PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Electric Current
PAPER-1 Multiple Choice
1- A wire has a resistance of 8 Ω. A second wire, made of the same material, has half the length and twice
the cross-sectional area. What is the resistance of the second wire?
A 1Ω B2Ω C 8 Ω D 16 Ω [Nov-2006]
2- Under which condition does Ohm’s law apply?
A The current must be constant. B The power must be constant.
C The temperature must be constant. D The voltage must be constant.
3- When there is an electric current in a metal wire, what flows through the wire?
A atoms B electrons C neutrons D protons
4- Which factors will both increase the resistance of a wire in a circuit?
size of wire temperature of wire
A longer lower
B shorter lower
C thicker higher
D thinner higher
[May-2007]
5- A cell is connected to a resistor. What is the e.m.f. of the cell equal to?
A The potential difference across the resistor for each unit of current.
B The power produced in the circuit for each unit of charge that passes.
C The work done in the circuit for each unit of charge that passes.
D The work done in the circuit for each unit of current. [May-2005]
6- The potential difference between the ends of a conductor is 12 V.
How much electrical energy is converted to other forms of energy in the conductor when 100 C of charge
flows through it?
A 0.12 J B 8.3 J C 88 J D 1200 J [Nov-2004]
7- The diagram shows an electric circuit.
Which pair of readings is obtained when a suitable
power supply is connected between X and Y?
voltmeter ammeter
A 2V 6A
B 2V 0.5A
C 12V 0.5A
D 12V 2A [May-2003]
8- An electrical quantity is defined as ‘the energy converted by a source in driving a unit charge round a
complete circuit.’
What is this quantity called?
A current B electromotive force C potential difference D power [May-2003] / [May-2006]
9- How could the unit of potential difference, the volt, also be written?
A A / s B C/A C C / J D J / C
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Electric Current
10- A 3.0Ω resistor and a 2.0Ω resistor are connected in series across a 15V d.c. supply. What is the current
in the circuit?
A 0.25A B 3.0A C 6.0A D 12A
11- Which graph best represents how current I varies with voltage V in a component in which the
resistance increases as the current increases. B
[May-2007]
12- The diagram shows two resistors connected in series with
a cell.
Which statement defines the potential difference across XY?
A the power needed to drive a unit charge through the cell
B the power needed to drive a unit charge between X and Y
C the work done in driving a unit charge through the cell
D the work done in driving a unit charge between X and Y
[May-2004]
13- A wire of length 1.0 m has a resistance of 2.0 Ω. When connected to a
cell, the current in the wire is 3.0 A.
A 2.0 m length of the same wire is connected to the same cell.
What is the resistance of the wire and the current in it?
resistance current
A 1.0 Ω 1.5 A
B 1.0 Ω 3.0 A
C 4.0 Ω 1.5 A
D 4.0 Ω 3.0 A [Nov-2004]
14- The current in an electric heater is 5 A. It is switched on for 5 minutes. How much charge flows through
the heater?
A 0.5 C B2C C 1500 C D 3000 C
15- The diagram shows a voltmeter adapted to measure a range from 0–100mV. The voltmeter is measuring
the potential difference in a circuit.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Electric Current
What is the reading on the voltmeter? [Nov-2002]
A 0.06 mV B 0.6 mV C 6 mV D 60mV
16- The diagram shows the current I / voltage V graph for a length of resistance wire.
Where can Ohm’s law be applied to the wire?
A at Y only B at Z only C from X to Y D from X to Z [May-2006]
17- X and Y are lamps with filaments made from the same material.The filament of lamp X is thicker and
shorter than that of lamp Y.When connected to the mains and switched on, which is the brighter lamp and
which lamp has the larger resistance?
brighter lamp larger resistance
A X X
B X Y
C Y X
D Y Y
[Nov-2003]
18- A variable potential divider has a sliding contact S that can be moved between end P and end Q.
It is connected to a constant 6 V power supply, as shown below.
What happens to the p.d. between X and Y as S moves down from P to Q?
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Electric Current
A It decreases gradually from 6 V to 0 V. B It rises gradually from 0 V to 6 V.
C It stays constant at 0 V. D It stays constant at 6 V. [May-2004]
19- Why can birds stand on an overhead high voltage transmission line without suffering any harm?
A Their bodies have a very high resistance.
B Their feet are very good insulators.
C The spaces between their feathers act as insulators.
D They are not connected to earth. [Nov-2005]
20- When a filament lamp is switched on, there is a current in the lamp. As the temperature of the filament
rises, its resistance changes. Which pair of graphs shows how the resistance R of the filament and the
current I vary with time after the lamp is switched on? B
D [May-2009]
21- One volt can also be written as
A one coulomb per ampere. B one coulomb per joule.
C one joule per ampere. D one joule per coulomb. [May-2009]
22- Ohm’s law states that the current in a conductor is proportional to the potential difference across
it, provided that a certain quantity remains constant. What is this quantity?
A length B pressure C temperature D thickness [Nov-2009]
23- Two resistors of 6 Ω and 12 Ω are arranged in parallel. A potential difference is connected across
the terminals X and Y. The current in the 6 Ω resistor is 4 A.
What is the current in the ammeter?
A4A B6A C8A D 12 A [Nov-2009]
24- A length of resistance wire is used as a resistor in a simple circuit.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Electric Current
Four separate changes are made to the wire. Which change will not
reduce the value of the resistance of the wire?
A It is covered in an insulating sleeve. B Its cross-sectional area is increased.
C Its length is decreased. D Its temperature is decreased. [May-2010]
25- A 6V supply is connected in series with an ammeter and a 4Ω resistor.
What is the reading on the ammeter?
A 0.67A B 1.5A C 10A D 24A [May-2010]
26- Sets of voltage-current readings are obtained for different electrical components. Which set of readings
is for a 100Ω resistor? B
[May-2010]
27- A capacitor C charges when it is connected to a d.c. power supply.
Which arrows show the direction of the
conventional current when the capacitor is charging?
A 1 and 3 B 1 and 4 C 2 and 3 D 2 and 4 [May-2010]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Electric Current
28- A battery is used to light a 24W electric lamp. The battery provides a charge of 120C in 60s.
What is the potential difference across the lamp?
A 5V B 12V C 24V D 120V [Nov-2010]
29- The diagram shows a simple electric circuit.
Which row describes the charge on an electron and the direction of electron
flow through the resistor?
charge on an electron direction of electron flow
A negative − to +
B negative + to −
C positive − to +
D positive + to −
[Nov-2010]
PAPER-2 Theory
1- Two conducting spheres are rubbed and become charged, as shown in Fig. 5.1.
(a) The spheres are uncharged before they are rubbed.
Explain, in terms of the movement of electrons, how they
become charged.
(b) On Fig. 5.1, draw the electric field pattern between the
spheres. Show the direction of the field lines.
(c) A metal wire is used to connect the two spheres together.
In a time of 2.0 × 10–3 s, a charge of 1.8 × 10–13 C passes
through the wire. Calculate the current in the wire.
current = ...................
2- A filament lamp is labelled 240 V, 0.20 A.
(a) Calculate the resistance of the lamp at normal brightness.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Electric Current
resistance = .................
(b) The lamp is connected to a 240 V supply and switched on at time t = 0.
Fig. 6.1 shows the variation with t of the resistance of
the lamp.
Describe how the current in the lamp varies with t.
(c) A second filament lamp has higher resistance.
State two differences between the two filaments that
may cause the change in resistance.
1 The filament in the second lamp is
.........................................................................................
2 The filament in the second lamp is
……………………………………………………………….
[May-2008]
3- Fig. 6.1 shows a circuit in which a voltmeter is placed across a resistor.
The potential difference across the 12Ω resistor is 4.0 V.
The voltmeter has three different ranges: 0 to 3.0 V, 0 to 6.0 V and
0 to 30 V. The best range
for use in this circuit is 0 to 6.0 V.
(a) Explain why
(i) using the voltmeter on the range 0 to 3.0 V is unsuitable,
.....................................................................................................................
.............
.....................................................................................................................
.............
(ii) using the voltmeter on the range 0 to 30 V is unsuitable.
.....................................................................................................................
.............
..................................................................................................................................
(b) (i) Calculate the current in the 12Ω resistor. State the formula that you use.
current = …………………
(ii) Calculate the p.d. between A and B in Fig. 6.1.
p.d. = ………………….
[May-2004]
4- Fig. 9.1 shows the main parts of an electric grill. An electric current in the heating element causes
it to become red hot and to emit visible light and infra-red radiation.
The infra-red radiation is used
to cook food.
(a) Infra-red radiation has a longer wavelength than visible light.
Both are parts of the
electromagnetic spectrum.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Electric Current
(i) Draw a diagram of the electromagnetic spectrum that shows visible light, infra-red and
three other parts of the spectrum. Your diagram should put the parts of the spectrum in
order of increasing wavelength.
(ii) Explain why the grill has a layer of shiny material between the heating element and the
outer case.
(b) For safety, the electric grill is fitted with an earth wire. State where the earth wire is connected
to the electric grill and explain how it acts as a safety device.
(c) The current in the heating element is 8.3 A when it is connected to the 230 V mains supply.
(i) State the equation that links current, power and voltage.
(ii) Calculate the power rating of the heating element when it is working correctly. Give your
answer to an appropriate number of significant figures.
(iii) A student thinks that if the heating element is connected to a mains supply of 115 V then
the power produced is halved. Explain why the student is wrong.
[May-2004]
5- Three cells are connected in series making a battery, as shown in Fig. 8.1. The e.m.f. of each cell is 1.5 V.
A resistance of 15Ω is connected to the battery.
(a) What is the total e.m.f. of the battery?
...................................................................................................................................
(b) Calculate the current in the circuit.State the equation that you use.
current = .............................
(c) A battery can be made from cells connected in parallel, as shown in Fig. 8.2.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Electric Current
State one advantage of connecting the cells in parallel.
.........................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................ [May-2005]
6- An electrostatic generator is used to produce sparks, as shown in Fig. 6.1.
The belt carries negative charge to the dome, making the dome negatively charged.
(a) Before a spark is produced, the discharge ball becomes positively charged.
(i) Describe and explain the movement of electrons in the discharge ball and in the rod as the ball
becomes charged.
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
(ii) On Fig. 6.1, mark with an X where there is the most positive charge on the discharge ball.
(b) A spark jumps between the dome and the discharge ball when there is enough negative charge on the
dome.
A charge of 0.00016C flows in the spark in a time of 0.012 s.Calculate the average current in the spark. State
the equation that you use.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Electric Current
current = .........
[Nov-2005]
7- Fig. 11.1 shows how the currents in a lamp L and in a wire W vary with the potential difference (p.d.)
applied.
(a) (i) Draw a diagram of the circuit that you would use to take the readings of current and p.d. for the
lamp. State the range you would choose for the voltmeter.
(ii) Describe how the resistance of the lamp L varies as the p.d. increases.
(b) (i) Fig. 11.2 shows the lamp L and the wire W connected in series. The current in the circuit is 0.8 A.
Determine, using the graph or by calculation,
1. the p.d. across L,
2. the p.d. across W,
3. the p.d. of the supply,
4. the resistance of the lamp L in Fig. 11.2.
(ii) Fig. 11.3 shows the lamp and wire connected in
parallel.A p.d. of 12 V is connected across them.
Determine, using the graph or by calculation,
1. the current IW in the wire W,
2. the current IL in the lamp L,
3. the total current I in the circuit,
4. the resistance of the wire W.
[Nov-2005]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Electric Current
8- Fig. 8.1 shows an electrical circuit using two resistors.
(a) The switch S is open and the ammeter reading is zero.State the value of the potential difference across
the 6Ω resistor.
potential difference = ....................
(b) Switch S is now closed.
(i) State the value of the total resistance of the circuit.
resistance = ............................................
(ii) Calculate the current in the ammeter. State clearly the formula that you use.
current = .......................
(iii) Calculate the potential difference across the 6Ω resistor.
p.d. = ......................
[Nov-2006]
9- (a) Describe an experiment to show the difference between an electrical insulator and an
electrical conductor. Name one example of each. [4]
(b) Fig. 10.1 is a sketch graph of the current in a component P against the potential difference
(p.d.) across it.
(i) Define resistance. [1]
(ii) State how the resistance of P varies with the p.d. across it. [1]
(iii) Suggest what component P is. [1]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Electric Current
(iv) Explain why the resistance of P varies with the p.d. across it. [2]
(c) Component P is used in the electrical circuit shown in Fig. 10.2.
The current in ammeter 2 is 0.40 A and the current in ammeter 3 is 0.60 A.
(i) Determine the readings of ammeters 1 and 4. [1]
(ii) Calculate the p.d. across the 20 resistor. [2]
(iii) State the p.d. across the power supply. [1]
(iv) Calculate the resistance of P in this circuit. [2]
[Nov-2007]
10-
PAPER-4 Alternative to Practical
