a movable coil arranged between a pair of fixed coils in the form of a solenoid. A pointer is attached to the movable coil. The free end of the pointer moves over a circular scale. When current flows through the coils, the deflection of the pointer is directly proportional to the power.

Physics M.PALANICHAMY,M.Sc.,M.Ed.,M.Phil.,P.G TEACHER IN PHYSICS,(CELL:94421-36775)

12 - PHYSICS - (STATE BOARD) Unit: 2 Current Electricity 4 25. Why copper wire is not suitable for potentiometer? (BB) Copper wire has high temperature coefficient of resistance. Hence, copper wire is more sensitive to temperature. So copper wire cannot be used as potentiometer wire. Manganin wire has low temperature coefficient of resistance. Hence manganin wire can be used. 26. What is electrolysis? What are electrolytes? The passage of an electric current through a liquid causes chemical changes and this process is called electrolysis. The conduction is possible, only in liquids in which charged ions can be dissociated in opposite directions. Such liquids are called electrolytes. 27. State Faradays laws of electrolysis. (BB), (Mar06), (Jun10) First Law: The mass of a substance liberated at an electrode is directly proportional to the charge passing through the electrolyte. m q Second Law: The mass of a substance liberated at an electrode by a given amount of charge is proportional to the chemical equivalent of the substance. m E 28. Define electrochemical equivalent. Give its unit. The electrochemical equivalent of a substance is defined as the mass of substance liberated in electrolysis when one coulomb charge is passed through the electrolyte. Its unit is kg C1. 29. Define chemical equivalent of a substance. Chemical equivalent of a substance is defined as the ratio of relative atomic mass to its valancy. relative atomicmass (or) Chemical equivalent = Valency mass of an atom Chemical equivalent = 1 / 12 of the mass of C 12 atom 30. How an electric cell can be made ? Alessandro Volta established that, a cell could be made by using two dissimilar metals and a salt solution ( or acid ) which reacts with at least one of the metals as electrolyte. 31. What are primary cells? Give examples. The cells from which the electric energy is derived by irreversible chemical actions are called primary cells. The primary cell is capable of giving an emf, when its constituents, two electrodes and a suitable electrolyte, are assembled together. Examples: Daniel Cell and Leclanche Cell. 32. What are secondary cells? Give Examples. The cells from which the electric energy is derived by reversible chemical actions are called secondary cells. The advantage of secondary cells is that they are rechargeable. Examples: Lead acid accumulator and alkali accumulator. 33. What is charging. What is discharging of a secondary cell? Charging: The process of reproducing active materials by passing current through the cell in opposite direction is called charging. Discharging: The chemical process of obtaining current from a secondary cell is called discharging. 34. Why secondary cells have low internal resistance? (BB) The electrodes are separated by suitable insulating materials and assembled in a way to give low internal resistance.

Physics M.PALANICHAMY,M.Sc.,M.Ed.,M.Phil.,P.G TEACHER IN PHYSICS,(CELL:94421-36775)

12 - PHYSICS - (STATE BOARD) 35. Distinguish between primary and secondary cell. Primary cells The electric energy is derived by irreversible 1 chemical actions 2 These cells cannot be recharged electrically.

Unit: 2 Current Electricity 5 Secondary cells The electric energy is derived by reversible chemical actions These cells can be recharged electrically. The active materials that are used up when the cell delivers current can be reproduced Example: lead acid accumulator and alkali accumulator.

Example: Daniel Cell and Leclanche cell

36. What are the Advantages of secondary cells ? (i) The secondary cells are rechargeable. (ii) They have very low internal resistance. (iii)They can deliver a high current if required. (iv)They can be recharged a very large number of times without any deterioration in properties. 37. What are the Applications of secondary cells ? (Oct08), (Oct08) The secondary cells are rechargeable. They can be recharged a very large number of times without any deterioration in properties. They have very low internal resistance. Hence they can deliver a high current if required. (These cells are huge in size.) They are used in all automobiles like cars, two wheelers, trucks etc. 38. In the following circuit, calculate the current through the circuit. Mention its direction. (Mar06)

39. A manganin wire of length 2 m has a diameter of 0.4 mm with a resistance of 70 . Find its resistivity of the material. (Jun06)

40. Three resistors are connected in series with10V supply as shown in the figure. Find voltage drop across each resistor (Oct06)

41. The resistance of a platinum wire at 0C is 4. What will be the resistance of the wire at 100C if the temperature coefficient of resistance of platinum is 0.0038/C? (Mar07), (Jun10)

Physics M.PALANICHAMY,M.Sc.,M.Ed.,M.Phil.,P.G TEACHER IN PHYSICS,(CELL:94421-36775)

12 - PHYSICS - (STATE BOARD)

Unit: 2 Current Electricity 6

42. The resistance of a Nichrome wire at 0C is 10. If its temperature co-efficient of resistance is 0.004/C, find its resistance at boiling point of water. Comment on the result. (Jun07), (Oct07), (Mar08), (Jun09)

43. An iron box of 400 W power is used daily for 30 minutes. If the cost per unit is 75 paise, find the weekly expense on using the iron box. (Jun08)

44. Two wires of same material and length have resistances 5 and10 respectively. Find the ratio of radii of the two wires. (Mar09)

45. In the given circuit, what are the total resistance and current supplied by the battery? (Oct09)

18 46. If 6.25 10 electrons flow through a given cross section in unit time, find the current.

(Given : Charge of an electron is 1.6 1019 C) (Mar10)

Physics M.PALANICHAMY,M.Sc.,M.Ed.,M.Phil.,P.G TEACHER IN PHYSICS,(CELL:94421-36775)