FYUG Even Semester Exam, 2025 Electrical Circuits and Safety

Course No.: PHYSEC-151 | Semester: 2nd | Physics
Full Marks: 50 | Pass Marks: 20 | Time: 3 Hours

UNIT-I

Question 1 (a) 1 Mark

State Ohm's law.

Ohm's law states that the current flowing through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage across the two points, provided physical conditions like temperature remain constant.

Question 1 (b) 1 Mark

Define one-ampere electric current.

One ampere is defined as the flow of one coulomb of electric charge per second through a cross-section of a conductor.

Question 1 (c) 1 Mark

What do you mean by electrical load?

An electrical load is a component or portion of a circuit that consumes electric power, such as appliances, lights, or machines.

Question 1 (d) 1 Mark

What is the average value of an alternating current in one complete cycle?

I_avg (full cycle) = 0

In a complete cycle, the positive half and negative half cancel each other out.

Question 2 (b) 5 Marks

Explain Kirchhoff's current law (KCL).

Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL) states that the total current entering a junction or node is exactly equal to the total current leaving that node. This is based on the Law of Conservation of Charge.

Sum of I_in = Sum of I_out

Question 3 (a) 5 Marks

For the given circuit, find the value of total resistance and value of branch currents I1, I2 and I3.

Circuit Data: Voltage (V) = 6V. Series resistor = 0.2 ohm. Parallel resistors: R1 = 2 ohm, R2 = 3 ohm, R3 = 6 ohm.

  1. Parallel Resistance (Rp):
    1/Rp = 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/6 = (3 + 2 + 1)/6 = 6/6 = 1.
    So, Rp = 1 ohm.
  2. Total Resistance (Rt):
    Rt = Series resistor + Rp = 0.2 + 1 = 1.2 ohm.
  3. Total Current (It):
    It = V / Rt = 6 / 1.2 = 5 A.
  4. Branch Currents: Since the voltage across the parallel group is Vp = It * Rp = 5 * 1 = 5V:
    I1 = 5V / 2 ohm = 2.5 A
    I2 = 5V / 3 ohm = 1.67 A
    I3 = 5V / 6 ohm = 0.83 A

Question 3 (b) 5 Marks

State differences between a.c. and d.c. If a sinusoidal signal has maximum value 200 mV, find r.m.s. value.

Feature A.C. Electricity D.C. Electricity
Direction Changes periodically Remains constant
Source Alternators, AC Mains Batteries, Solar Cells

Numerical: Given V_max = 200 mV.

V_rms = V_max / sqrt(2) = 200 / 1.414 = 141.4 mV

UNIT-II

Question 4 (b) 1 Mark

What is the purpose of a ceiling rose?

A ceiling rose is used to provide a connection point for pendant light fittings or fans to the fixed wiring of a building.

Question 6 (a) 5 Marks

Explain conduit wiring and concealed wiring. Mention one advantage.

  • Conduit Wiring: Wires are drawn through metal or PVC tubes (conduits) installed on walls.
  • Concealed Wiring: Conduits are buried inside the wall plaster for a neat appearance.
Advantage: It provides high protection against mechanical damage and fire.

UNIT-III

Question 7 (b) 1 Mark

Define power factor.

Power factor is the ratio of the real power (kW) to the apparent power (kVA) in an electrical circuit.

Question 8 (a) 5 Marks

What is the principle of transformer?

A transformer works on the principle of Faraday's Law of Mutual Induction. When an alternating current flows through the primary coil, it creates a changing magnetic flux, which induces an e.m.f. in the secondary coil.

UNIT-IV

Question 12 (b) 5 Marks

Explain the working of a full-wave rectifier with necessary circuit diagram.

A full-wave rectifier converts both halves of the AC cycle into pulsating DC. It typically uses two diodes with a center-tapped transformer or four diodes in a bridge configuration.

UNIT-V

Question 13 (a) 1 Mark

What are the three types of electrical hazards?

The three main types are electrical shock, burns, and fires (including explosions).

Question 15 (a) 5 Marks

What does the term overloading mean and how can it be prevented?

Overloading: This occurs when too many electrical appliances are connected to a single socket or circuit, drawing current beyond its rated capacity.

Prevention:

  • Avoid using multi-plug adapters for high-power devices.
  • Use Circuit Breakers (MCBs) or fuses of appropriate ratings.
  • Regularly inspect the electrical load distribution.