JEE Main · Physics · Current Electricity
Ohm's Law and Resistance: JEE Main previous year questions
79 questions in the 108 JEE Main shifts Lumi analysed, in 7 of 8 years. Pattern: Asked most years. 23 came in 2024–26. Here is how it is asked and which ideas come back.
- Questions
- 79
- in 62 of 108 shifts
- Years asked
- 7/8
- last asked 2026
- Weighted estimate
- 0.5
- model; history: 0.5 a shift on average, typically 0.1–0.9
Key findings
- 01
Asked in 7 of 8 years with analysed shifts and in 62 of 108 shifts: 79 questions, #20 of 196 topics.
- 02
30% of its questions since 2020 tested an idea no earlier year had asked; 47 repeated an idea from the year before.
- 03
The most repeated idea is Joule Heating and Power, asked 15 times in 12 shifts (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), most often as “power loss from efficiency”.
- 04
JEE Main has asked 21 of the 59 ideas in this topic; 34 have never been asked, directly or inside another question.
- 05
Mostly asked as single correct (47%); 43% need a numerical answer, 65% are easy and 1% hard.
- 06
The skill tested most is calculation (65%), then multi-step (15%).
Questions a shift, year by year
Out of the 25 Physics questions in a shift. Years differ in how many shifts Lumi analysed, so each year is scaled to one shift.
Raw count: 2017: 0 in 1 shift · 2020: 4 in 12 shifts · 2021: 18 in 24 shifts · 2022: 21 in 24 shifts · 2023: 13 in 12 shifts · 2024: 19 in 18 shifts · 2025: 3 in 8 shifts · 2026: 1 in 9 shifts.
- Up to 2023
- 0.5
- a shift, of 25
- Since 2024
- 0.5
- -0.1
- Usual gap
- 1.0 yrs
- between years asking it
- Shifts with it
- 62/108
- 57% of analysed shifts
Recent framings
- numerical: error in resistance from least counts
- power of identical bulbs in series
- numerical: power loss from efficiency
Revise first
- Joule Heating and Power · asked 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
- Error Analysis in Ohm's Law · asked 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026
- Temperature Coefficient of Resistance · asked 2022, 2023, 2024
How it is asked
Difficulty, format and skill
Across all 79 questions on Ohm's Law and Resistance since 2017.
Difficulty
QUESTIONS- Easy51 · 65%
- Medium27 · 34%
- Hard1 · 1%
Format
SHARE- Single correct · 37 Q47%
- Numerical value · 34 Q43%
- Diagram based · 4 Q5%
- Two statements · 2 Q3%
- Assertion–reason · 1 Q1%
- Other · 1 Q1%
Skill tested
SHARE- Calculation · 51 Q65%
- Multi-step · 12 Q15%
- Application · 7 Q9%
- Conceptual · 5 Q6%
- Recall · 2 Q3%
- Data or graph · 1 Q1%
- Diagram reading · 1 Q1%
Repeats
New idea, or one asked before?
Each column is a year. Blue questions tested an idea no earlier year had asked; navy ones went back to an idea from an earlier year. 2017 is the first year, so everything in it counts as new. Heights are question counts, and Lumi analysed 1 to 24 shifts a year, so compare the split inside a column rather than heights across years.
- Idea asked for the first time
- Idea asked in an earlier year
Coverage of the topic
JEE Main has asked 21 of the 59 ideas in this topic. 34 have never been asked yet.
- Asked directly21 · 36%
- Touched inside another question4 · 7%
- Never asked34 · 58%
Ideas come from Lumi’s JEE syllabus map. A never-asked idea is not a safe skip: across all of JEE Main, 22% of questions since 2024 tested an idea no earlier year had asked.
Drill down
Chapter, idea, question
Every idea JEE Main tested in this topic, with its eight years. Open one to read the questions.
20 ideas inside
Squares are the 8 years with analysed shifts, 2017 to 2026. A number is the questions that year when there is more than one; the shade is scaled to one shift, so a year with more analysed shifts (1 to 24 a year) does not look darker. Share is of the level above.
Ideas
Every idea inside this topic
21 different ideas were tested; 12 came more than once.
power loss from efficiency
Numerical value · 12 shifts · 7 numericalpercentage change in resistance
Numerical value · 10 shifts · 5 numericalpercentage change in resistance on stretching
Numerical value · 8 shifts · 4 numericalpercentage error in derived quantity
Single correct · 7 shifts · 1 numericaltemperature from resistance change
Numerical value · 7 shifts · 3 numericalpower of identical bulbs in series
Single correct · 5 shifts · 2 numericaldrift speed from current
Numerical value · 5 shifts · 2 numericalratio of power after cutting and rejoining wire
Single correct · 4 shifts · 1 numericalresistance from v-i graph with meter
Numerical value · 3 shifts · 3 numericalgraph interpretation of resistivity versus temperature
Diagram based · 2 shiftscurrent through annulus from current density
Numerical value · 2 shifts · 2 numericalresistance between points of bent wire loop
Numerical value · 2 shifts · 2 numericalenergy from battery rating
Single correct · 1 shiftelectrons per second from bulb rating
Single correct · 1 shiftequivalent temperature coefficient of combinations
Single correct · 1 shiftassertion-reason on resistivity of alloys
Assertion–reason · 1 shiftpercentage change in resistance on stretching
Single correct · 1 shiftforce on conduction electron in wire
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numericalread resistor colour code from figure
Diagram based · 1 shiftcurrent from conductivity and field
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numericalload resistance for maximum power from cylindrical cell
Single correct · 1 shift
| Idea | Years asked | Times | Shifts | Format | Numerical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joule Heating and Powerpower loss from efficiency | 15 | 12 | Numerical valueCalculation | 7 | |
| Resistivity and Geometrypercentage change in resistance | 10 | 10 | Numerical valueCalculation | 5 | |
| Resistance of Stretched Wirespercentage change in resistance on stretching | 8 | 8 | Numerical valueCalculation | 4 | |
| Error Analysis in Ohm's Lawpercentage error in derived quantity | 7 | 7 | Single correctCalculation | 1 | |
| Temperature Coefficient of Resistancetemperature from resistance change | 7 | 7 | Numerical valueCalculation | 3 | |
| Power Dissipation Ratios in Series vs Parallelpower of identical bulbs in series | 5 | 5 | Single correctApplication | 2 | |
| Drift Velocity and Currentdrift speed from current | 5 | 5 | Numerical valueCalculation | 2 | |
| Resistance of Cut and Recombined Uniform Wiresratio of power after cutting and rejoining wire | 4 | 4 | Single correctApplication | 1 | |
| Ohm's Law and V-I Graphsresistance from v-i graph with meter | 3 | 3 | Numerical valueMulti-step | 3 | |
| Temperature Dependence in Semiconductorsgraph interpretation of resistivity versus temperature | 2 | 2 | Diagram basedData or graph | – | |
| Integrating Non-Uniform Current Densitycurrent through annulus from current density | 2 | 2 | Numerical valueCalculation | 2 | |
| Resistance of Bent Wires and Loopsresistance between points of bent wire loop | 2 | 2 | Numerical valueCalculation | 2 | |
| Electrical Energy Consumption Unitsenergy from battery rating | 1 | 1 | Single correctCalculation | – | |
| Electron Count Rate from Currentelectrons per second from bulb rating | 1 | 1 | Single correctCalculation | – | |
| Equivalent Temperature Coefficient in Seriesequivalent temperature coefficient of combinations | 1 | 1 | Single correctApplication | – | |
| Resistivity of Alloysassertion-reason on resistivity of alloys | 1 | 1 | Assertion–reasonRecall | – | |
| Small Stretch Approximation for Resistancepercentage change in resistance on stretching | 1 | 1 | Single correctCalculation | – | |
| Vector Form of Ohm's Lawforce on conduction electron in wire | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueMulti-step | 1 | |
| Carbon Resistor Color Codingread resistor colour code from figure | 1 | 1 | Diagram basedDiagram reading | – | |
| Current Density Vector and Fluxcurrent from conductivity and field | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueCalculation | 1 | |
| Radial Resistance of a Hollow Cylinderload resistance for maximum power from cylindrical cell | 1 | 1 | Single correctMulti-step | – |
Times and shifts count every analysed shift. Across JEE Main, 78% of questions since 2024 went back to an idea an earlier year had asked; the rest were new. All repeated ideas
Every question
Ohm's Law and Resistance questions, year by year
The newest 40 show their opening words as they appeared in the official paper; older ones name the idea they tested. Open one for its options and the official answer.
JEE Main 20261 question in 1 shift
- 5 Apr, Shift 2Q27In an experiment to determine the resistance of a given wire using Ohm's law, the voltmeter and ammeter readings are noted as 10 V and 5…
Idea: Error Analysis in Ohm's Law
EasySingle correct
JEE Main 20253 questions in 3 shifts
- 2 Apr, Shift 1Q35The battery of a mobile phone is rated as 4.2 V, 5800 mAh. How much energy is stored in it when fully charged ?
Idea: Electrical Energy Consumption Units
New ideaEasySingle correct - 3 Apr, Shift 2Q39A motor operating on 100 V draws a current of 1 A. If the efficiency of the motor is 91.6%, then the loss of power in units of cal/s is
Idea: Joule Heating and Power
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 4 Apr, Shift 2Q36There are 'n' number of identical electric bulbs, each is designed to draw a power p independently from the mains supply. They are now…
Idea: Power Dissipation Ratios in Series vs Parallel
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct
JEE Main 202419 questions in 15 shifts
- 4 Apr, Shift 1Q41The resistances of the platinum wire of a platinum resistance thermometer at the ice point and steam point are and…
Idea: Temperature Coefficient of Resistance
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 4 Apr, Shift 2Q42An electric bulb rated 50 - 200 is connected across a 100 supply. The power dissipation of the bulb is:
Idea: Joule Heating and Power
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 4 Apr, Shift 2Q55Two wires and are made up of the same material and have the same mass. Wire has radius of 2.0 mm and wire has radius of…
Idea: Resistance of Stretched Wires
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value - 5 Apr, Shift 2Q42The ratio of heat dissipated per second through the resistance and in the circuit given below is :
Idea: Power Dissipation Ratios in Series vs Parallel
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct · figure - 5 Apr, Shift 2Q56A wire of resistance is divided into 10 equal parts, resulting pairs. A combination of two parts are connected in parallel…
Idea: Resistance of Cut and Recombined Uniform Wires
MediumNumerical value - 6 Apr, Shift 1Q58A wire of resistance and radius is stretched till its radius became . If new resistance of the stretched wire is , then…
Idea: Resistance of Stretched Wires
Asked the year beforeEasyNumerical value - 6 Apr, Shift 2Q43The number of electrons flowing per second in the filament of a 110 W bulb operating at 220 V is : (Given )
Idea: Electron Count Rate from Current
New ideaEasySingle correct - 8 Apr, Shift 1Q56Resistance of a wire at C, C and C is found to be , and …
Idea: Temperature Coefficient of Resistance
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value - 8 Apr, Shift 2Q41Water boils in an electric kettle in 20 minutes after being switched on. Using the same main supply, the length of the heating element…
Idea: Joule Heating and Power
Asked the year beforeMediumSingle correct - 8 Apr, Shift 2Q56A heater is designed to operate with a power of 1000 W in a 100 V line. It is connected in combination with a resistance of …
Idea: Joule Heating and Power
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value · figure - 9 Apr, Shift 2Q55At room temperature (C), the resistance of a heating element is . The temperature coefficient of the material is…
Idea: Temperature Coefficient of Resistance
Asked the year beforeEasyNumerical value - 9 Apr, Shift 2Q60To determine the resistance () of a wire, a circuit is designed below. The - characteristic curve for this circuit is plotted for…
Idea: Ohm's Law and V-I Graphs
MediumNumerical value · figure - 1 Feb, Shift 2Q49To measure the temperature coefficient of resistivity of a semiconductor, an electrical arrangement shown in the figure is…
Idea: Temperature Dependence in Semiconductors
Asked the year beforeMediumDiagram based · figure - 27 Jan, Shift 1Q41A wire of resistance R and length L is cut into 5 equal parts. If these parts are joined parallely, then resultant resistance will be :
Idea: Resistance of Cut and Recombined Uniform Wires
EasySingle correct - 29 Jan, Shift 1Q31The resistance where V and A, the percentage error in the measurement of R is :
Idea: Error Analysis in Ohm's Law
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 30 Jan, Shift 1Q41An electric toaster has resistance of 60 at room temperature (). The toaster is connected to a 220 V…
Idea: Temperature Coefficient of Resistance
Asked the year beforeMediumSingle correct - 30 Jan, Shift 2Q41When a potential difference is applied across a wire of resistance , it dissipates energy at a rate . If the wire is cut into…
Idea: Resistance of Cut and Recombined Uniform Wires
EasySingle correct - 31 Jan, Shift 1Q41Two conductors have the same resistances at C but their temperature coefficients of resistance are and . The…
Idea: Equivalent Temperature Coefficient in Series
New ideaMediumSingle correct - 31 Jan, Shift 2Q41By what percentage will the illumination of the lamp decrease if the current drops by 20%?
Idea: Joule Heating and Power
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct
JEE Main 202313 questions in 8 shifts
- 6 Apr, Shift 1Q41The resistivity () of semiconductor varies with temperature. Which of the following curve represents the correct behaviour
Idea: Temperature Dependence in Semiconductors
New ideaEasyDiagram based · figure - 6 Apr, Shift 1Q46Two resistances are given as and . The percentage error in the measurement of equivalent…
Idea: Error Analysis in Ohm's Law
Asked the year beforeMediumSingle correct - 6 Apr, Shift 1Q55The length of a metallic wire is increased by 20% and its area of cross section is reduced by 4%. The percentage change in resistance of…
Idea: Resistivity and Geometry
Asked the year beforeEasyNumerical value - 8 Apr, Shift 1Q59A current of flows through a wire of cross-sectional area . The number of free electrons in a cubic…
Idea: Drift Velocity and Current
Asked the year beforeEasyNumerical value - 8 Apr, Shift 2Q60The number density of free electrons in copper is nearly m. A copper wire has its area of cross section =…
Idea: Drift Velocity and Current
Asked the year beforeEasyNumerical value - 10 Apr, Shift 2Q50In a metallic conductor, under the effect of applied electric field, the free electrons of the conductor
Idea: Drift Velocity and Current
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 10 Apr, Shift 2Q60A rectangular parallelopiped is measured as 1 cm 1 cm 100 cm. If its specific resistance is m,…
Idea: Resistivity and Geometry
Asked the year beforeEasyNumerical value - 11 Apr, Shift 1Q40Two identical heater filaments are connected first in parallel and then in series. At the same applied voltage, the ratio of heat produced…
Idea: Power Dissipation Ratios in Series vs Parallel
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 12 Apr, Shift 1Q42A wire of resistance 160 is melted and drawn in a wire of one-fourth of its length. The new resistance of the wire will be
Idea: Resistance of Stretched Wires
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 12 Apr, Shift 1Q57The current flowing through a conductor connected across a source is 2 A and 1.2 A at C and C respectively. The…
Idea: Temperature Coefficient of Resistance
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value - 13 Apr, Shift 1Q50Different combination of 3 resistors of equal resistance R are shown in the figures. The increasing order for power dissipation is: (A)…
Idea: Joule Heating and Power
Asked the year beforeMediumDiagram based · figure - 13 Apr, Shift 1Q60A potential is applied across a uniform wire of resistance R. The power dissipation is . The wire is then cut into two equal…
Idea: Joule Heating and Power
Asked the year beforeEasyNumerical value - 15 Apr, Shift 1Q50Given below are two statements: Statement I : The equivalent resistance of resistors in a series combination is smaller than least…
Idea: Temperature Coefficient of Resistance
Asked the year beforeEasyTwo statements
JEE Main 202221 questions in 16 shifts
- 25 Jul, Shift 1Q58Eight copper wire of length and diameter are joined in parallel to form a single composite conductor of resistance . If a…
Idea: Resistivity and Geometry
Asked the year beforeEasyNumerical value - 25 Jul, Shift 2Q49The maximum error in the measurement of resistance, current and time for which current flows in an electrical circuit are 1%, 2% and 3%…
Idea: Error Analysis in Ohm's Law
EasySingle correct - 27 Jul, Shift 1Q55A 1 m long copper wire carries a current of 1 A. If the cross section of the wire is 2.0 mm and the resistivity of copper is…
Idea: Vector Form of Ohm's Law
New ideaMediumNumerical value - 27 Jul, Shift 2Q41(A) The drift velocity of electrons decreases with the increase in the temperature of conductor. (B) The drift velocity is inversely…
Idea: Drift Velocity and Current
Asked the year beforeMediumOther - 28 Jul, Shift 1 · Q41Resistance of Stretched WiresAsked the year beforeEasy
- 28 Jul, Shift 2 · Q11Resistance of Cut and Recombined Uniform WiresNew ideaEasy
- 28 Jul, Shift 2 · Q26Joule Heating and PowerAsked the year beforeMedium
- 29 Jul, Shift 1 · Q42Resistivity and GeometryAsked the year beforeMedium
- 29 Jul, Shift 2 · Q34Resistivity of AlloysNew ideaEasy
- 29 Jul, Shift 2 · Q35Resistance of Stretched WiresAsked the year beforeMedium
- 25 Jun, Shift 1 · Q57Joule Heating and PowerAsked the year beforeEasy
- 25 Jun, Shift 2 · Q51Error Analysis in Ohm's LawEasy
- 25 Jun, Shift 2 · Q58Resistance of Stretched WiresAsked the year beforeEasy
- 26 Jun, Shift 1 · Q43Small Stretch Approximation for ResistanceNew ideaEasy
- 27 Jun, Shift 1 · Q33Error Analysis in Ohm's LawEasy
- 27 Jun, Shift 1 · Q56Integrating Non-Uniform Current DensityNew ideaMedium
- 27 Jun, Shift 2 · Q56Integrating Non-Uniform Current DensityNew ideaMedium
- 28 Jun, Shift 2 · Q41Temperature Coefficient of ResistanceNew ideaEasy
- 29 Jun, Shift 1 · Q51Power Dissipation Ratios in Series vs ParallelAsked the year beforeEasy
- 29 Jun, Shift 1 · Q55Ohm's Law and V-I GraphsAsked the year beforeMedium
- 30 Jun, Shift 1 · Q45Resistivity and GeometryAsked the year beforeEasy
JEE Main 202118 questions in 16 shifts
- 3 Aug, Shift 1 · Q23Resistance of Stretched WiresNew ideaEasy
- 4 Aug, Shift 1 · Q21Resistivity and GeometryAsked the year beforeMedium
- 4 Aug, Shift 2 · Q22Power Dissipation Ratios in Series vs ParallelNew ideaMedium
- 26 Aug, Shift 1 · Q17Resistivity and GeometryAsked the year beforeMedium
- 26 Aug, Shift 2 · Q17Joule Heating and PowerAsked the year beforeEasy
- 27 Aug, Shift 2 · Q12Carbon Resistor Color CodingNew ideaEasy
- 31 Aug, Shift 1 · Q21Ohm's Law and V-I GraphsNew ideaMedium
- 31 Aug, Shift 1 · Q28Resistance of Bent Wires and LoopsNew ideaEasy
- 31 Aug, Shift 2 · Q30Joule Heating and PowerAsked the year beforeEasy
- 24 Feb, Shift 2 · Q27Current Density Vector and FluxNew ideaEasy
- 26 Feb, Shift 2 · Q20Resistance of Stretched WiresNew ideaEasy
- 22 Jul, Shift 2 · Q7Resistivity and GeometryAsked the year beforeEasy
- 25 Jul, Shift 1 · Q27Joule Heating and PowerAsked the year beforeEasy
- 25 Jul, Shift 2 · Q24Resistance of Bent Wires and LoopsNew ideaMedium
- 16 Mar, Shift 2 · Q18Joule Heating and PowerAsked the year beforeEasy
- 16 Mar, Shift 2 · Q28Joule Heating and PowerAsked the year beforeEasy
- 17 Mar, Shift 1 · Q5Drift Velocity and CurrentNew ideaMedium
- 18 Mar, Shift 2 · Q23Resistivity and GeometryAsked the year beforeEasy
JEE Main 20204 questions in 3 shifts
- 2 Sep, Shift 1 · Q12Resistivity and GeometryNew ideaMedium
- 3 Sep, Shift 1 · Q12Radial Resistance of a Hollow CylinderNew ideaHard
- 5 Sep, Shift 1 · Q1Error Analysis in Ohm's LawNew ideaEasy
- 5 Sep, Shift 1 · Q13Joule Heating and PowerNew ideaEasy
Questions from the official JEE Main Paper 1 shifts published by NTA (CBSE for 2017). Questions NTA dropped are left out. Topic and idea tags, counts and notes are Lumi’s.