1

1 The power supply used in an electric vehicle contains 990 rechargeable cells.

The cells are contained in packs. The e.m.f. of each pack is 54 V.

The packs are connected in parallel to supply a large current to drive the electric vehicle.

Explain why it is necessary to use thick wires to carry this current.

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[Total: 3]

2 An electromagnet consists of a solenoid that is made of copper wire. The solenoid contains an iron
core.

Explain why the structure of copper makes it a suitable material for the wire.

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.................................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]

3 The power supply used in an electric vehicle contains 990 rechargeable cells each of electromotive
force (e.m.f.) 1.2 V.

The cells are contained in packs in which all the cells are in series with each other. The e.m.f. of
each pack is 54 V.

Calculate the number of packs in the power supply.

number of packs = .............................................. [2]

[Total: 2]
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4 The power supply used in an electric vehicle contains 990 rechargeable cells each of electromotive
force (e.m.f.) 1.2 V.

The cells are contained in packs in which all the cells are in series with each other. The e.m.f. of
each pack is 54 V.

When in use, each pack supplies a current of 3.5 A.

Calculate the rate at which each cell is transferring chemical energy to electrical energy.

rate of energy transfer = .............................................. [2]

[Total: 2]

5 The diagram shows a polystyrene ball covered with aluminium paint. The polystyrene ball is
suspended between two charged metal plates by an insulated thread.

The ball oscillates between the two charged plates.

Explain why the ball oscillates.

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[Total: 4]

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(a) Describe what is meant by an electric field.

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(b) State what is meant by the direction of an electric field.

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[Total: 2]

7 The diagram shows a simple direct current (d.c.) electric motor. The coil rotates about the axis
when there is a current in the coil. The coil is connected to the rest of the circuit by the brushes.

(a) On the diagram, draw a pair of arrows to show which way the coil rotates. Explain the direction you
have chosen.

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(b) On the diagram, draw an arrow to show the direction in which electrons flow through the coil. [1]

(c) Explain why the electrons flow in the direction you have shown in (b).

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.................................................................................................................................................. [1]
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[Total: 5]

8 There is a current of 0.29 A in an electrical circuit.

Calculate the time taken for a charge of 15 C to flow through the electrical circuit.

time = .............................................. [3]

[Total: 3]

9 The diagram shows a power supply of e.m.f. 10.5 V connected in series with a lamp and a heater.
The p.d. across the lamp is 2.1 V and the current in the lamp is 1.5 A.

Calculate:

(a) the resistance of the heater

resistance = .............................................. [2]

(b) the power of the heater.

power = .............................................. [2]

[Total: 4]
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10 A light-emitting diode (LED) is a diode that emits light when there is a current in it.

The p.d. across a LED when lit is 3.1 V and the current in the LED is 0.030 A.

Calculate the value of the resistance of the LED when lit.

resistance = .............................................. [2]

[Total: 2]

11 There is a current of 3.0 A in a copper wire. Calculate how many electrons pass through the copper
–19
wire every 60 s. The charge on an electron is 1.6 × 10 C.

number of electrons = .............................................. [3]

[Total: 3]
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12 The diagram shows a circuit.

Line XY represents a uniform resistance wire with a length of 2.0 m.

Calculate the resistance of the circuit.

resistance = .............................................. [4]

[Total: 4]
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13 The diagram shows a circuit.

The lamp has a resistance of 3.0 Ω. Line XY represents a uniform resistance wire of resistance
6.0 Ω.

Calculate the reading on the ammeter.

ammeter reading = .............................................. [2]

[Total: 2]

14 The diagram shows a model of a wind turbine used to demonstrate the use of wind energy to
generate electricity. The wind is blowing towards the model, as shown.
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The mass of air passing through the circular area swept out by the turbine blades each second is
7.5 kg. The kinetic energy of the air that passes through this circular area each second is 240 J.

(a) The kinetic energy of the air drives a generator. State the input power of the air passing through
the turbine blades.

input power = .............................................. [1]

(b) The output current of the generator is 2.0 A. The output potential difference (p.d.) of the generator
is 11 V.

(i) Calculate the output power of the generator.

output power = .............................................. [2]

(ii) Calculate the efficiency of the wind turbine.

efficiency = .............................................. % [2]

[Total: 5]
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15 Describe what is meant by the term electric field.

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.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]

16 A wire of length 2.0 m and cross-sectional area 0.40 mm2 has a resistance of 0.14 Ω.

Calculate the resistance of another wire of the same material of length 3.0 m and cross-sectional
2
area 0.90 mm .

resistance = ..............................................Ω [4]

[Total: 4]

17 State what is meant by electromotive force(e.m.f.).

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[Total: 2]

18 The diagram shows a shower that takes in cold water. The water passes through an electric water
heater and emerges from the showerhead at a higher temperature.
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The power of the heater is 9000 W.

The shower is powered by a 230 V electricity supply.

(a) Calculate the current in the heater when it is switched on.

current = .............................................. [2]

(b) Suggest a suitable rating for the fuse in the heater circuit.

fuse rating = .............................................. [1]

[Total: 3]

19 The diagram shows a battery of electromotive force (e.m.f.) 12 V connected across a 1.0 m length
of resistance wire.
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(a) Calculate the current in the resistance wire.

current = .............................................. [2]

(b) Calculate the potential difference (p.d.) between terminal P and terminal Q when l = 0.35 m.

p.d. = .............................................. [1]

(c) Calculate the charge that passes through the resistance wire in 5.5 minutes.

charge = .............................................. [2]

[Total: 5]

20 The diagram shows two spheres.

One of the spheres is negatively charged and attached to a plastic stand.

The smaller, uncharged metal sphere S is suspended by a plastic thread and brought close to a
negatively charged sphere.
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(a) By drawing on the diagram, indicate the distribution of charge on S when it is brought close to the
negatively charged sphere. [2]

(b) State what happens to S.

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(c) An earth wire is then touched against S.

Describe what happens in the wire and state how this affects the charge on S.

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[Total: 5]

21 The diagram shows a sphere that is negatively charged. The sphere is attached to a plastic stand.

On the diagram, draw arrows to indicate the pattern and direction of the electric field in the region
surrounding the sphere. [2]

[Total: 2]
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22 The resistance of a 1.0 m length of resistance wire is 7.6 Ω. A length of this wire is taped to a metre
rule. A crocodile clip is connected to one end of the resistance wire exactly at the 0 m mark of the
rule. The diagram shows the crocodile clip connected to terminal P.

A second terminal Q is connected to a movable contact using a long length of connecting wire. The
movable contact is in contact with the resistance wire at a lengthl from the 0 m mark on the rule.

The movable contact is placed at different points on the resistance wire. The resistance R of the
length l of the wire depends on l.

Using the axes, sketch a graph to show how R varies with l for values of l between l = 0 and
l = 1.0 m. Mark appropriate values on the axes of the graph.

[2]

[Total: 2]
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23 The diagram shows two spheres.

One of the spheres is negatively charged and attached to a plastic stand.

The smaller, uncharged metal sphere S is suspended by a plastic thread.

The metal sphere S is an electrical conductor. The plastic thread is an electrical insulator.

Explain this difference by referring to the structures of the two materials.

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[Total: 2]
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24 The diagram shows two parallel conducting plates connected to a battery.

On the diagram, draw five lines to show the electric field pattern between the two plates.

[2]

[Total: 2]

25 When fully charged, a 1.2 V rechargeable battery can deliver a current of 210 mA for 10 hours.

(a) Calculate the charge that can be delivered by the fully charged battery.

charge = .............................................. [3]

(b) Calculate the energy stored in the battery when fully charged.

energy stored = .............................................. [2]

[Total: 5]
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26 The diagram shows a circuit containing a filament lamp of resistance 0.30 Ω and two resistors, each
of resistance 0.20 Ω.

Calculate the combined resistance of the lamp and the two resistors.

resistance = .............................................. [3]

[Total: 3]

27 The diagram shows a circuit containing a filament lamp of resistance 0.30 Ω and two resistors, each
of resistance 0.20 Ω.

The potential difference (p.d.) of the supply is increased so that the current in the lamp increases.

State and explain any change in the resistance of the lamp.

Statement .................................................................................................................................

Explanation ..............................................................................................................................

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[Total: 2]

28 A fuse is made out of a short length of wire.

Explain why fuses of a higher rating are made of thicker wire.

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[Total: 3]

29 The circuit shows a 240 V mains supply connected to an air-conditioning unit and a freezer. A fuse
X is placed in the circuit as shown.

The freezer has an operating power of 700 W.

Calculate the current in the freezer.

current = .............................................. [2]

[Total: 2]
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30 Referring to a simple electron model, state what distinguishes electrical conductors from electrical
insulators.

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[Total: 1]

31 The diagram shows solar cells used to generate electrical energy.

Each group of solar cells is arranged in a rectangle 1.2 m × 2.8 m. The solar cells are situated in a
region where 260 W of solar energy is received per square metre of the cells. The electrical output
of each group of solar cells is a current of 2.5 A with a potential difference of 86 V.

Calculate the efficiency of the solar cells.

efficiency = .............................................. % [4]

[Total: 4]
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32 A conducting sphere is mounted on an insulating stand. Explain how you would use a positively
charged rod of insulating material to charge the sphere by induction.

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[Total: 3]

33 The diagram shows a circuit diagram that includes component X.

The e.m.f. of the battery is 6.0 V and the resistance of component X is 15 Ω.

(a) Calculate the total resistance of the circuit.

resistance = .............................................. [3]

(b) Calculate the ammeter reading.

reading = .............................................. [2]

[Total: 5]

34 The diagram shows current-potential difference (p.d.) graphs for a resistor and for a thermistor.

The thermistor and the resistor are connected in parallel to a 7.0 V supply.

(a) Calculate the current from the supply

current = .............................................. [2]

(b) Calculate the energy transferred from the supply in 5.0 minutes.

energy = .............................................. [2]

[Total: 4]
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35 The diagram shows current-potential difference (p.d.) graphs for a resistor and for a thermistor.

In the table, tick the boxes that indicate the effect on the resistances of the resistor and of the
thermistor when the p.d. across them is increased from 0 to 7.0 V.

component resistance increases resistance is constant resistance decreases

resistor

thermistor

[2]

[Total: 2]

36 The diagram shows three identical lamps and an ammeter connected to a power supply.

The switches are closed. Each lamp is rated at 60 W and operates at its normal working voltage of
110 V.
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(a) Calculate:

(i) the current in each lamp

current = .............................................. [2]

(ii) the current in the ammeter

current = .............................................. [1]

(iii) the voltage of the power supply.

voltage = .............................................. [1]

(b) (i) Calculate the resistance of the filament of one of the lamps when working normally.

resistance = .............................................. [2]

(ii) Another lamp X has a filament with twice the resistance of each lamp in the circuit in
the diagram. The material and the temperature of the filament in lamp X is the same
as the filaments in the lamps in the diagram.

In the table, tick any box in the right-hand column that shows a possible difference
between the filament of lamp X and a filament of one of the lamps in the circuit.

X has half the length

X has twice the length

X has one quarter the area of cross-section

X has half the area of cross-section

X has two times the area of cross-section

X has four times the area of cross-section

[2]
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[Total: 8]

37 In terms of a simple electron model, describe the differences between conductors and insulators.

conductors ...............................................................................................................................

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insulators ..................................................................................................................................

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[Total: 2]

38 The diagram shows a positively charged cube of insulating material. The cube is fixed to a piece
of wood that is floating on water. A negatively charged rod is held above the piece of wood and
brought close to the cube, as shown.

State and explain any movement of the piece of wood.

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[Total: 2]
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39 On the diagram, draw the electric field pattern around a single point positive charge.

[1]

[Total: 1]

40 The diagram shows two cubes of insulating material. One is positively charged and the other is
negatively charged. The cubes are fixed to a piece of wood that is floating on water. Charged rods
are held above the piece of wood and brought close to the cubes, as shown.

State and explain any movement of the piece of wood.

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[Total: 2]