Q1.

At room temperature a metal has a resistivity of 4.5 × 10–7 Ωm. A wire made from this
metal has a radius of 0.70 mm.

(a) (i) Calculate the resistance of a 2.5 m length of the wire at room temperature.

resistance ____________________Ω
(3)

(ii) Calculate the power dissipated in this length of wire when it carries a current of
20 mA. Assume the resistance of the wire is constant.

power ____________________W
(2)

(b) The wire becomes superconducting as it is cooled. Draw a sketch graph on the axes
below to show how the wire’s resistivity would vary with temperature as it is cooled
from room temperature θr.

(3)

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(c) Explain why the efficiency of electrical power transmission is improved when
conventional wires are replaced with superconducting wires.

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(1)
(Total 9 marks)

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Q2.
A student connects four lamps A, B, C and D in the circuit shown in Figure 1.
The battery has an emf of 9.0 V and negligible internal resistance.

Figure 1

(a) The table shows the operating conditions for the lamps when they are at normal
brightness.

Lamps Operating voltage / V Power / W

A and C 6.0 6.0

B and D 3.5 4.1

The student observes that two of the lamps are at their normal brightness.
Assume that any changes in resistance of the lamps are negligible.

Determine which two lamps are at their normal brightness.

Use calculations to support your answer.

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(4)

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(b) The student connects another lamp E in the circuit as shown in Figure 2.
Lamp E is identical to lamps A and C.

Figure 2

Explain what the student would observe regarding the brightness of the lamps.

Refer to potential differences across lamp E in your answer.

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(3)

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(c) Lamp B in Figure 2 fails so that it no longer conducts. This change does not affect
the resistance of the other lamps.

Deduce the effect on the current in the battery.

Use calculations to support your answer.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

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(3)
(Total 10 marks)

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Q3.
Figure 1 shows a circuit used to find the resistance per unit length of a copper wire.

Figure 1

The copper wire is fixed with tape to a metre ruler that has 2 mm graduations.
Contact P is placed on the wire close to one end of the ruler and held firmly in place using
a bulldog clip.
When contact Q is placed on the wire as shown in Figure 1 the voltmeter shows a non-
zero reading.

Q is moved along the wire until the voltmeter reading is zero.

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Figure 2 shows enlarged views of the position of P and the new position of Q.

Figure 2

(a) Determine, in m, the length x of copper wire between P and Q.

x = _______________ m
(1)

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(b) When the voltmeter reading is zero:

where R4 is the resistance of the copper wire between P and Q.

Determine, in Ω m−1, the resistance per unit length of the copper wire.

R1 = 2.2 MΩ
R2 = 3.9 kΩ
R3 = 75 Ω

resistance per unit length = _______________ Ω m−1

(2)

(c) The diameter d of the copper wire is approximately 0.4 mm.

Suggest:

• a suitable measuring instrument to accurately determine d

• how to reduce the effect of random error on the result for d.

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(3)

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(d) Determine the resistivity ρ of copper.

diameter d of the copper wire = 0.38 mm

ρ = _______________ Ω m
(2)

The copper wire is replaced with a constantan wire of diameter 0.38 mm.

(e) Suggest one change to the circuit to make the voltmeter read zero for the same
value of x as in part (a).

___________________________________________________________________

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(1)

(f) Calculate, in mm, the diameter of a constantan wire that has the same resistance
per unit length as the copper wire.

diameter = _______________ mm
(1)
(Total 10 marks)

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Mark schemes

Q1.
(a) (i) calculated cross-sectional area = 1.54 × 10−6 (m2) or correct substitution

C1
1.6 × 10 (treating r as A) gains 2
−3

into resistivity equation with incorrect powers of ten correct substitution

C1

into resistivity equation with correct powers of ten

0.73 (Ω)

A1
3

(ii) Sub into I2 R irrespective of power of 10 [ecf from (a)(i)]

C1

2.96 × 10−4 (W)

A1
2

(b) line with positive slope (linear or curve)

B1

knee and vertical line shown in first 2 / 3 on temperature axis

B1

resistivity falling to zero above 0 K

B1
3

(c) (with no resistance there can be) no power loss

B1
1
[9]

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Q2.
(a) resistance of lamp B and D = 3.52/4.1 = 3.0 (2.98)(Ω) ✔
resistance of lamp A and C = 6.02/6.0 = 6.0 (Ω) ✔
pd across lamp B and lamp D = 3/9 × 9.0 = 3.0 (V) OR pd across lamp A and C =
6.0 (V) ✔
hence A and C normal brightness ✔
Can justify in terms of current i.e. current needed by A and C
is 1 A provided resistance values calculated
Must have some correct working for conclusion mark
1
1
1
1

(b) the pd across new lamp = 0 / E does not light ✔

no current in E ✔
other lamps are not affected ✔
because the current in the lamps/pd across lamps does not change ✔
2nd and 3rd marks conditional on 1st mark
1
1
1
(MAX 3)

(c) in first circuit current in battery = 9.0/4.5 = 2.0 A ✔

in second circuit current in battery = 9.0/7 = 1.2857 A ✔
hence current in battery decreases ✔
Allow ecf from (a)
Original current = 2A can come from (a) and score here
If say circuit resistance increases so current decreases and
no other marks awarded score 1 mark
1
1
1
[10]

Q3.

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(a) 0.879 (m ✔)
1

(b) correctly determines R4 OR divides their incorrect R4 by their part (a) 1 ✔

Correct answer gives 0.15(1) (Ω m−1).

1 ✔ Correct R4 = 0.13(3) Ω
12✔ Allow a correction to m if their part (a) is in mm
2 ✔ Condone 3 sf answer
2

(c) micrometer screw gauge

OR

digital (vernier) callipers 1✔

Treat references to zero error as neutral unless explicitly
linked to reducing random error.
For 1 ✔ allow ‘micrometer’ or ‘screw gauge’ or travelling
microscope.
Reject ‘(vernier) callipers’.

repeat readings at different points (along the wire)

OR

repeat readings in different directions / orientations

OR

repeat readings AND reject / discard anomalies 2✔

Accept “readings” for “measurements”.
Repeat “experiment” is insufficient.

calculate average / mean (from repeated readings) 3✔

for 3✔ some mention of repeat (readings) owtte must be
seen somewhere in body of answer
3

(d) use of A = 1 ✔

ρ = their (b) × 1.1(3) × 10−7 (Ω m) 2 ✔

for 1✔ allow POT in d; either OR

A = π × 0.192 OR A = 1.1(3) (× 10−7) seen
For 2 ✔ expected answer is 1.7 × 10−8 (Ω m)
If no other mark given, allow 1 mark for 6.8 × 10−8 (Ω m)
2

(e) decrease R1 / 2.2 MΩ by a factor of 30

OR

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 increase R2 / 3.9 kΩ by a factor of 30

OR

increase R3 / 75 Ω by a factor of 30 ✔
unless quantitative change identified, must give new
resistance, eg
(new) R1 is 73 kΩ
(new) R2 is 120 kΩ
(new) R3 is 2.3 kΩ
1

(f) 2.1 (mm) ✔

allow > 2 sf answer rounding to 2.1 (mm)
1
[10]

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