The circuit diagram below shows a battery of electromotive force (emf) 12 V and internal

1. resistance 1.5 Ω connected to a 2.0 Ω resistor in parallel with an unknown resistor, R. The battery
supplies a current of 4.2 A.

(a) (i) Show that the potential difference (pd) across the internal resistance is 6.3 V.

(1)

(ii) Calculate the pd across the 2.0 Ω resistor.

pd ____________________V
(1)

(iii) Calculate the current in the 2.0 Ω resistor.

current ____________________A
(1)

(iv) Determine the current in R.

current ____________________ A
(1)

Page 1 of 29
 (v) Calculate the resistance of R.

R ____________________ Ω
(1)

(vi) Calculate the total resistance of the circuit.

circuit resistance ____________________ Ω

(2)

(b) The battery converts chemical energy into electrical energy that is then dissipated in the
internal resistance and the two external resistors.

(i) Using appropriate data values that you have calculated, complete the following table
by calculating the rate of energy dissipation in each resistor.

resistor rate of energy dissipation / W

internal resistance

2.0 Ω

(3)

(ii) Hence show that energy is conserved in the circuit.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 12 marks)

Page 2 of 29
 A battery of emf 9.0 V and internal resistance, r, is connected in the circuit shown in the figure
2. below.

(a) The current in the battery is 1.0 A.

(i) Calculate the pd between points A and B in the circuit.

answer = ____________________ V
(2)

(ii) Calculate the internal resistance, r.

answer = ____________________ Ω
(2)

(iii) Calculate the total energy transformed by the battery in 5.0 minutes.

answer = ____________________ J
(2)

Page 3 of 29
 (iv) Calculate the percentage of the energy calculated in part (iii) that is dissipated in the
battery in 5.0 minutes.

answer = ____________________ %
(2)

(b) State and explain one reason why it is an advantage for a rechargeable battery to have a
low internal resistance.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 10 marks)

The circuit in the diagram below contains four identical new cells, A, B, C and D, each of emf
3. 1.5V and negligible internal resistance.

(a) The resistance of each resistor is 4.0 Ω.

(i) Calculate the total resistance of the circuit.

answer = ____________________ Ω
(1)

Page 4 of 29
 (ii) Calculate the total emf of the combination of cells.

answer = ____________________ V
(1)

(iii) Calculate the current passing through cell A.

answer = ____________________ A
(2)

(iv) Calculate the charge passing through cell A in five minutes, stating an appropriate
unit.

answer = ____________________
(2)

(b) Each of the cells can provide the same amount of electrical energy before going flat.
State and explain which two cells in this circuit you would expect to go flat first.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 9 marks)

Page 5 of 29
 (a) A constantan wire has a radius of 0.430 mm and a resistance of 5.60 Ω.
4.
The resistivity of constantan is 4.90 x 10–7 Ωm.

Calculate the length of the wire in m.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

length ______________________ m
(3)

(b) A wire of resistance 5.60 Ω is connected across the terminal of a cell. The cell has an emf
of 1.50 V and an internal resistance of r.

(i) The current through the wire is 0.247 A.

Calculate the total resistance of the circuit.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

resistance ______________________ Ω
(2)

(ii) Determine the internal resistance, r, of the cell.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

resistance ______________________ Ω
(1)
(Total 6 marks)

Page 6 of 29
 This question is about an experiment to determine the internal resistance of a power supply.
5.
A student is given the circuit and the four resistors of known resistance shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

The student can change the external resistance R of the circuit between terminals X and Y. This
is done by connecting different combinations of two resistors in series or in parallel between X
and Y.
This method can produce 12 different values for R.

(a) Calculate the largest value of R that the student can obtain using two resistors.

largest value of R = ____________________________ Ω

(1)

(b) Calculate the smallest value of R that the student can obtain using two resistors.

smallest value of R = ____________________________ Ω

(2)

(c) With switch S closed (in the on position) and no resistors connected between X and Y the
voltmeter reading V is 1.62 V.

The student concludes that this voltmeter reading equals the emf ε of the power supply.

State why the student’s conclusion that ε = 1.62 V was correct.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

Page 7 of 29
(d) Figure 2 shows one particular combination and arrangement of two resistors that the
student could use.

Figure 2

When S is closed the voltmeter reading V is 1.14 V.

Explain why V is less than 1.62 V when S is closed.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(e) It can be shown that

where r is the internal resistance of the power supply.

Determine (ε – V ) and for this circuit using the data given in part (d).

(ε – V) = ____________________________ V

= ____________________________ V Ω–1

(1)

Page 8 of 29
(f) The student obtains values of V for five further different values of R.

These data were used to produce the graph of (ε – V) against in Figure 3.

Plot the point you determined in part (e) on Figure 3 and add a suitable best-fit line.
(1)

(g) Use Figure 3 to determine r.

r = ____________________________ Ω
(2)

Page 9 of 29
Figure 3

Page 10 of 29
(h) Figure 4 shows a different method for varying the resistance R described in part (a).

Figure 4

The four resistors are connected in a loop with sockets A, B, C and D at each junction. Two
leads are used to connect the resistor loop to X and Y.

Discuss whether this method is an improvement over the method described in part (a). In
your answer, you should refer to the number of different values that can be obtained for R.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 11 marks)

Page 11 of 29
 An engineer wants to use solar cells to provide energy for a filament lamp in a road sign.
6.
The engineer first investigates the emf and internal resistance of a solar cell under typical
operating conditions.

The engineer determines how the potential difference across the solar cell varies with current.
The results are shown in the graph in Figure 1.

Figure 1

The engineer uses the graph to deduce that when operating in typical conditions a single solar
cell produces an emf of 0.70 V and has an internal resistance of 8.0 Ω.

(a) Explain how the engineer uses the graph to obtain the values for the emf and internal
resistance of the solar cell.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

Page 12 of 29
(b) To operate effectively the lamp in the road sign needs a minimum current of 75
mA. At this current the resistance of the filament lamp is 6.0 Ω.

The engineer proposes to try the two circuits shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3.

Figure 2

Figure 3

Deduce, using calculations, whether the circuits in Figure 2 and Figure 3 are suitable for
this application.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(4)

Page 13 of 29
 (c) Solar cells convert solar energy to useful electrical energy in the road sign with an
efficiency of 4.0%.
The solar-cell supply used by the engineer has a total surface area of 32 cm 2.

Calculate the minimum intensity, in W m –2, of the sunlight needed to provide the minimum
current of 75 mA to the road sign when it has a resistance of 6.0 Ω.

intensity = ____________________ W m –2

(3)
(Total 9 marks)

The circuit in Figure 1 is used to investigate how the potential difference V between the terminals
7.
of a cell varies as the current I in the circuit changes. Figure 2 shows the graph of the results.

Figure 1 Figure 2

Which one of the following can be deduced from the gradient of the graph?

A The internal resistance of the cell

B The e.m.f. of the cell

C The power dissipated by the cell

D The resistance of the variable resistor

(Total 1 mark)

Page 14 of 29
 A battery is connected to a 10 Ω resistor and a switch in series. A voltmeter is connected across
8. the battery. When the switch is open (off) the voltmeter reads 1.45 V. When the switch is closed
the reading is 1.26 V.

What is the internal resistance of the battery?

A 0.66 Ω

B 0.76 Ω

C 1.3 Ω

D 1.5 Ω

(Total 1 mark)

Page 15 of 29
 A student investigates how the potential difference V across the terminals of a cell varies with the
9. current I in the cell.

Which graph correctly shows how V varies with I?

(Total 1 mark)

Page 16 of 29
 In the circuit shown, V is a voltmeter with a very high resistance. The internal resistance of the
10.
cell, r, is equal to the external resistance in the circuit.

external resistance

Which of the following is not equal to the emf of the cell?

A the reading of the voltmeter when the Switch S is open

the chemical energy changed to electrical energy when unit

B
charge passes through the cell

C twice the reading of the voltmeter when the switch S is closed

the electrical energy produced when unit current passes

D
through the cell

(Total 1 mark)

Page 17 of 29
 Three cells each have an emf ε = 1.5 V and an internal resistance r = 0.6 Ω.
11.
Which combination of these cells will deliver a total emf of 1.5 V and a maximum current of 7.5
A?

(Total 1 mark)

Page 18 of 29
 The cell in the circuit has an emf of 2.0 V. When the variable resistor has a resistance of 4.0 Ω,
12. the potential difference (pd) across the terminals of the cell is 1.0 V.

What is the pd across the terminals of the cell when the resistance of the variable resistor is 12
Ω?

A 0.25 V

B 0.75 V

C 1.33 V

D 1.50 V

(Total 1 mark)

The cell in the following circuit has an emf (electromotive force) of 6.0 V and an internal
13.
resistance of 3.0 Ω. The resistance of the variable resistor is set to 12 Ω.

How much electrical energy is converted into thermal energy within the cell in 1 minute?

A 0.48 J

B 29 J

C 45 J

D 144 J

(Total 1 mark)

Page 19 of 29
Mark schemes
(a) (i) (use of V=Ir)
1. V= 4.2 × 1.5 = 6.3 (V)
1

(ii) pd = 12 − 6.3 = 5.7 V

NO CE from (i)
1

(iii) (use of I = V / R)
I = 5.7 / 2.0 = 2.8(5) A
CE from (ii)
(a(ii)/2.0)
accept 2.8 or 2.9
1

(iv) I = 4.2 – 2.85 = 1.3(5) A

CE from (iii)
(4.2 −(a)(iii))
accept 1.3 or 1.4
1

(v) R= 5.7 / 1.35 =4.2 Ω

CE from (iv)
(a(ii) / (a)(iv))
Accept range 4.4 to 4.1
1

(vi)

CE from (a)(v)
Rparallel = 1.35 Ω
second mark for adding internal resistance

Rtotal = 1.35 + 1.5 = 2.85 Ω

OR
R = 12/4.2
R= 2.85 Ω
2

Page 20 of 29
 (b) (i)

resistor Rate of energy dissipation (W)

1.5 Ω internal resistance 4.2 2 × 1.5 = 26.5

2.0 Ω 2.85 2 × 2.0 = 16.2 (15.68 − 16.82)

R 1.352 × 4.2 = 7.7 (7.1 − 8.2)

CE from answers in (a) but not for first value
2.0: a(iii)2×2
R: a(iv)2×a(v)
3

(ii) energy provided by cell per second = 12 × 4.2 = 50.4 (W)

energy dissipated in resistors per second = 26.5 + 16.2 + 7.7 = 50.4
(hence energy input per second equals energy output)
if not equal can score second mark if an appropriate comment
2
[12]

(a) (i) (use of V = IR)

2.
Rtotal = 1 (ohm)

V = 1 × 1 = 1.0 V
2

(ii) (use of V = IR)

R = 9.0/1.0 = 9.0 Ω

r = 9.0 − 1.0 − 6.0 = 2.0 Ω

or use of (E = I(R + r))

9.0 = 1(7 + r)

r = 9.0 − 7.0 = 2.0 Ω

2

(iii) (use of W = Vlt)

W = 9.0 × 1.0 × 5 × 60

W = 2700 J
2

(iv) energy dissipated in internal resistance = 12 × 2.0 × 5 × 60 = 600 (J)

percentage = 100 × 600/2700 = 22% CE from part aii

2

Page 21 of 29
 (b) internal resistance limits current

hence can provide higher current

or energy wasted in internal resistance/battery

less energy wasted (with lower internal resistance)

or charges quicker

as current higher or less energy wasted

or (lower internal resistance) means higher terminal pd/voltage

as less pd across internal resistance or mention of lost volts

2
[10]

(a) (i) 6.0 (Ω) (1)

3. 1

(ii) 4.5 (V) (1)

1

(iii) (use of I = V/R)

I = 4.5/6.0 = 0.75 (A) (1)

current through cell A = 0.75/2 = 0.375 (A) (1)

2

(iv) charge = 0.375 × 300 = 112 (1) C (1)

2

(b) cells C and D will go flat first or A and B last longer (1)

current/charge passing through cells C and D (per second) is

double/more than that passing through A or B (1)

energy given to charge passing through cells per second is double

or more than in cells C and D (1) or in terms of power
3
[9]

Page 22 of 29
 (a) l = RA/ρ or correct calculation of area 5.8 × 10–7
4.
C1

correct sub condoning powers of ten eg

5.6π × 4.32/4.9 × 10–7

C1

6.64 (m)

A1
3

(b) (i) 1.5/0.247

C1

6.0 or 6.07 (Ω)

A1
2

(ii) 0.47 (Ω) cao allow 0.5

B1
1
[6]

(a) 15(.0) (Ω) ✔

5.
Only acceptable answer
Must be on answer line or clearly identified as (largest)R
by R = 15 (.0) (Ω) seen.
Allow an answer just above (or below) the answer line in cases
where a previous answer has been crossed out.
If not on the answer line, units must be stated.
1

Page 23 of 29
(b) 1.4(1) (Ω) ✔✔

Only selects 2.2 Ω and 3.9 Ω in parallel ✔

Accept evidence from working or a clear labelled sketch of 2.2 Ω
and 3.9 Ω in parallel
Possible allowed combinations include:

Accept 1.407 Ω but not >4 sf

Must be on answer line or clearly identified as (smallest)R
by R = 1.4 (1) (Ω) seen.
Allow an answer just above (or below) the answer line in cases
where a previous answer has been crossed out.
Common wrong answer = 0.71 (Ω) is worth one mark with correct
supporting working
2

Page 24 of 29
(c) Any of the following statements:

Power supply is on open circuit (so current is zero)

OR

Voltmeter has a (very) large resistance (so current is zero)

OR

No current (load) (so no lost volts)

OR

(Current is zero) so no lost volts

Accept ‘negligible’ current for zero current
Accept ‘very large’ resistance; don’t penalise ‘voltmeter has very
large internal resistance’
Do not allow:
Resistance is zero
Only resistance is the internal resistance
No other component (this implies that the internal resistance is
zero)
1

(d) (Current through power supply leads to)

lost volts (across the internal resistance)

OR

(Current through power supply leads to)

voltage drop across the internal resistance

OR

(Current through power supply leads to)

Some of the emf is used in the internal resistance

OR

Voltage is shared between the internal and external resistances

Allow correct ‘energy transfer in the internal resistance’ arguments
Must refer to a voltage across the internal resistance or r
except when the term “lost volts” is used.
Do not allow:
The current decreases
1

Page 25 of 29
(e) ε – V = (1.62 – 1.14 =) 0.48(0) (V)

and

Both results required for ✔; accept 0.127 or 0.1267 for

Do not allow answers expressed in terms of unknown variables

Answers must be on answer line or clearly identified as answer by
using correct subject and equals sign
Allow an answer just above (or below) the answer line in cases
where a previous answer has been crossed out.
1

(f) Point correctly plotted to nearest 1 mm (half a grid square)

and

continuous ruled best fit line for the 5 (originally printed) points ✔
Withhold mark if point is hidden or if best fit line is of variable
thickness or has discontinuities.
Data point should be marked with a cross. Both × and + marks are
acceptable.
Do not allow points plotted as dots / dots in circles
If point is wrongly calculated in Part 1.5 allow CE for an accurate
plot of this but this should then be treated as anomalous when
judging the best fit line.
The best fit line must intersect each of the 5 originally printed X
symbols.
Allow no plot where ECF (even as algebraic equation) point won’t fit
on the grid and student has stated that it can’t be plotted.
If no answer / no plottable answer in 1.5 but student chooses to plot
a point then it must be the correct point only (0.13, 0.48)
1

Page 26 of 29
 (g) Gradient triangle for Figure 3; correct read-offs for points (± 1 mm)
from triangle with the ε – V step at least 0.5 V
Allow seen or gradient triangle drawn with seen,

read-offs must be substituted into or

Condone one read-off error in four read-offs for gradient method

(common error: candidates miss non-origin on ordinate axis)
(common error: makes a power of 10 error on abscissa)

r in range 3.49 to 3.95 (Ω)

Any correct method other than gradient method (no read-off errors
here) allow 1 mark
i.e. allow 1 mark for the accurate use of 1 point from their line
r must be quoted to a minimum of 2 significant figures
ecf for r (their gradient from their best fit line)
r must be supported by correct working
2

(h) The Figure 1 method is better because more R values are available ✔

6 values of R (possible) for method (seen) in Fig 4 ✔

Do not allow:
The 2nd method has a wider range
The 2nd method has a larger maximum resistance
The 2nd method has a smaller minimum resistance
The 2nd method only goes up to 8.2 Ω
(resistances available in Fig 4: 2.0 Ω, 3.2 Ω, 4.3 Ω, 4.6 Ω, 5.0 Ω, 5.3
Ω)
2
[11]

(a) emf is the intercept on the pd / y axis ✔

6.
gradient of the graph is –r / internal resistance is minus the gradient
of the graph/modulus of gradient is r / absolute value of gradient is r
/ magnitude of gradient is r ✔
1
1

Page 27 of 29
 (b) figure 2 circuit supplies 50 mA ✔
figure 3 circuit has emf of 1.4 V ✔
and internal resistance of 12 Ω ✔
hence current of 78 mA which is >75 mA ✔
Can use different routes independently for fig 2 and fig 3
If candidates calculated current is not 50 mA or 75 mA allow CE for
correct conclusion relating to 75 mA
Must explain which circuit is suitable. If their calculation shows
neither circuit suitable must explain why both circuits not suitable

OR

calculate required pd is 0.45 V (0.075 × 6.0) ✔

show pd for cell in fig 2 is 0.1 V ✔
show pd across parallel cells in fig 3 is 0.4 V ✔
show total pd in fig 3 is 0.5 V which is greater than 0.45 V ✔

OR

calculate emf needed for 75 mA in fig 2 (1.05) ✔

calculate emf needed in fig 3 (1.35) ✔
comment on emf needed in fig 2 is larger than cell provides ✔
comment on emf in fig 3 being close to what is required ✔
from graph for current for current of 75 mA
from graph for current of ½ of 75 mA i.er. 37.5 mA
i.e. 0.1 V from single cell and 0.4 V from parallel cells
4

(c) useful power dissipated = (75 × 10–3)2 × 6 ✔ (= 0.03375 (W))

Condone use of 78 mA gives answer of 285 W
If used resistance of 18 Ω then lose first mark but CE to give
answer of 791 W

input power (at the cells) = 0.03375/.04 = (W) ✔

solar power = 0.8437 /(32 × 10–4) = 260 (263.7 or 264) W m–2 ✔

CE from power calculation but not from % calculation
if incorrect % calculation at any stage only qualify for useful power
mark
1
1
1
[9]

A
7.
[1]

D
8.
[1]

Page 28 of 29
 A
9.
[1]

D
10.
[1]

D
11.
[1]

D
12.
[1]

B
13.
[1]

Page 29 of 29