Section A — Very Short Answer Questions (Q1–Q5)
✅ Answer & Explanation
Electric current is defined as the rate of flow of electric charge through a conductor.
Where I = electric current, Q = charge (in coulombs), t = time (in seconds).
✅ Answer & Explanation
For a metallic conductor, when voltage (V) is plotted on the Y-axis and current (I) on the X-axis, the graph is a straight line passing through the origin (Ohm's Law).
✅ Answer & Explanation
For resistors in parallel:
Note: In parallel combination, equivalent resistance is always less than the smallest individual resistance.
✅ Answer & Explanation
Resistance depends on: length of conductor, cross-sectional area, nature of material (resistivity), and temperature.
✅ Answer & Explanation
Using the power formula:
Section B — Short Answer Questions (Q6–Q9)
✅ Answer & Explanation
Ohm's Law: At constant temperature, the electric current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference across its ends.
Circuit Diagram components: Battery (EMF source), Rheostat (variable resistance), Key (switch), Ammeter (in series to measure current), Voltmeter (in parallel across the resistor R).
✅ Answer & Explanation
Parallel combination is preferred because:
- Each appliance gets the same voltage (equal to the supply voltage), ensuring proper functioning.
- Each appliance can be switched on/off independently without affecting others.
- If one appliance fails, the others continue to work (no circuit break).
- The overall resistance is reduced, allowing more current to flow as needed.
✅ Answer & Explanation
Resistivity (ρ) is the resistance offered by a conductor of unit length and unit cross-sectional area.
SI Unit: Ohm-metre (Ω·m)
✅ Answer & Explanation
Given: I = 2 A, t = 5 min = 300 s, R = 10 Ω
Using Joule's Law of Heating:
Section C — Long Answer Type I (Q10–Q13)
✅ Answer & Explanation
Series Combination: Resistors are connected end-to-end so the same current (I) flows through each.
Let the potential difference across each be V₁, V₂, and V₃.
Key Properties:
- Same current flows through all resistors.
- Total voltage is distributed across resistors.
- Equivalent resistance is always greater than any individual resistance.
✅ Answer & Explanation
Parallel Combination: All resistors are connected across the same two points, so the same potential difference (V) applies to each.
Current Distribution: Each branch carries a current inversely proportional to its resistance.
✅ Answer & Explanation
When electric current flows through a resistor, the free electrons collide with the lattice ions, converting electrical energy into heat energy. This is the heating effect of electric current.
Derivation of Joule's Law:
Work done in moving charge Q through potential difference V:
Joule's Law: Heat produced is directly proportional to I², R, and t.
✅ Answer & Explanation
Given: R₁ = 3 Ω, R₂ = 6 Ω, R₃ = 9 Ω, V = 18 V
Section D — Long Answer Type II (Q14–Q15)
✅ Answer & Explanation
Electric Power: The rate at which electrical energy is consumed or dissipated by a device.
Summary of Power Formulas: P = VI = I²R = V²/R
Energy Calculation (per day):
✅ Answer & Explanation
Factors Affecting Resistance:
- Length (L): R ∝ L — Longer wire → higher resistance (more collisions)
- Cross-sectional area (A): R ∝ 1/A — Thicker wire → lower resistance (more paths for electrons)
- Nature of material (ρ): R = ρL/A — Each material has a unique resistivity
- Temperature: For metals, resistance increases with temperature
When wire is stretched to double length:
Volume remains constant: L × A = L' × A' → 2L × A' = L × A → A' = A/2