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AP Physics 1 : Understanding Circuit Diagrams

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Example Question #1311 : Ap Physics 1

Circuit diagram2

$R_1=1\Omega$

$R_2=2\Omega$

$R_3=3\Omega$

$R_4=4\Omega$

V=10V

In the circuit above, what is the current passing through R_3 ?

Possible Answers:

4.2A

1.4A

2.4A

1.8A

2.8A

Correct answer:

2.4A

Explanation:

Find the total resistance of the circuit. First, calculate the values of the combined resistances of the resistors in parallel:

$\frac{1}{R_A}=\frac{1}{R_1}+\frac{1}{R_2}$

$\frac{1}{R_A}=\frac{1}{1\Omega}+\frac{1}{2\Omega}=\frac{3}{2\Omega}$

$R_A=\frac{2}{3}\Omega$

$\frac{1}{R_B}=\frac{1}{R_3}+\frac{1}{R_4}$

$\frac{1}{R_B}=\frac{1}{3\Omega}+\frac{1}{4\Omega}=\frac{7}{12\Omega}$

$R_B=\frac{12}{7}\Omega$

Therefore, the total resistance is:

$R_T=R_A+R_B=\frac{2}{3}\Omega+\frac{12}{7}\Omega=\frac{50}{21}\Omega$

From Ohm's law, we know that $\frac{V}{R_T}$ is the current traveling through the circuit.

$I=10V\left(\frac{21}{50\Omega}\right)=4.2A$

This current will be divided between and , with more current taking the path of lower resistance.

Total voltage drop across $R_{3,4}$ :

$V_{3,4}=I_TR_{3,4}$

$V_{3,4}=4.2A\cdot\frac{12}{7}\Omega$

$V_{3,4}=7.2V$

V_3=V_4=7.2V

The current through R_3 is given by:

$I_3=\frac{V_3}{R_3}$

$I_3=\frac{7.2V}{3\Omega}=2.4A$

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Example Question #11 : Understanding Circuit Diagrams

Circuitdiagram3

$R_1=3\Omega$

$R_2=6\Omega$

$R_3=2\Omega$

$R_4=10\Omega$

In the circuit above, what is the total resistance?

Possible Answers:

$21\Omega$

$\frac{21}{108}\Omega$

$\frac{80}{21}\Omega$

$\frac{21}{80}\Omega$

$\frac{108}{21}\Omega$

Correct answer:

$\frac{80}{21}\Omega$

Explanation:

Begin by combining the resistors that are immediately in series:

$R_A=R_1+R_3=3\Omega+2\Omega=5\Omega$

$R_B=R_2+R_4=6\Omega+10\Omega=16\Omega$

Circuit diagramab

Now to find the total resistance, combine these two new resistance values, which are in parallel:

$\frac{1}{R_T}=\frac{1}{5\Omega}+\frac{1}{16\Omega}=\frac{21}{80\Omega}$

$R_T=\frac{80}{21}\Omega$

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Example Question #11 : Understanding Circuit Diagrams

Circuitdiagram3

$R_1=1\Omega$

$R_2=2\Omega$

$R_3=3\Omega$

$R_4=4\Omega$

V=10V

In the circuit above, what is the voltage drop across R_3 ?

Possible Answers:

3.3V

2.5 V

5.0V

6.7V

7.5V

Correct answer:

7.5V

Explanation:

To approach this problem, note that there are no other resistors (or combinations or resistors) beyond the parallel arrangement shown, so the voltage drop across the top (R_1,R_3) and the bottom (R_2,R_4) is the same and equal to the voltage across the circuit, 10V .

The voltage drop across R_3 can be found as:

$V_3=\frac{R_3}{R_1+R_3}V=\frac{3\Omega}{1\Omega+3\Omega}10V=\frac{3}{4}\cdot10V$

V_3=7.5V

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Example Question #12 : Understanding Circuit Diagrams

Circuitdiagram3

$R_1=1\Omega$

$R_2=2\Omega$

$R_3=3\Omega$

$R_4=4\Omega$

V=10V

In the circuit above, what is the current passing through R_3 ?

Possible Answers:

0.625A

1.667A

2.5A

1.875A

4.167A

Correct answer:

2.5A

Explanation:

To approach this problem, note that there are no other resistors (or combinations or resistors) beyond the parallel arrangement shown, so the voltage drop across the top (R_1,R_3) and the bottom (R_2, R_4) is the same and equal to the voltage across the circuit, 10V .

Furthermore, the current that passes through R_1 must be the same as the current that passes through R_3 .

Therefore, the current that passes through them can be found by rearranging Ohm's law, solving for current.

$I_{1,3}=\frac{V}{R_1+R_3}=\frac{10V}{1\Omega+3\Omega}$

$I_{1,3}=2.5A$

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Example Question #13 : Understanding Circuit Diagrams

Basic circuit2

In the circuit above:

$V_{in}=12V$

$Z_1=11\Omega$

$Z_2=21\Omega$

$Z_3=16\Omega$

What is the current across Z_3 ?

Possible Answers:

0.38A

2.25A

1.13A

1.50A

0.75A

Correct answer:

0.75A

Explanation:

The quickest way to approach this problem is to realize that the voltage drop across Z_3 is the same as the voltage drop across the combined resistances of Z_1 and Z_2 . Since this parallel combination is the only presence of resistance in the circuit, this voltage drop must be the total voltage of the circuit, 12V .

Therefore, the current across Z_3 is:

$I_3=\frac{V_3}{Z_3}$

$I_3=\frac{12V}{16\Omega}$

I_3=0.75A

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Example Question #14 : Understanding Circuit Diagrams

Basic circuit2

In the circuit above:

$V_{in}=12V$

$Z_1=11\Omega$

$Z_2=21\Omega$

$Z_3=16\Omega$

What is the current across Z_2 ?

Possible Answers:

0.375A

1.50A

0.750A

2.25A

1.125A

Correct answer:

0.375A

Explanation:

Realize that the voltage drop across the combined resistances of Z_1 and Z_2 must be equal to the voltage of the circuit, since the parallel combination is the only presence of resistance in the circuit. This voltage drop must be the total voltage of the circuit, 12V .

The current across Z_1 and Z_2 is the same, and is given as:

$I_1=I_2=\frac{12V}{Z_1+Z_2}$

$I_2=\frac{12V}{32\Omega}$

I_2=0.375A

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Example Question #1321 : Ap Physics 1

Basic circuit2

In the circuit above:

$V_{in}=12V$

$Z_1=11\Omega$

$Z_2=21\Omega$

$Z_3=16\Omega$

What is the total current in the circuit before it is encounters the parallel connection?

Possible Answers:

0.750A

128A

0.375A

1.125A

0.250A

Correct answer:

1.125A

Explanation:

Begin by finding the resistance of the parallel connection:

$\frac{1}{Z}=\frac{1}{Z_1+Z_2}+\frac{1}{Z_3}$

$\frac{1}{Z}=\frac{1}{32\Omega}+\frac{1}{16\Omega}$

$\frac{1}{Z}=\frac{3}{32\Omega}$

$Z=\frac{32}{3}\Omega$

The total current is then found using Ohm's law:

$I=\frac{V_{in}}{Z}$

$I=\frac{12V}{\frac{32}{3}\Omega}$

I=1.125A

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Example Question #1321 : Ap Physics 1

The following symbol represents what item in a circuit?

Capacitor

Possible Answers:

Capacitor

Resistor

Inductor

Battery

Correct answer:

Capacitor

Explanation:

The symbol for a capacitor is written as a break in the circuit separated by two parallel lines of equal length as shown below. This loosely resembles the most common type of capacitor, a parallel plate capacitor.

Capacitor

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AP Physics 1 : Understanding Circuit Diagrams

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics 1

All AP Physics 1 Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #1311 : Ap Physics 1

Example Question #11 : Understanding Circuit Diagrams

Example Question #11 : Understanding Circuit Diagrams

Example Question #12 : Understanding Circuit Diagrams

Example Question #13 : Understanding Circuit Diagrams

Example Question #14 : Understanding Circuit Diagrams

Example Question #1321 : Ap Physics 1

Example Question #1321 : Ap Physics 1

All AP Physics 1 Resources

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