Q1.A student investigated how current varies with potential difference for two different lamps.

Her results are shown in the figure below.

(a) Complete the circuit diagram for the circuit that the student could have used to
obtain the results shown in the figure above.

(3)

(b) Which lamp will be brighter at any potential difference?

Explain your answer.

Use the figure above to aid your explanation

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(2)

(c) Lamp B has the higher resistance at any potential difference.

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 Explain how the figure above shows this.

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(2)

(d) Both lamps behave like ohmic conductors through a range of values of potential
difference.

Use the figure above to determine the range for these lamps.

Explain your answer.

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(3)
(Total 10 marks)

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Q2.(a) Figure 1 shows the apparatus used to obtain the data needed to calculate the resistance of
a thermistor at different temperatures.

Figure 1

Power supply

(i) In the box below, draw the circuit symbol for a thermistor.

(1)

(ii) Use the data given in Figure 1 to calculate the resistance of the thermistor at
20 °C.

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Resistance = ......................... ohms

(2)

(iii) Figure 2 shows the axes for a sketch graph.

Complete Figure 2 to show how the resistance of the thermistor will change

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 as the temperature of the thermistor increases from 20 °C to 100 °C.

Figure 2

Temperature in °C
(1)

(iv) Which one of the following is most likely to include a thermistor?

Tick (✓) one box.

An automatic circuit to switch a plant watering system on and off.

An automatic circuit to switch an outside light on when it gets dark.

An automatic circuit to switch a heating system on and off.

(1)

(b) The ammeter used in the circuit has a very low resistance.

Why is it important that ammeters have a very low resistance?

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(1)

(c) The table below gives the temperature of boiling water using three different

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 temperature scales.

Temperature Scale

100 Celsius (°C)

212 Fahrenheit
(°F)

80 Réaumur
(°Re)

Scientists in different countries use the same temperature scale to measure

temperature.

Suggest one advantage of doing this.

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(1)

(d) A student plans to investigate how the resistance of a light-dependent resistor

(LDR) changes with light intensity.

The student starts with the apparatus shown in Figure 2 but makes three changes
to the apparatus.

One of the changes the student makes is to replace the thermistor with an LDR.

Describe what other changes the student should make to the apparatus.

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(2)
(Total 9 marks)

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Q3.The picture shows an electric cooker hob. The simplified circuit diagram shows how the four
heating elements connect to the mains electricity supply. The heating elements are
identical.

When all four heating elements are switched on at full power the hob draws a current of
26 A from the 230 V mains electricity supply.

(a) Calculate the resistance of one heating element when the hob is switched on at full
power.

Give your answer to 2 significant figures.

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Resistance = .............................. Ω
(3)

(b) The table gives the maximum current that can safely pass through copper wires of
different cross-sectional area.

Cross-sectional Maximum safe

area in mm2 current in amps

1.0 11.5

2.5 20.0

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 4.0 27.0

6.0 34.0

The power sockets in a home are wired to the mains electricity supply using cables
containing 2.5 mm2 copper wires. Most electrical appliances are connected to the
mains electricity supply by plugging them into a standard power socket.

It would not be safe to connect the electric cooker hob to the mains electricity
supply by plugging it into a standard power socket.

Why?

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(2)

(c) Mains electricity is an alternating current supply. Batteries supply a direct current.

What is the difference between an alternating current and a direct current?

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(2)
(Total 7 marks)

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Q4.The current in a circuit depends on the potential difference (p.d.) provided by the cells and
the total resistance of the circuit.

(a) Using the correct circuit symbols, draw a diagram to show how you would connect
1.5 V cells together to give a p.d. of 6 V.
(2)

(b) Figure 1 shows a circuit containing an 18 V battery.

Two resistors, X and Y, are connected in series.

• X has a resistance of 3 Ω.

• There is a current of 2 A in X.

Figure 1

(i) Calculate the p.d. across X.

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P.d. across X = ........................................... V

(2)

(ii) Calculate the p.d. across Y.

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P.d. across Y = ........................................... V

(2)

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 (iii) Calculate the total resistance of X and Y.

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Total resistance of X and Y = ........................................... Ω

(2)

(c) Figure 2 shows a transformer.

Figure 2

(i) An 18 V battery could not be used as the input of a transformer.

Explain why.

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(2)

(ii) The transformer is 100% efficient.

Calculate the output current for the transformer shown in Figure 2.

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Output current = ........................................... A
(2)
(Total 12 marks)

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Q5.An electrician is replacing an old electric shower with a new one.

The inside of the old shower is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

© Michael Priest

(a) If the electrician touches the live wire he will receive an electric shock.

Explain why.

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(4)

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(b) Different electrical wires need to have a cross-sectional area that is suitable for the
power output.

Figure 2 shows the recommended maximum power input to wires of different

cross-sectional areas.

Figure 2

The new electric shower has a power input of 13.8 kW.

Determine the minimum diameter of wire that should be used for the new shower.

The diameter, d, can be calculated using the equation:

A is the cross-sectional area of the wire.

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Minimum diameter = ................................................. mm

(2)

(c) The charge that flows through the new shower in 300 seconds is 18 000 C.

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The new electric shower has a power of 13.8 kW.

Calculate the resistance of the heating element in the new shower.

Write down any equations you use.

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Resistance = .............................................. Ω
(5)
(Total 11 marks)

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