Current Electricity - NEET Physics Questions
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Current Electricity

Question 11: easy

If a copper wire is stretched to make it 0.1% longer, the percentage increase in resistance will be:

1. 0.2%
2. 2%
3. 1%
4. 0.1%
View Answer

Resistance of a stretched wire of constant volume is proportional to the square of its length: \( R \propto l^2 \). Thus, \( \frac{\Delta R}{R}\text{ (%)} = 2 \frac{\Delta l}{l}\text{ (%)} = 2 \times 0.1\% = 0.2\% \).

Question 12: easy

A galvanometer has a coil of resistance \( 100\ \Omega \) and gives full scale deflection for 20 mA current. If it is to work as a voltmeter of 10 volt range, the resistance required to be added will be:

1. \( 1000\ \Omega \)
2. \( 900\ \Omega \)
3. \( 400\ \Omega \)
4. \( 500\ \Omega \)
View Answer

To convert a galvanometer to a voltmeter, a high series resistance \( R \) is added: \( R = \frac{V}{I_g} - G \). Substituting values, \( R = \frac{10}{20 \times 10^{-3}} - 100 = 500 - 100 = 400\ \Omega \).

Question 13: easy

When a resistance of 2 ohm is connected across the terminals of a cell, the current is 0.5 amp. When the resistance is increased to 5 ohm, the current is 0.25 amp. The emf of the cell is:

1. 1.0 volt
2. 2.0 volt
3. 1.5 volt
4. 2.5 volt
View Answer

Using \( E = I(R + r) \), we set up equations: \( E = 0.5(2 + r) \) and \( E = 0.25(5 + r) \). Equating them gives \( r = 1\ \Omega \), which yields \( E = 0.5(2 + 1) = 1.5\text{ V} \).

Question 14: easy

Which of the following is not possible by combination of four resistors each equal to \(8 \Omega \)?

1. \(20 \Omega \)
2. \(32/3 \Omega\)
3. \(1 \Omega\)
4. \(8 \Omega\)
View Answer

With four \(8 \Omega \) resistors, the minimum possible equivalent resistance is when all four are in parallel: \(R_{min} = 8/4 = 2 \Omega\). Thus, \(1\Omega\) is impossible.

Question 15: easy

In a wire of cross-section radius \(r\), free electrons travel with drift velocity \(v\) when a current \(I\) flows through the wire. What is the current in another wire of half the radius and of the same material when the drift velocity is \(2v\)?

1. \(2I\)
2. \(I\)
3. \(I/2\)
4. \(I/4\)
View Answer

Since \(I = n e A v_d = n e \pi r^2 v\), the new current is \(I' = n e \pi \left(\frac{r}{2}\right)^2 (2v) = \frac{1}{2} n e \pi r^2 v = I/2\).

Question 16: easy

Arrange the following materials in increasing order of their resistivity:
Nichrome, Copper, Germanium, Silicon

1. Copper < Nichrome < Germanium < Silicon
2. Germanium < Copper < Nichrome < Silicon
3. Nichrome < Copper < Germanium < Silicon
4. Silicon < Nichrome < Germanium < Copper
View Answer

Copper is a conductor (lowest resistivity), Nichrome is an alloy (intermediate), Germanium and Silicon are semiconductors with Silicon having a larger bandgap and thus higher resistivity.

Question 17: easy

Five resistors, each of resistance \(R\) are connected in series to an ideal battery. When these resistors are connected in parallel to the same battery, the current through the battery is increased \(n\) times. The value of \(n\) is

1. \(25\)
2. \(5\)
3. \(10\)
4. \(1\)
View Answer

The equivalent resistance in series is \(R_s = 5R\) and in parallel is \(R_p = \frac{R}{5}\). Since current \(I = \frac{V}{R_{eq}}\), we have \(\frac{I_p}{I_s} = \frac{R_s}{R_p} = \frac{5R}{R/5} = 25\). Thus, \(n = 25\).

Question 18: easy

The reciprocal of resistance is

1. Resistivity
2. Conductivity
3. Conductance
4. Inductance
View Answer

By definition, the reciprocal of electrical resistance is electrical conductance, \(G = \frac{1}{R}\).

Question 19: easy

Column-I gives certain physical terms associated with flow of current through a metallic conductor. Column-II gives some mathematical relations involving electrical quantities. Match Column-I and Column-II with appropriate relations.


Column-I
(A) Drift Velocity
(B) Electrical Resistivity
(C) Relaxation Period
(D) Current Density


Column-II
(P) \(\frac{m}{n e^2 rho}\)
(Q) \(n e v_d\)
(R) \(\frac{e E}{m} \tau\)
(S) \(\frac{E}{J}\)


Choose the correct match from the given options:

1. (A) - (R), (B) - (Q), (C) - (S), (D) - (P)
2. (A) - (R), (B) - (S), (C) - (P), (D) - (Q)
3. (A) - (R), (B) - (S), (C) - (Q), (D) - (P)
4. (A) - (R), (B) - (P), (C) - (S), (D) - (Q)
View Answer

Using standard formulas of current electricity: drift velocity \(v_d = \frac{eE}{m}\tau\) gives (A)-(R); resistivity \(\rho = \frac{E}{J}\) gives (B)-(S); relaxation time \(\tau = \frac{m}{ne^2\rho}\) gives (C)-(P); current density \(J = ne v_d\) gives (D)-(Q).

Question 20: easy

The effective resistance of a parallel connection that consists of four wires of equal length, equal area of cross section and same material is 0.25 \(\Omega\). What will be the effective resistance if they are connected in series?

1. 4 \(\Omega\)
2. 0.25 \(\Omega\)
3. 0.5 \(\Omega\)
4. 1 \(\Omega\)
View Answer

For four identical wires of resistance \(R\) connected in parallel, \(R_p = \frac{R}{4} = 0.25, \Omega ⇒ R = 1, \Omega\). In series, \(R_s = 4R = 4 \times 1, \Omega = 4, \Omega\).