Problem Solving

Using Ohm’s Law

SAMPLE A circuit contains a battery and a 3.0-ohm resistor. The battery has a voltage
PROBLEM of 1.5 volts. Find the current in the circuit.

ANALYZE Known: V = 1.5 volts, R = 3.0 ohms

V = IR
Unknown: current I

PLAN Solve Ohm’s law for I. Substitute the values for V and R, and calculate I.

SOLVE V = IR
I=V/R
I = (1.5 volts) / (3.0 ohms)
I = 0.50 amps
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CHECK YOUR WORK Multiply: IR = (0.50 amps)(3.0 ohms) = 1.5 volts, as expected.

PRACTICE SOLVE Answer the following questions:

PROBLEMS 1. Find the voltage in a circuit with a resistance
of 15 ohms and current of 3.0 amps.
2. Find the current in a circuit with a resistance
of 15 ohms and a voltage of 12 volts.
3. Find the resistance in a circuit with a voltage
of 4.5 volts and a current of 1.5 amps.
4. How must the resistance in a circuit change for
the current to remain constant when the voltage
doubles?

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CHECKPOINTS

Check Your Understanding 5. Select the correct terms to complete the

statement.
1. The table gives the voltage, current, and resistance If the drift velocity of electrons increased, the
in different circuits. Fill in the missing values using
current would increase | decrease | stay the same.
Ohm’s law.
If the voltage causing the electric field increased,
Voltage Current Resistance the drift velocity of the electrons would increase |
(volts) (amps) (ohms)
decrease | stay the same. If the resistance in the
6.0 2.0 wire increased, the drift velocity of the electrons
6.0 0.50 would increase | decrease | stay the same.

4.5 1.0 6. Electrons in a wire move in response to an electric

field. What generates this field?
9.0 0.50
a. resistance
2. Select the correct terms to complete the b. moving charges
statement. c. the loop of wire
A 1000 W microwave takes in 1000 J/s of electrical d. electric potential difference
energy. A cup of water requires approximately
7. Which of the following are accurate descriptions
78 000 J to be warmed for tea. If the microwave
of voltage? Select all correct answers.
is used to warm the cup of water, it will take a. the ratio of current and resistance
less than | exactly | more than 78 s to warm b. the product of current and resistance
the water because all | most of the original c. the potential electrical energy
electrical energy input into the microwave will be d. the potential energy per unit mass
transferred to the water. e. the potential energy difference per unit charge

3. Which are transformations that occur in an 8. The voltage in a circuit is increased while the
incandescent light bulb? Select all correct answers. resistance remains the same. Select all correct
answers.
a. electrical to thermal energy
a. The electrical energy in the circuit increases.
b. electrical to radiant energy
b. The electrical energy in the circuit decreases.
c. chemical to electrical energy
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c. The current in the circuit increases.

d. thermal to chemical energy
d. The current in the circuit decreases.
e. mechanical to radiant energy
e. The energy that can be output by the
4. If the resistance in a wire greatly increases, circuit increases.
what would you infer will happen to the motion f. The energy that can be output by the
of an electron in an electric field in the wire? circuit decreases.
a. It will remain unchanged.
9. Select the correct terms to complete the
b. It will continue in a straight line.
statement.
c. It will have fewer collisions.
d. It will have more collisions. Society regulates the efficiency of light bulbs to
minimize | maximize energy use, because many
sources of electrical energy have costs | benefits
related to the environment.

Lesson 1 Flow of Electrical Energy 257

EVALUATE

CHECKPOINTS (continued)

10. Circuits in buildings are equipped with circuit breakers, which open a circuit to
prevent too much current in the circuit. Why is it dangerous for large amounts
of current to be in a circuit?

11. The invention of the light bulb led to a need for reliable electrical energy and the
development of the electric grid. Give at least one example of how the electric grid
has affected modern society.

12. A copper wire contains many free electrons, which can easily move throughout the
wire. A potential difference is introduced between the two ends of the wire. What
happens to an electron in the middle of the wire? How does it affect nearby electrons?

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CHECKPOINTS

Check Your Understanding 5. What do you need to build an electromagnet?

Select all correct answers.
1. Which of the following can accelerate a stationary a. a coil of insulated conducting wire
electron? Select all correct answers. b. a voltage source, such as a battery
a. an electric field c. an ammeter
b. a static magnetic field d. a compass
c. a changing magnetic field e. a magnet
d. an electric potential f. a switch
2. An electric current in a wire is directed from left to g. a resistor
right when viewed from the side. In what direction h. a coil of insulator
is the magnetic field at a point above the wire?
6. What do you need to induce a current by
a. counterclockwise
electromagnetic induction? Select all correct
b. clockwise answers.
c. away from you a. a coil of conducting wire
d. toward you b. a power source, such as a battery
3. Determine whether each variable affects the c. an ammeter
strength of an electromagnet, the magnitude of d. a compass
an induced current, or both. Check the correct e. a magnet
response or responses in each row. f. a switch
Factors in Electromagnetism 7. An electromagnet is often made with an iron core.
How does this improve the design?
Electromagnet Induced
Variable a. The heavier design makes the magnet more
strength current
stable.
Number of turns of wire in coil b. An electric current is induced in the iron core,
which opposes the current in the copper coil.
Distance between coil and c. An electric current is induced in the iron core,
moving magnet which increases the current in the copper coil.
d. The iron core becomes magnetized,
Strength of moving magnet
increasing the strength of the magnetic field.
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Presence of an iron core in 8. Select the correct terms to complete the statement
the coil about magnets and electric current.
For a magnet to induce a current in a coil of wire,
4. In electromagnetic induction, how is energy
transferred from the moving magnet to the circuit? the two must be moving | stationary with respect
a. through electrons that cross the gap to each other. If the circuit is closed | opened, the
b. through raising a weight current will stop. When you reverse the motion of
c. through separating charges in an electrolyte the magnet, the current stops | starts | reverses.
d. through a changing magnetic field

Lesson 2 Electromagnets and Inducing Current 277

EVALUATE

CHECKPOINTS (continued)

9. How could you use the cause-and-effect relationship between electric current
and magnetism to engineer a device that can generate a variable-strength
magnetic field?

10. Draw a single loop of copper wire. Assume a battery produces a clockwise electric
current in the wire. Use the right-hand rule to find the direction of the magnetic
field just above the top of the coil, just below the top wire, just above the bottom
wire, and below the bottom of the coil. Mark these on your drawing.

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CHECKPOINTS

Check Your Understanding 5. Connect the method of electrical energy

generation to its requirement.
1. Select the correct terms to complete the
statement. Solar Flowing water

Electrical energy generation often involves a Hydroelectric Volcanic activity

magnetic field and a conductive wire. Current Geothermal Reliable, strong air currents
can be induced in a wire coil by a strong | Wind Large open area
changing | weak magnetic field. A current can
also be generated by changing the orientation | 6. In damless hydroelectric power, the mechanical
material | temperature of the wire coil in the energy of a river is harnessed by designs similar to
waterwheels, or turbines inside dams. What are the
presence of a magnetic field.
chief advantages of this technology over existing
2. Sort each type of power plant into the correct dammed hydroelectric? Select all correct answers.
category. a. People are not displaced.
hydroelectric fossil fuel geothermal b. A slow, flat river can be used.
solar tidal wind c. Wildlife is not disrupted as much.
d. More electrical energy is produced.
Can be used efficiently Can be used only in
anywhere certain places 7. Put the steps for wind energy in order.

a. A changing magnetic field is produced.

b. Current is output by the generator.
c. The turbine produces rotational energy.
d. Wind blows across the blades of a turbine.
e. A current is induced in the coil.
f. Rotational energy spins a magnet.
3. What is an advantage of using coal rather than
8. The Mars Pathfinder rover had a flat solar panel on
wind to generate electrical energy?
top. The later Mars Explorer rovers had solar panels
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a. Coal is more efficient than wind power. on “wings” that could be angled. What was the
b. Coal is cleaner than wind power. likely reason for this design change?
c. Wind power is not renewable. a. Dust cannot affect tilted surfaces, only
horizontal ones.
d. Coal can provide energy at any time.
b. The rovers could use wind energy as well as
4. Select the correct terms to complete the solar for motion.
statement. c. Increasing the number of solar cells increases
A virtual power plant is an engineering solution the voltage.
to pollution | blackouts and can make up for d. Solar panels could be angled to maximize
solar energy absorption.
inconsistencies in energy output from solar |
fossil fuel | nuclear power generation.

Lesson 3 Solutions for Electrical Energy Generation 297

EVALUATE

CHECKPOINTS (continued)

9. A tidal stream generator uses a tidal flow to turn the blades of a turbine. A tidal
barrage generator captures high-tide water behind a dam and uses the potential
energy of the water to generate electrical energy, much like a conventional
hydroelectric dam. Compare and contrast these ways of using tidal energy.

10. Describe the relationship between the power plants that generate electrical
energy and the infrastructure that distributes this energy. Explain the role that
energy storage serves in this system.

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298 Unit 4 Electromagnetism and Generators

 Book Checkpoints Answer Key

Practice Problems
1. 45 V

2. 0.8 A

3. 3 Ω

4. Resistance must double.

Lesson 1 Check Your Understanding

1. R=3Ω; V=3V; R=4.5Ω; R=18Ω

2. more than 78 s; most

3. a, b

4. d

5. increase; increase; decrease

6. d

7. b, e

8. a, c, e

9. minimize; costs

Lesson 1 Evaluate
10. High current causes overheating and fire risk.

11. Electric grid provides reliable distribution.

12. Electrons accelerate and push nearby electrons (drift).

Lesson 2 Check Your Understanding

1. a, c, d

2. c

3. turns: both; distance: induced; magnet strength: induced; iron core: electromagnet

4. d

5. a, b, f

6. a, e

7. d

8. moving; opened; reverses

Lesson 3 Check Your Understanding
1. changing; orientation

2. Anywhere: solar, fossil fuel | Certain places: hydroelectric, geothermal, tidal, wind

3. d

4. blackouts; solar

5. Solar–Large open area; Hydroelectric–Flowing water; Geothermal–Volcanic activity;

Wind–Strong air currents

6. a, c

7. d, c, f, a, e, b

8. d

Lesson 3 Evaluate
9. Stream uses flowing water directly; barrage stores water behind dam.

10. Plants generate energy; grid distributes; storage stabilizes supply.