A physics student assembles a circuit consisting of a 6.0 V DC power supply
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Current Electricity · Current Electricity
Problem
A physics student assembles a circuit consisting of a 6.0 V DC power supply, a single junction J, and three resistors: a 10 Ω resistor R1 leading into J, and two resistors R2 = 15 Ω and R3 = 30 Ω branching away from J. The student wants to test whether charge is conserved at the junction by measuring currents with ideal ammeters.
Answer the following, clearly labeling each part of your response.
(a) Describe explicitly where at least two ammeters should be placed in the circuit so that the measured values are sufficient to evaluate whether charge is conserved at junction J.
(b) Outline a step-by-step experimental procedure—beginning with closing the switch and ending with data recording—that would allow the student to obtain reliable current measurements.
(c) Explain how the numerical results obtained from the ammeters would be used to confirm or refute conservation of charge at J.
(d) Identify two distinct sources of systematic error that could cause the experimental test to yield a false conclusion, and describe how each could influence the result.