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Date May 2014 Marks available 1 Reference code 14M.1.SL.TZ2.17
Level Standard level Paper Paper 1 Time zone Time zone 2
Command term Question number 17 Adapted from N/A

Question

Which of the following is a statement of Ohm’s law?

A. The resistance of a conductor is constant.

B. The current in a conductor is inversely proportional to the potential difference across the conductor provided the temperature is constant.

C. The resistance of a conductor is constant provided that the temperature is constant.

D. The current in a conductor is proportional to the potential difference across it.

Markscheme

C

Examiners report

Many candidates were distracted by D and there were quite a few comments from teachers suggesting that this should be accepted. But D is not true as in most cases the varying current will change the temperature of the wire causing a change in resistance. It is only true in the case that temperature is kept constant – and that is the correct statement of Ohm’s Law. C is an alternative statement of Ohm’s law, given that resistance is calculated from V/I in any particular situation.

Syllabus sections

Core » Topic 5: Electricity and magnetism » 5.2 – Heating effect of electric currents
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