The value of current I in the electrical circuit as given below, when potential at A is equal to the potential at B…

Year	2026	2025	2024	Total
Questions	18	13	19	50

Year

2026

2025

2024

Total

Questions

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula

For a balanced Wheatstone bridge network, if the potentials at opposite nodes are equal ( $VA = VB$ $V_A = V_B$), no current flows through the central branch. The resistance arms satisfy the balance ratio:

(R₁)/(R₂) = (R₃)/(R₄)

Total current from the source is calculated using Ohm's law:

I = VsourceRequivalent

Core Logic

Given conditions :

VA = VB Balanced condition

From the circuit network diagram [cite: 817, 818, 826, 828]:

Left-top arm $= 10 Ω$ $= 10 \ \Omega$
Left-bottom arm $= R$ $= R$
Right-top arm $= 20 Ω$ $= 20 \ \Omega$
Right-bottom arm $= 40 Ω$ $= 40 \ \Omega$

Apply the balance condition to solve for unknown resistor $R$ $R$ :

(10)/(R) = (20)/(40) (10)/(R) = (1)/(2) R = 20 Ω [cite: 837, 838]

Now restructure the equivalent network : Since the central $30 Ω$ $30 \ \Omega$ resistor branch carries zero current, it can be removed from the calculation [cite: 820, 834].

Top \parallel branch: $10 Ω + 20 Ω = 30 Ω$
Bottom \parallel branch: $20 Ω + 40 Ω = 60 Ω$

Calculate total equivalent resistance $Req$ $R_{\text{eq}}$:

Req = (30 \times 60)/(30 + 60) = (1800)/(90) = 20 Ω

Calculate total current $I$ $I$ drawn from the $40V$ $40\text{V}$ source:

I = 40 V20 Ω = 2 A

Step 1: Circuit Solution

The balanced bridge network layout with branch currents is shown below:

Wheatstone Bridge network reduction diagram for Q24 — A bridge resistor network supplied by a 40V DC voltage source terminal layout.

Pattern Recognition

When a question states that two nodes are at equal potential ( $VA = VB$ $V_A = V_B$), immediately identify it as a balanced Wheatstone bridge. This allows you to remove the central branch and simplify the circuit into basic series-\parallel resistor combinations.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Current Electricity

More Current Electricity Previous-Year Questions — Page 2

Q36 jee_main_2026_22_january_evening Power Transmission and Efficiency

An electric power line having total resistance of

2 Ω

, delivers 1 kW of power of 250 V. The percentage efficiency of transmission line is ____.

A. $96.9$ $96.9$
B. $86.5$ $86.5$
C. $100$ $100$
D. $92.5$ $92.5$

Solution

Related Formula

Pout = V \cdot I

Ploss = I² R

η = ( PoutPₙₑₜ) \times 100%

Core Logic

Calculating total current $I$ $I$:

1000 = 250 \times I I = 4 ~A

Calculating power loss along the line $Ploss$ $P_{\text{loss}}$:

Ploss = I² R = (4)² \times 2 = 32 ~W

Total input power supplied to line $Pₙₑₜ$ $P_{\text{net}}$:

Pₙₑₜ = Pout + Ploss = 1000 + 32 = 1032 ~W

Calculating transmission efficiency $η$ $\eta$:

η = ((1000)/(1032)) \times 100% \approx 96.9%

Step 1: Final Conclusion

The percentage efficiency of the transmission line is $96.9%$ $96.9\%$.

Pattern Recognition

Efficiency formula: $η = PoutPout + I² R \times 100%$ . Current $I = 1000/250 = 4~A$ $I = 1000/250 = 4\mathrm{~A}$. Loss $= 16 \times 2 = 32~W$ $= 16 \times 2 = 32\mathrm{~W}$. $η = 1000/1032 = 96.9%$ $\eta = 1000/1032 = 96.9\%$.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Current Electricity

Q49 jee_main_2026_22_january_evening Drift Velocity and Electron Mobility

A cylindrical conductor of length 2m and area of cross-section

0.2 ~mm²

carries an electric current of 1.6 A when its ends are connected to a 2V battery. Mobility of electrons in the conductor is

α \times 10⁻³ ~m²/V\dots

. The value of

α

is : (electron concentration =

5 \times 10²⁸/m³

and electron charge =

1.6 \times 10⁻¹⁹

Numerical Answer. Answer: 1 to 1

Solution

Related Formula

$I = n e A vd$ $I = n e A v_d$

vd = μ E = μ (V)/(l)

μ = (I l)/(n e A V)

Core Logic

Combining current density and mobility equations:

I = n e A (μ (V)/(l)) μ = (I \cdot l)/(n \cdot e \cdot A \cdot V)

Substituting given values $I = 1.6 ~A, l = 2 ~m, n = 5 \times 10²⁸ /m³, e = 1.6 \times 10⁻¹⁹ ~C, A = 0.2 \times 10⁻⁶ ~m², V = 2 ~V$ :

μ = 1.6 \times 2(5 \times 10²⁸) \times (1.6 \times 10⁻¹⁹) \times (0.2 \times 10⁻⁶) \times 2

μ = (3.2)/(1.6 \times 10³ \times 2) = (3.2)/(3200) = 1.0 \times 10⁻³ ~m²/V\dots

Comparing with $α \times 10⁻³ α = 1$ .

Step 1: Final Conclusion

The value of $α$ $\alpha$ is 1.

Pattern Recognition

Mobility formula: $μ = I l / (n e A V)$ $\mu = I l / (n e A V)$. Direct parameter plug-in yields $α = 1$ $\alpha = 1$.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Current Electricity

Q34 jee_main_2026_23_january_morning Resistance and Ohm's Law

A wire of uniform resistance

λΩ/m

is bent into a circle of radius r and another piece of wire with length 2r is connected between points A and B (AOB) as shown in figure. The equivalent resistance between points A and B is ____

Ω

Resistance and Ohm's Law diagram for Q34 - JEE Main 2026 Morning — A ring with nodes A and B connected across a diameter forming parallel branches.

A. $(3πλ r)/(8)$ $\frac{3\pi\lambda r}{8}$
B. $(π + 1)2rλ$ $(\pi + 1)2r\lambda$
C. $(6πλ r)/(3π + 16)$ $\frac{6\pi\lambda r}{3\pi + 16}$
D. $2π λ r$ $2\pi \lambda r$

Solution

Related Formula

$R = ρ L$ $R = \rho L$ For parallel resistors:

1Req = 1R₁ + 1R₂ + 1R₃

Core Logic

The system represents three resistors connected in parallel between nodes A and B: the upper arc, the lower arc, and the straight diameter wire. Using $R = λ L$ $R = \lambda L$ where $λ$ $\lambda$ is resistance per unit length.

Step 1: Assign Resistances

Length of the upper arc = $(π r)/(2)$ $\frac{\pi r}{2}$ Resistance $R₁ = λ \cdot (π r)/(2)$ $R_{1} = \lambda \cdot \frac{\pi r}{2}$

Length of the straight wire AB = $2r$ $2r$ Resistance $R₂ = λ \cdot 2r$ $R_{2} = \lambda \cdot 2r$

Length of the remaining larger arc = $2π r - (π r)/(2) = (3π r)/(2)$ Resistance $R₃ = λ \cdot (3π r)/(2)$

Step 2: Equivalent Resistance Calculation

1RAB = 1R₁ + 1R₂ + 1R₃

1RAB = (2)/(λ π r) + (1)/(2λ r) + (2)/(3λ π r)

1RAB = (1)/(λ r)[(2)/(π) + (1)/(2) + (2)/(3π)]

1RAB = (1)/(λ r)((12 + 3π + 4)/(6π)) = (1)/(λ r)((16 + 3π)/(6π))

Step 3: Final Inversion

RAB = λ r ((6π)/(16 + 3π))

Pattern Recognition

Sees: "Uniform resistance wire bent into shape" → immediately break the shape down into parallel/series segments defined purely by their arc/line lengths multiplied by the linear density $λ$ $\lambda$.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Current Electricity

Q35 jee_main_2026_23_january_evening Measuring Instruments

To compare EMF of two cells using potentiometer the balancing lengths obtained are 200 cm and 150 cm. The least count of scale is 1 cm. The percentage error in the ratio of EMFs is ____

A. $1.45$ $1.45$
B. $1.65$ $1.65$
C. $1.75$ $1.75$
D. $1.55$ $1.55$

Solution

Related Formula

ε = λ l

(Δ y)/(y) = (Δ l₁)/(l₁) + (Δ l₂)/(l₂)

Core Logic

By potentiometer principle: $ε₁ = λ l₁$ $\epsilon_1 = \lambda l_1$ $ε₂ = λ l₂$ $\epsilon_2 = \lambda l_2$

Ratio $y = (ε₁)/(ε₂) = (l₁)/(l₂)$ Maximum percentage error is the sum of fractional errors.

Step 1: Calculate Percentage Error

(Δ y)/(y) = (1)/(200) + (1)/(150)

(Δ y)/(y) = (3 + 4)/(600) = (7)/(600)

Percentage error = $(7)/(600) \times 100% = (7)/(6)% \approx 1.16%$

Pattern Recognition

Note: The calculated exact percentage error is 1.16%, which does not match any of the provided options exactly. The closest official option provided was tracked as index (2) marking 1.65 by some keys, though technically a bonus question.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Current Electricity Class 11 Physics: Units and Measurements

Q30 jee_main_2026_24_january_morning Measuring Instruments

Two resistors of

100 Ω

each are connected in series with a 9V battery. A voltmeter of

400Ω

resistance is connected to measure the voltage drop across one of the resistors. The voltmeter reading is ____ V.

A. $3$ $3$
B. $4.5$ $4.5$
C. $4$ $4$
D. $2$ $2$

Solution

Related Formula

Req(parallel) = (R₁ R₂)/(R₁ + R₂)

$V = I \cdot R$ $V = I \cdot R$

Core Logic

Circuit diagram with voltmeter in parallel

The voltmeter is connected in parallel with one of the $100 Ω$ $100\, \Omega$ resistors. The equivalent resistance of this parallel combination is:

Rparallel = (400 \times 100)/(400 + 100) = (40000)/(500) = 80 Ω

The total equivalent resistance of the circuit is:

Req = 100 + 80 = 180 Ω

Step 1: Circuit Current and Voltmeter Reading

Current in the circuit:

I = EReq = (9)/(180) = (1)/(20) A

The reading of the voltmeter is the voltage across the parallel combination:

V = I \times 80 = (1)/(20) \times 80 = 4 V

Pattern Recognition

When a real voltmeter is used, it draws current. Model it as a resistor in parallel with the test component to find the exact altered potential drop.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Current Electricity

The value of current I in the electrical circuit as given below, when potential at A is equal to the potential at B, will be ________ A. A bridge resistor network supplied by a 40V DC voltage source terminal layout.

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula

Core Logic

Step 1: Circuit Solution

Pattern Recognition

Chapter Mix

Reference Study Guides

More Current Electricity Previous-Year Questions — Page 2

Solution

Related Formula

Core Logic

Step 1: Final Conclusion

Pattern Recognition

Chapter Mix

Solution

Related Formula

Core Logic

Step 1: Final Conclusion

Pattern Recognition

Chapter Mix

Solution

Related Formula

Core Logic

Step 1: Assign Resistances

Step 2: Equivalent Resistance Calculation

Step 3: Final Inversion

Pattern Recognition

Chapter Mix

Solution

Related Formula

Core Logic

Step 1: Calculate Percentage Error

Pattern Recognition

Chapter Mix

Solution

Related Formula

Core Logic

Step 1: Circuit Current and Voltmeter Reading

Pattern Recognition

Chapter Mix

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The value of current I in the electrical circuit as given below, when potential at A is equal to the potential at B, will be ________ A.
A bridge resistor network supplied by a 40V DC voltage source terminal layout.