Electronics Worksheet: LEDs and Resistors
Remember (Long leg plus, resistor always): Long leg (anode) → +; short leg by the flat edge (cathode) → −. Backwards: no light. Always a series resistor; without one the LED may burn out. R = (supply V − LED V) ÷ current in A. Example: (5 − 2) ÷ 0.02 = 150 Ω.
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- 1.💡 On an LED, is the round-side leg the anode (+) or the cathode (−)? (a) anode (+) (b) cathode (−)
- 2.💡 An LED is joined to a 5 V battery through a 1000 Ω resistor; its long leg goes to the + side and its short leg to the − side. What happens? (a) lights up (b) may burn out (c) does not light
- 3.💡 On an LED, is the longer leg the anode (+) or the cathode (−)? (a) cathode (−) (b) anode (+)
- 4.💡 What happens if an LED is put in backwards? (a) it makes a sound (b) it lights brighter (c) it does not light (d) it changes colour
- 5.True or false: on an LED, the shorter leg is the cathode (−). (a) False (b) True
- 6.💡 A red LED (it uses 2 V) is joined with a 100 Ω resistor to a 3 V supply. What current flows (in mA)?
- 7.💡 A red LED (it uses 2 V) is joined with a 150 Ω resistor to a 3.5 V supply. What current flows (in mA)?
- 8.💡 A red LED (it uses 2 V) is joined with a 200 Ω resistor to a 3 V supply. What current flows (in mA)?
- 9.💡 Why does an LED need a resistor in series? (a) to limit the current (b) to store charge (c) to change its colour (d) to make it brighter
- 10.💡 A red LED (it uses 2 V) is joined with a 200 Ω resistor to a 5 V supply. What current flows (in mA)?
- 11.💡 A red LED uses 2 V and should get 20 mA. It runs from a 6 V supply. What resistor (in ohms) is needed in series?
- 12.True or false: on an LED, the longer leg is the cathode (−). (a) False (b) True
- 13.True or false: on an LED, the leg by the flat edge is the anode (+). (a) True (b) False
- 14.💡 On an LED, is the shorter leg the anode (+) or the cathode (−)? (a) anode (+) (b) cathode (−)
- 15.💡 What does LED stand for? (a) large electric dial (b) light energy dial (c) low energy device (d) light-emitting diode
- 16.True or false: on an LED, the shorter leg is the anode (+). (a) False (b) True
- 17.💡 A blue LED uses 3 V and should get 10 mA. It runs from a 5 V supply. What resistor (in ohms) is needed in series?
- 18.💡 A blue LED uses 3 V and should get 20 mA. It runs from a 9 V supply. What resistor (in ohms) is needed in series?
- 19.💡 A red LED (it uses 2 V) is joined with a 150 Ω resistor to a 5 V supply. What current flows (in mA)?
- 20.💡 On an LED, is the leg by the flat edge the anode (+) or the cathode (−)? (a) cathode (−) (b) anode (+)
- 21.💡 A red LED (it uses 2 V) is joined with a 300 Ω resistor to a 5 V supply. What current flows (in mA)?
- 22.True or false: on an LED, the round-side leg is the anode (+). (a) True (b) False
- 23.💡 An LED is joined to a 5 V battery with no resistor; its long leg goes to the + side and its short leg to the − side. What happens? (a) lights up (b) does not light (c) may burn out
- 24.💡 A blue LED uses 3 V and should get 25 mA. It runs from a 9 V supply. What resistor (in ohms) is needed in series?
- 25.💡 A red LED (it uses 2 V) is joined with a 100 Ω resistor to a 3.5 V supply. What current flows (in mA)?
- 26.💡 An LED is joined to a 3 V battery through a 1000 Ω resistor; its long leg goes to the − side and its short leg to the + side. What happens? (a) does not light (b) may burn out (c) lights up
- 27.💡 An LED is joined to a 3 V battery through a 1000 Ω resistor; the leg next to the flat edge of its rim goes to the + side. What happens? (a) may burn out (b) does not light (c) lights up
- 28.💡 A blue LED uses 3 V and should get 10 mA. It runs from a 6 V supply. What resistor (in ohms) is needed in series?
- 29.True or false: on an LED, the leg by the flat edge is the cathode (−). (a) True (b) False
- 30.💡 An LED is joined to a 3 V battery through a 470 Ω resistor; the leg next to the flat edge of its rim goes to the − side. What happens? (a) may burn out (b) lights up (c) does not light
- 31.💡 An LED is joined to a 5 V battery through a 220 Ω resistor; the leg next to the flat edge of its rim goes to the − side. What happens? (a) lights up (b) does not light (c) may burn out
- 32.💡 An LED is joined to a 6 V battery through a 1000 Ω resistor; its long leg goes to the + side and its short leg to the − side. What happens? (a) may burn out (b) lights up (c) does not light
- 33.💡 A red LED (it uses 2 V) is joined with a 150 Ω resistor to a 4.25 V supply. What current flows (in mA)?
- 34.True or false: on an LED, the longer leg is the anode (+). (a) True (b) False
- 35.💡 A red LED (it uses 2 V) is joined with a 200 Ω resistor to a 4 V supply. What current flows (in mA)?
- 36.💡 A red LED (it uses 2 V) is joined with a 100 Ω resistor to a 2.5 V supply. What current flows (in mA)?
- 37.💡 An LED is joined to a 6 V battery through a 470 Ω resistor; the leg next to the flat edge of its rim goes to the − side. What happens? (a) may burn out (b) does not light (c) lights up
- 38.💡 A red LED (it uses 2 V) is joined with a 100 Ω resistor to a 2.5 V supply. What current flows (in mA)?
- 39.💡 An LED is joined to a 3 V battery through a 220 Ω resistor; the leg next to the flat edge of its rim goes to the + side. What happens? (a) does not light (b) lights up (c) may burn out
- 40.💡 A red LED (it uses 2 V) is joined with a 100 Ω resistor to a 4 V supply. What current flows (in mA)?
Answer key
- anode (+)
- lights up
- anode (+)
- it does not light
- True
- 10
- 10
- 5
- to limit the current
- 15
- 200
- False
- False
- cathode (−)
- light-emitting diode
- False
- 200
- 300
- 20
- cathode (−)
- 10
- True
- may burn out
- 240
- 15
- does not light
- does not light
- 300
- True
- lights up
- lights up
- lights up
- 15
- True
- 10
- 5
- lights up
- 5
- does not light
- 20
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