Answers:
1. D
2. C
3. B
4. D
5. A
6. E
7. D
8. E
Arguments:
#1
1. The resistance of a circuit element is equal to the potential difference across the element
divided by current through the element. ( R = ΔV / I )
2. When the potential difference across the lightbulb and resistor is 7 V, the current through
both elements is the same.
3. At 7 V, the lightbulb and resistor have the same resistance. (1,2)
4. Before 7 V, the lightbulb has more current passing through than the resistor for the same
potential difference.
5. The lightbulb has less resistance than the resistor before 7 V. (4,1)
6. After 7 V, the lightbulb has less current passing through than the resistor for the same
potential difference.
7. The lightbulb has more resistance than the resistor after 7 V. (6,1)
8. The answer is D. (5,7)
#2
1. The measurement device is connected in parallel across circuit element D.
2. Voltmeters are connected in parallel across circuit elements to measure the potential
difference across circuit elements.
3. The measurement device is a voltmeter measuring the potential difference across
resistor D. (1,2)
4. The answer is C. (3)
#3
1. Resistors connected in series have the same charge passing through them. They are on
the same path and have the same current.
2. Resistors connected in series can be replaced with a single resistor of resistance R123 =
R1+R2+R3 …
3. Resistors connected in parallel have different charges passing through them. They are
on different paths and have the same change in potential.
4. Resistors connected in parallel can be replaced with a single resistor of resistance 1/R123
= 1/R1+1/R2+1/R3 …
5. In Arrangement A, the two resistors on the bottom are connected in series. Then, the
combined resistor and the resistor on top are connected in parallel. The equivalent
resistance of Arrangement A is ⅔ R. (1,2,3,4)
6. In Arrangement B, the three resistors are connected in parallel. The equivalent
resistance of Arrangement B is ⅓ R. (3,4)
7. In Arrangement C, the first two resistors are connected in parallel. Then, the combined
resistor and the following resistor are connected in series. The equivalent resistance of
Arrangement C is 3/2 R. (1,2,3,4)
8. 3/2 R > ⅔ R > ⅓ R
9. The answer is B. (8)
#4
1. The brightness of a lightbulb is determined by the power of the lightbulb.
2. P = I ΔV
3. Lightbulb B is brighter than lightbulb A.
4. Lightbulb B has greater power than lightbulb A. (1,3)
5. The same charge that passes through lightbulb A also passes through lightbulb B.
6. Lightbulb A and lightbulb B are connected in series. (5)
7. Lightbulb A and lightbulb B have the same current passing through them. (6)
8. The potential difference across lightbulb B is greater than the potential difference across
lightbulb A. (2,4,7)
9. ΔV = I R
10.The resistance of lightbulb B is greater than the resistance of lightbulb A. (7,8,9)
11.The answer is D. (8,10)
#5
1. A compass is a small magnet on a swivel, and the north pole of the compass is always
colored red.
2. The north pole of a magnet is attracted to the south pole of another magnet and vice
versa.
3. In this problem, the red side of the compass points up.
4. The side of the magnet labeled A is the north pole. (1,2,3)
5. B-field lines point away from the north pole of a magnet and towards the south pole of a
magnet.
6. The red side of the compass points in the direction of the B-field. (3,4,5)
7. The answer is A. (4,6)
#6
1. A magnetic field circles a current carrying wire.
2. The direction of the magnetic field circling a current carrying can be found using right
hand rule #1, where you put your thumb in the direction of the current and your fingers
curl in the direction of the B-field.
3. The magnitude of the B-field circling a current carrying wire is proportional to the current
in the wire over the distance from the wire (B ∝ I / r).
4. In this problem, the current running through Wire 1 is double the current running through
Wire 2.
5. Wire 1 and Wire 2 have magnetic fields circling them. (1,3)
6. The direction of the B-field at any location in space is the vector sum of the B-fields due
to each source.
7. At location A, the B-field due to Wire 1 points into the page and the B-field due to Wire 2
points out of the page.
8. Location A is further from Wire 2 than Wire 1.
9. At location A, the magnitude of the B-field due to Wire 1 is more than the magnitude of
the B-field due to Wire 2. (3,4,8)
10.At location A, the B-field due to both wires cannot be zero. (6,9)
11.At locations B, C and D, the B-field due to Wire 1 points out of the page and the B-field
due to Wire 2 points out of the page.
12.At locations B, C, and D, the B-field due to both wires cannot be zero. (6,11)
13.At location E, the B-field due to Wire 1 points out of the page and the B-field due to Wire
2 points into the page.
14.Location E is twice as far from Wire 1 than Wire 2.
15.At location E, the magnitude of the B-field due to Wire 1 is equal to the magnitude of the
B-field due to Wire 2. (3,4,14)
16.At location E, the B-field due to both wires is zero. (6,13,15)
17.The answer is E. (16)
#7
1. A magnetic field exerts a force on a moving charged particle.
2. The direction of the force exerted by a magnetic field on a moving charged particle can
be found using right hand rule #2, where your thumb points in the direction of the current
/ velocity of a positive charge, your fingers point in the direction of the B-field, and your
palm faces the direction of the force exerted by the B-field on the moving charge.
3. If the moving particle is negatively charged, the direction of the force is opposite.
4. An object moves in a circle if the velocity and sum of forces exerted on the object are
perpendicular.
5. The object is negatively charged and moves to the left.
6. The object circles upward.
7. The direction of the force exerted on the object points up. (4,5,6)
8. The direction of the B-field points into the page (2,3,5,7)
9. The answer is D. (8)
#8
1. A magnetic field exerts a force on a current carrying wire.
2. The direction of the force exerted by a magnetic field on a current carrying wire can be
found using right hand rule #2, where your thumb points in the direction of the current,
your fingers point in the direction of the B-field, and your palm faces the direction of the
force exerted by the B-field on the current carrying wire.
3. Current flows from high to low potential.
4. The current in the wire on the stand points to the left (3).
5. The B-field surrounding a magnet points away from the north pole.
6. The B-field at the location of the current carrying wire on the stand points down. (5)
7. The force exerted on the current carrying wire on the stand points out of the page.
(2,4,6)
8. The reading on the scale will change only if the wire is lifted or pushed down.
9. The reading on the scale does not change. (7,8)
10.The answer is E. (7,9)