Answers

4 a 9.6 Ω 2 a The line is not a straight line through the origin and so p.d. is
b 1.25 A not proportional to current.
c 2.0 V b filament lamp (other possibilities exist, such as a thermistor or
a resistor that becomes hot)
d The p.d. rises to 6 V as then there are two equal resistors in
series which share the p.d. equally. c 150 Ω
d The resistance is very large (infinite) for voltages from 0 to
Chapter 11: 0.9 V and then falls; for example at 1.6 V the current is 15 mA
and R = 107 Ω.
Resistance and resistivity e The resistance is very large (infinite for a perfect diode).
f The current is zero, or very small, for all voltages (0 to 2 V) and
Exercise 11.1 Ohm’s law the graph is a horizontal line along the voltage axis.
1 a i Ohm’s law does not mention the term resistance. 3 p.d. across diode = 1.6 V
ii This is nearly correct but it does not mention the p.d. across resistor = 14.4 V
condition that it is only true if temperature is constant. R = 960 Ω
iii This is a definition of resistance and not a statement of
4 a 4.0 A
Ohm’s law.
b, c
iv This is a condition that must be obeyed for Ohm’s law to be
correct but it is not the relationship given by Ohm’s law. 4
(12,V)
b Statement ii can be made correct by adding the requirement
3
for the temperature/physical conditions to be constant.
3.0 Ω

I /A
2 a C: This is the only graph where the V–I relationship is a straight 2 (1,2)
resistor
line through the origin, so current is proportional to the p.d.
b B: The ratio of voltage/current is the resistance. This is the 1
gradient of a line drawn from the origin to any point on the
graph. The gradient of such a line increases only for B as the 0
current is increased.
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
15
V/V
c A: From 0 to 2 V. C from 0 to 4 V. For B, although the graph is
straight above 3.2 V, the resistance is still changing. d The temperature of the filament lamp changes as current
3 a Ohm’s law is not obeyed. The ratio of V/I for each value of changes.
current listed is 2.0, 2.0, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.6 showing current is not
proportional to p.d. over the whole range. Exercise 11.3 Resistivity and resistance: the basics
b from 0 to 0.30 A resistance of a wire × cross sectional area
1 a resistivity =
length
t
Exercise 11.2 Other components
b Resistivity takes into account not only the resistance of a wire
1 a The circuit shown allows voltages of 0 to 12 V to be displayed. but the length and area of a wire to produce a quantity that
An alternative is to specify a variable power supply. is the same for all wires of the same material. Resistance is
particular to a single wire.
c The resistance of wires depends on the length and area; the
resistivity is the same for all wires of the same material (at the
same temperature). Resistance per unit length depends on
12 V the area of the wire, resistivity does not.
A
2 a Ωm
V b V m A −1
c kg m3 A −2 s −3

3 Using the circuit shown with a variable voltage supply, measure

b Set the slider at one end of the variable resistor. Record the p.d. V across the wire and the current I in it with the voltmeter
the value of the voltmeter and ammeter. Repeat these and ammeter respectively.
measurements to produce different readings of current and
voltage, by moving the slider from one end of the variable
resistor to the other. Plot a graph of the current on the y-axis
against the voltmeter reading on the x-axis. I
metallic
c Examples include: use sensitive meters, reading near the conductor
top of their ranges; clean terminals with sandpaper; ensure A
voltmeter has a high resistance; check for zero error on meters.
V
 Cambridge International AS and A level Physics

Measure the length l of the wire with a metre rule and the Exam-style questions
diameter d of the wire with a micrometer screw gauge. Repeat
for different lengths of wire. 1 a The graph is a not a straight line through the origin.
V b 5.0 Ω
Calculate R where R = and plot a graph of R against l.
I c At higher currents, more power is produced, the filament is
ρ
The gradient of the graph = where ρ is the resistivity and A is hotter and the resistance increases with temperature.
πd 2 A
the area = . d

Resistance / Ω
4
πd 2
So, ρ = gradient ×
4
The largest percentage uncertainty is the diameter. 5
To keep temperature constant, use small currents and take
0
the reading quickly and switch off, or place the wire in a water 0 100 400
bath at constant temperature (the wire must be insulated). Current / mA
Other precautions include: measure the diameter at several
places along the wire and calculate an average; use sensitive e 9.85 × 10 −3 m
meters.
2 a A component where current is not proportional to potential
4 a 400 Ω
difference. Another example is a filament lamp.
b 100 Ω
b I+
c 200 Ω

5 6.0 × 10 −8 Ω m
6 10 m
7 a 2.0 × 10 −8 m2 0
– 0 +V
b 8.0 × 10 −5 m
≈ 0.6 V
16 Exercise 11.4 Resistivity and resistance: harder
problems
–
1 a 239 Ω
b Measure the resistance R of the pencil line and the
ρl c For reverse bias (negative values of V), there is no, or a very
thickness t = small, current and the resistance is very high. This is also true
Rw
for p.d. between 0 and about 0.6 V. As the p.d. increases above
2 a 0.45 Ω
0.6 V, the current increases but is not proportional to p.d.;
b 7.2 Ω the resistance decreases. The rate of change of current with
3 a 0.43 m voltage increases as voltage increases.

b 3 a The current in a metallic conductor is directly proportional

Quantity For the second wire the
quantity is: to the potential difference across its ends, provided physical
conditions such as temperature remain constant.
cross-sectional area smaller
b i 1.13 × 10 −6 m2
resistance larger
ii 0.15 Ω
resistivity same
iii 0.0125 Ω
current smaller
6.00
power produced smaller 4 a Ratio of voltages = = 60 and ratio of currents
0.1
250
4 a 13.3 Ω = = 8.3. Thus voltage is not proportional to current.
30
b 2.1 × 10 −7 Ω 0.10
b i R= = 3.33 Ω
5 a 3.7 × 10 −4 m 0.03
b Since power = I2R, a smaller current means a larger resistance ρl 5.6 10 8 0.018
A= = = 3.0 × 10 −10 m2
is needed to produce the same power. To achieve this, a wire R 3.33
with a smaller diameter is needed. resistance at high temperature 24
ii Ratio = = = 7.2
6 a 0.25 or 1:4 resistance at low temperaturee 3.33
b 4 or 4:1 This assumes that the length and area of the filament
c 0.25 or 1:4 have not changed.
d 0.25 or 1:4