MCAT Physical : Circuits

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for MCAT Physical

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Example Questions

Example Question #4 : Resistors And Resistance

During the cold winter months, some gloves have the ability to provide extra warmth due to an internal heating source. A simplified circuit, similar to those in electric gloves, is comprised of a 9 V battery with no internal resistance and three resistors as shown in the image below. 

Screen_shot_2013-10-09_at_11.08.15_pm

What is the total resistance of the two resistors in parallel (RA and R4)?

Possible Answers:

9/2Ω

1/2Ω

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, we need to determine how the resistors are being added. As we can see in the circuit diagram, the two resistors are being added in parallel. In parallel, we should expect an equivalent resistance lower that that of each individual resistor.

 

By taking the inverse of the equation, we can see that Req is equal to 2Ω.

Remember as a general rule, the equivalent resistance of resistors in parallel is lower than that of either resistor in the parallel circuit.

Example Question #51 : Ap Physics 2

During the cold winter months, some gloves have the ability to provide extra warmth due to an internal heating source. A simplified circuit, similar to those in electric gloves, is comprised of a 9 V battery with no internal resistance and three resistors as shown in the image below. 

Screen_shot_2013-10-09_at_11.08.15_pm

What would happen to the equivalent resistance if R1 were in parallel with RA and R4, instead of in series?

Possible Answers:

Increase

Remain the same

Decrease

Correct answer:

Decrease

Explanation:

The equivalent resistance would decrease. Remember that adding resistors in parallel decreases the equivalent resistance of the circuit. If we calculated the new resistance assuming R1 was in parallel with the other resistors, we would find the following.

1/Req = 1/R1 + 1/RA + 1/R4 = 1/2Ω + 1/6Ω + 1/3Ω = 3/6Ω + 1/6Ω + 2/6Ω = 6/6Ω

By taking the inverse of the equation, we can see the equivalent resistance decreases to Req = 1 Ω, which is less than the resistance of any individual resistor.

Example Question #6 : Resistors And Resistance

Use the following information to answer questions 1-6:

The circulatory system of humans is a closed system consisting of a pump that moves blood throughout the body through arteries, capillaries, and veins. The capillaries are small and thin, allowing blood to easily perfuse the organ systems. Being a closed system, we can model the human circulatory system like an electrical circuit, making modifications for the use of a fluid rather than electrons. The heart acts as the primary force for movement of the fluid, the fluid moves through arteries and veins, and resistance to blood flow occurs depending on perfusion rates.

To model the behavior of fluids in the circulatory system, we can modify Ohm’s law of V = IR to ∆P = FR where ∆P is the change in pressure (mmHg), F is the rate of flow (ml/min), and R is resistance to flow (mm Hg/ml/min). Resistance to fluid flow in a tube is described by Poiseuille’s law: R = 8hl/πr4 where l is the length of the tube, h is the viscosity of the fluid, and r is the radius of the tube. Viscosity of blood is higher than water due to the presence of blood cells such as erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes.

The above equations hold true for smooth, laminar flow. Deviations occur, however, when turbulent flow is present. Turbulent flow can be described as nonlinear or tumultuous, with whirling, glugging or otherwise unpredictable flow rates. Turbulence can occur when the anatomy of the tube deviates, for example during sharp bends or compressions. We can also get turbulent flow when the velocity exceeds critical velocity vc, defined below.

 vc = NRh/ρD

NR is Reynold’s constant, h is the viscosity of the fluid, ρ is the density of the fluid, and D is the diameter of the tube. The density of blood is measured to be 1060 kg/m3.

Another key feature of the circulatory system is that it is set up such that the organ systems act in parallel rather than in series. This allows the body to modify how much blood is flowing to each organ system, which would not be possible under a serial construction. This setup is represented in Figure 1.

Circulatory_system_circuit

Assume that in Figure 1 R1 = 1/2 mmHg/ml/min, R2 = 2 mmHg/ml/min, R3 = 4 mmHg/ml/min, and R4 = 4 mmHg/ml/min.

The pressure generated by the left ventricle is 100mmHg and the pressure generated from the right ventricle is 50mmHg. What is the rate of flow across R3?

Possible Answers:

75ml/min

25ml/min

100ml/min

50ml/min

Correct answer:

25ml/min

Explanation:

For a parallel circuit, voltage remains constant. Analogously, pressure remains constant in this scenario. If we know the pressure and the resistance, we can find the current flow through the resistor by using ∆P = FR.

In this case, we will use only the left ventricle pressure, since that is the pressure pumped to the rest of the body, whereas the right ventricle only pumps to the lungs. Using ∆P = FR we can rearrange this to give us F = ∆P/R. Plugging in the numbers we can solve for F.

Example Question #7 : Resistors And Resistance

Use the following information to answer questions 1-6:

The circulatory system of humans is a closed system consisting of a pump that moves blood throughout the body through arteries, capillaries, and veins. The capillaries are small and thin, allowing blood to easily perfuse the organ systems. Being a closed system, we can model the human circulatory system like an electrical circuit, making modifications for the use of a fluid rather than electrons. The heart acts as the primary force for movement of the fluid, the fluid moves through arteries and veins, and resistance to blood flow occurs depending on perfusion rates.

To model the behavior of fluids in the circulatory system, we can modify Ohm’s law of V = IR to ∆P = FR where ∆P is the change in pressure (mmHg), F is the rate of flow (ml/min), and R is resistance to flow (mm Hg/ml/min). Resistance to fluid flow in a tube is described by Poiseuille’s law: R = 8hl/πr4 where l is the length of the tube, h is the viscosity of the fluid, and r is the radius of the tube. Viscosity of blood is higher than water due to the presence of blood cells such as erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes.

The above equations hold true for smooth, laminar flow. Deviations occur, however, when turbulent flow is present. Turbulent flow can be described as nonlinear or tumultuous, with whirling, glugging or otherwise unpredictable flow rates. Turbulence can occur when the anatomy of the tube deviates, for example during sharp bends or compressions. We can also get turbulent flow when the velocity exceeds critical velocity vc, defined below.

 vc = NRh/ρD

NR is Reynold’s constant, h is the viscosity of the fluid, ρ is the density of the fluid, and D is the diameter of the tube. The density of blood is measured to be 1060 kg/m3.

Another key feature of the circulatory system is that it is set up such that the organ systems act in parallel rather than in series. This allows the body to modify how much blood is flowing to each organ system, which would not be possible under a serial construction. This setup is represented in Figure 1.

Circulatory_system_circuit

Due to the parallel circuit, the circulatory system has the ability to modify the flow of blood to different organs in the body. The body does this by dilating or constricting vessels to change resistance, and thus the flow of blood.

Assume that, in the diagram in Figure 1, all of the resistances are initially equal. In order to direct more blood flow through R3, the body reduces the resistance to R3 by dilating vessels, and increases R1 and R2 equally by restricting vessels. Assume Rb is the resistance to blood flow through the body from the left ventricle, and it remains constant. What is the value of R3 in terms of Rb?

Possible Answers:

R3 = 4Rb

R3 = 2Rb

R3 = Rb

R3 = 8Rb

Correct answer:

R3 = 2Rb

Explanation:

We need to use the parallel resistance equation.

 

R4 is not included since that is part of a different circulatory circuit; we are only concerned with blood flow to the body, not the lungs. We are told that they all start with the same resistance, so R1 = R2 = R3, which we can just call R.

Now, given V = IR, in order for flow to double across a parallel resistor, since voltage is constant, resistance must decrease by a factor or two. Now R3 = (1/2)R.

We can rewrite the initial equation and solve for R.

We can now solve for R3 using the relationship between R3 and R discussed earlier.

Example Question #8 : Resistors And Resistance

Circuit

If each resistor in the diagram above has resistance , determine the equivalent resistance of the circuit.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Resistors add differently, depending on their orientation in series or in parallel. The three resistors furthest to the right are in series and can be simplified to  .

Now this "" resistor is in parallel with the  resistor adjacent to it. For parallel circuit elements . Combining the four rightmost resistors gives the below calculation.

This method can be repeated for the next sets of resistors in series and in parallel.

Circuit_solved

For the final calculation,  .

Example Question #9 : Resistors And Resistance

Given the three resistors below, find the approximate ratio of the equivalent reistance for these resistors in series to their equivalent resistance in parallel.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For resistors in series, .

For resistors in parallel, .

The ratio of series to parallel will be .

Example Question #1 : Resistors And Resistance

During the cold winter months, some gloves have the ability to provide extra warmth due to an internal heating source. A simplified circuit, similar to those in electric gloves, is comprised of a 9V battery with no internal resistance and three resistors as shown in the image below. 

Screen_shot_2013-10-09_at_11.08.15_pm

What is the net resistance of the circuit?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First we need to combine the resistors in parallel.

 

By taking the inverse of the equation, we can see that RA4 is equal to 2Ω.

Now that we have simplified the two resistors in parallel, we need to determine how the Req of the two parallel resistors and the resistance due to R1 are arranged. We can see that these resistors are now in series, thus we can directly add their resistances together to get the overall resistance of the circuit.

Req = RA4 + R1 = 2Ω + 2Ω = 4Ω

Remember as a general rule, the equivalent resistance of resistors in series is an arithmetic sum of their individual resistances.

Example Question #61 : Electricity And Magnetism

During the cold winter months, some gloves have the ability to provide extra warmth due to an internal heating source. A simplified circuit, similar to those in electric gloves, is comprised of a 9 V battery with no internal resistance and three resistors as shown in the image below. 

Screen_shot_2013-10-09_at_11.08.15_pm

All resistors in series share the same __________, while all resistors in parallel share the same __________.

Possible Answers:

current . . . potential energy

potential energy . . . voltage

current . . . voltage

voltage . . . current

Correct answer:

current . . . voltage

Explanation:

As a common rule to all circuits, all resistors in series share the same current (due to conservation of charge) and all resistors in parallel share the same voltage. This information is very helpful in determining the voltage drops across sets of resistors and the current that flows through them.

Example Question #62 : Electricity And Magnetism

What is the internal resistance of a  battery that has a potential of  when a  current runs through it?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The equation for a battery with internal resistance is 

Using this equation, we can solve for the resistance.

Example Question #11 : Resistors And Resistance

 battery is connected to a circuit which contains two  resistors connected in parallel. What is the current throughout the circuit?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We know the total voltage in the circuit is . We need to determine the total resistance within the circuit. Since we know there are two resistors connected in parallel we use the following formula:

Two resistors with resistances of  each:

Now we use another formula to determine the current using voltage and resistance:

Rearranged to:

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