RHSA SNC1D Electricity

Name: ______________

Current Electricity Word Problems

Variable Varia
Unit
Unit
ble
Symbol
Symb
ol
Energy
E
joules
J
Voltage
V
volts
V
(Potential
Differenc
e)
Electric
Q
coulombs
C
Charge
Current
amperes
A
I
Time
t
seconds
s
Formula Triangles
Each formula triangle can be used to
rearrange a formula to solve for each of
the three variables. The horizontal line
represents dividing and the vertical line
represents multiply.

RHSA SNC1D Electricity

Name: ______________

RHSA SNC1D Electricity

Name: ______________

Potential Difference
E=VxQ
E
V

V=E/Q
Q

Q=E/V

Current
Q = Ix t
Q
I

I=Q/t
t

t=Q/I

RHSA SNC1D Electricity

Name: ______________

SOLVING ELECTRICITY PROBLEMS

All problems must be solved with the
following steps to get full marks.
1. State the variables given numbers
and the unknown variable.
2. Write the formula to use.
3. Substitute the given numbers in to
the formula.
4. Solve.
5. Check that units are written after
every number because in science
we measure real quantities.
6. Check that all equations have
variable symbols or numbers before
and after the equal sign!!

RHSA SNC1D Electricity

Name: ______________

Sample Problems
1. If 240 C of electric charge passes a
certain point in a circuit in 5.0
minutes, what is the current
through that point?
Q = 240 C
t = 5.0 min x 60 s /min = 300 s
I=?
Q
I=Q/t
I = 240 C / 300 s
t
I
I = 0.80 A
2. Find the potential difference of a
battery that uses 54 J of energy to
energize 18 C of electric charge.
E = 54 J
Q = 18 C
E
V=?
V = E/Q
V Q
V = 54 J / 18 C
V=3V

RHSA SNC1D Electricity

Name: ______________

Current Electricity Word Problems

Variable

Variable
Symbol

Unit

Unit Symbol

Energy
Voltage (Potential
Difference)
Electric Charge
Current
Time
Formula Triangles
Each formula triangle can be used to rearrange a formula to solve for each of
the three variables. The horizontal line represents dividing and the vertical
line represents multiply.
Potential Difference
E=
V=
Q=
Current
Q=
I=
t=

RHSA SNC1D Electricity

Name: ______________

SOLVING ELECTRICITY PROBLEMS

All problems must be solved with the following steps to get full marks.
1. State the variables __________________________________________
2. Write the ___________________ to use.
3. ____________________ the given numbers in to the formula.
4. ________________________.
5. Check that ___________________________ are written after every number
because in science we measure real quantities.
6. Check that all equations have variable symbols or numbers
________________________ and __________________ the equal sign!!

SAMPLE PROBLEMS
1.

If 240 C of electric charge passes a certain point in a circuit in 5.0

minutes, what is the current through that point?

Q
t

I
2.

Find the potential difference of a battery that uses 54 J of energy to

energize 18 C of electric charge.

E
V

RHSA SNC1D Electricity

Name: ______________
Current Electricity Problems

Write a complete solution to each problem. Be sure to complete the

triangles.
Electric Current Problems:
I = Q/t, t = Q/I, Q = I x t

I = electric current measured in Amperes

(A)
Q = electric charge measured in
Coulombs (C)
t = time, measured in seconds (s)

1. A lightning strike carries 5.0 C of charge in the 0.02 s it takes to reach the
ground. What is the electric current carried by the lightning strike?
2. A small electric motor draws a current of 0.40 A. How long will it take for 8.0 C of
charge to pass through it?
3. How much current is flowing through a light bulb when it takes 24 s for 18 C of
charge to pass through its filament?
4. Suppose your calculator requires 0.20 mA (= 0.00020 A, do you know why?) to
operate, and that it will be on for 2.0 minutes while you solve this problem. What
quantity of charge will flow during this time?

Potential Difference (Voltage) Problems

V = E/Q, Q = E/V, E = V x Q

V=potential difference in volts (V)\

E=energy or work measured in Joules (J)
Q=charge measured in Coulombs (C)

1. Suppose that a 9.0 V battery delivers 4.0 C of charge.

(a) How much work is done on the charge by the battery?
(b) If the total current in (a) is 1.5 A, for how long was the battery used?
2. What amount of energy does a kettle use to boil water if it has 800 C of charge
passing through it with a potential difference of 120 V?
3. A flash of lightning transfers 1.5 x 109 (=1,500,000,000) J of electrical energy
through a potential difference of 5.0 x 10 7 (=50,000,000) V between cloud and
ground. Calculate the quantity of charge transferred in the lightning bolt.
4. Calculate the energy stored in a 9.0 V battery that can deliver a current of 5.0
mA (=0.005 A) for 2.0 x 103 s.