Questions

Q1.

A washing machine has an electric motor and an electric heater.

The resistance of the heater is 22 Ω.

The mains voltage is 230 V.

(a) (i) State the equation linking voltage, current and resistance.
(1)

(ii) Show that the current in the heater is about 10 A when it is working.
(2)

(b) The washing machine is fitted with a fuse rated at 13 A.

(i) Explain why the washing machine is fitted with a fuse.
(2)
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 (ii) When the motor is working, the current in it is 1.74 A.
Explain why it would not be sensible to replace the 13 A fuse with a 2 A fuse.
(2)
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(Total for question = 7 marks)

Q2.

An electric kettle is connected to the 230 V mains supply.

The power of the kettle is 960 W.

(a) (i) A power of 960 watts is the same as

(1)
A 960 joules per coulomb

B 960 joules per second

C 960 newtons per metre

D 960 newtons per second

(ii) State the equation linking power, current and voltage.

(1)

(iii) Show that the current in the kettle is about 4 A.

(2)
(b) The 960 W kettle is earthed and fitted with a fuse.
(i) Explain how this can protect the person using the kettle if there is a fault.
(3)
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(ii) Another kettle has twice as much power.

It is connected to the same mains supply.
Which of these fuse ratings should be used for this kettle?
(1)
A 1A

B 3A

C 5A

D 13 A

(c) A student has a pack of fuses labelled 2 A.

Explain how she could use one of these fuses to check that the label is correct.
You may draw a circuit diagram to help your answer.
(3)

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(Total for question = 11 marks)
Q3.

The graph shows how current and voltage vary for a filament lamp.

(a) Draw a circuit diagram to show how you should connect the equipment needed to make the
measurements needed to plot the graph.
(4)

(b) The resistance of the filament lamp changes as the voltage is increased.

(i) How can you tell this from the graph?

(1)
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(ii) Explain these changes in resistance.

(3)
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(Total for question = 8 marks)

Q4.

A student investigates how the resistance of a wire depends on its length.

The photograph shows the circuit that the student uses.

(a) Draw a circuit diagram to show how the components in the photograph are connected.
(3)
(b) (i) Complete the table by naming the key variables in this investigation.
(1)

(ii) Describe the method the student should use for this investigation.
(5)
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(c) The table shows the student's measurements.

(i) State the equation linking voltage, current and resistance.

(1)

(ii) Complete the table by calculating the missing value of resistance.

(1)
(d) (i) Use the results from the table opposite to plot a graph of resistance (y-axis)
against length of wire (x-axis) and draw the line of best fit.
(5)

(ii) Write a conclusion for the investigation.

(1)
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(iii) Explain how the graph supports this conclusion.

(2)
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(Total for question = 19 marks)

Q5.

The diagram shows part of a lighting circuit in a house.

The circuit is protected by fuse F.

(a) Give two reasons why the lamps are wired in parallel.
(2)
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(b) What is the current at P?

(1)
A 0.17 A

B 0.26 A

C 0.43 A

D 1.38 A

(c) Explain how the fuse protects the circuit.

(3)
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(d) (i) State the equation linking power, current and voltage.
(1)

(ii) Calculate the power of lamp L.

[assume the mains voltage is 230 V]
(2)

power = .............................................. W

(iii) Calculate the amount of energy transferred by lamp L in 3 minutes.

Give the unit.
(3)

energy transferred = ...................... unit ......................

(e) This diagram shows another lighting circuit.

(i) Complete the table by putting a tick ( ) in the box if the lamp is lit and a cross ( ) in the box if the
lamp is not lit.
(2)
 (ii) Suggest where this circuit would be useful in a house.
(1)
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(Total for question = 15 marks)

Q6.

The diagram shows an incomplete series circuit.

(a) (i) Draw a thermistor to complete the circuit.

(1)
(ii) Add a voltmeter to the circuit to measure the voltage across the lamp.
(2)
(b) The voltmeter measures a voltage of 5.6 V.
The ammeter measures a current of 790 mA.
(i) State the equation linking voltage, current and resistance.
(1)

(ii) Calculate the resistance of the lamp.

(3)

resistance = ......................................................... Ω
(c) The completed circuit is moved from a cold room to a hot room.
Explain how this would affect the brightness of the lamp.
(3)
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(d) State how the current in the circuit would change if another lamp is added in series with the first lamp.
(1)
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(Total for question = 11 marks)

Q7.

Identify the circuit diagram symbols.

(a)
(1)
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(b)
(1)
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(c)
(1)
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(d)
(1)
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(Total for question = 4 marks)

Q8.

A thermistor is a device used in electric circuits.

(a) Which is the correct circuit symbol for a thermistor?

(1)

(b) A student uses a thermistor as a device for measuring temperature.

The student uses this apparatus to record how the resistance of the thermistor changes with
temperature.

He records the resistance of the thermistor every 5 °C as the water cools.

The table shows some of his results.

(i) State the independent and dependent variables in his investigation.

(2)
independent variable

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dependent variable

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 (ii) Plot a graph of the student's results on the grid.
(4)

(iii) Draw a curve of best fit.

(1)
(iv) Use your graph to estimate the resistance of the thermistor when the temperature is 40 °C.
(1)
resistance = ........................................................... Ω
(v) Suggest three improvements for his investigation.
(3)
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(c) The thermistor is taken out of the water and connected in a series circuit with a 6.10 V cell.
The resistance of the thermistor is 1060 Ω.
(i) State the equation linking voltage, current and resistance.
(1)
 (ii) Calculate the current in the circuit.
(2)

current = ........................................................... A
(iii) Explain what will happen to the current in the circuit when the temperature of the thermistor
increases.
(3)
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(Total for question = 18 marks)

Q9.

(a) (i) State the relationship between power, current and voltage.
(1)

(ii) A lamp with a power of 6.5 W is connected to a 230 V supply.

Calculate the current in the lamp.
(3)

current = ........................................................... A
(b) Three switches, S1, S2 and S3, are used to control a lamp in a large room.
Each switch can be up or down, and each switch can turn the lamp on or off.

When all three switches are up, the lamp is on.

When all three switches are down, the lamp is off.
Complete the table by giving the missing information.
(3)

(Total for question = 7 marks)

Q10.

An adaptor plugged into the mains supply is used to charge a mobile phone.

The photograph shows the adaptor that displays the voltage and current readings as the battery charges.

(a) (i) State the equation linking voltage, current and resistance.
(1)

(ii) Use the readings on the adaptor to calculate the resistance of the circuit used to charge the
battery.
Give the unit.
(4)

resistance = ..................... unit .....................

(b) The battery of the mobile phone takes 45 minutes to charge.

The charging current is 0.42 A.
(i) State the equation linking charge, current and time.
(1)

(ii) Calculate the charge transferred to the battery.

(2)

charge = ....................................... C
 (iii) The cable connecting the mobile phone to the adaptor is changed for a much longer
cable of the same type.
Explain how this would affect the time taken for the battery to charge.
[assume same charge transferred to battery]
(3)
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(Total for question = 11 marks)

Q11.

(a) The table shows the names and circuit symbols of some electrical components.
Complete the table by giving the missing information.
(4)
(b) A student wants to find the resistance of a fixed resistor.
She measures a current of 0.50 A in the resistor when the voltage across it is 8.0 V.
(i) State the equation linking voltage, current and resistance.
(1)

(ii) Calculate the resistance of the resistor.

(2)

resistance = ........................................................... Ω
(c) The student replaces the fixed resistor with a light dependent resistor (LDR) and measures its
resistance at different light intensities.
Sketch a graph of the expected results.
(3)

(Total for question = 10 marks)

Q12.

This question is about electrical components.

(a) Draw a straight line from each electrical component to its correct symbol.
One has been done for you.
(3)
(b) (i) Name an electrical component whose resistance decreases when it is moved into brighter light.
(1)
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(ii) Name an electrical component whose resistance decreases as its temperature increases.
(1)
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(Total for question = 5 marks)

Q13.

Mains electricity is used in circuits at home.

(a) Double insulation is needed for safety when there is

(1)
A no circuit breaker

B no earth connection

C no fuse

D no switch

(b) A fuse is used so that

(1)
A an earth connection is not needed

B the appliances are more efficient

C the circuit cannot overheat if there is a fault

D the user cannot touch a live wire

(c) Most lamps at home have their own switch.

This is because the lamps are connected
(1)
A in parallel

B in series

C to a fuse

D to an earth wire

(Total for question = 3 marks)

Q14.

The diagram shows some lamps connected together.

There are 20 small lamps connected in series with a 9 V supply.

(a) (i) What is the voltage across each lamp in the series circuit?
(1)
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(ii) Each lamp has a power of 1.5 W.

State the equation linking power, current and voltage.
(1)

(iii) Show that the current in the circuit is about 3 A.

(2)

(b) (i) The lamps are on for 7 hours a day for 5 days.
Calculate the total energy transferred during this time.
(3)

energy transferred = .............................. J

(ii) Describe the energy changes that take place in the lamps when they are
connected to the power supply.
(2)
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(Total for question = 9 marks)

Q15.

The diagram shows a lighting circuit in a house.

(a) (i) Component X is

(1)
A a double insulated wire

B an earth connection

C a fuse

D a switch

(ii) The lamps are connected in parallel.

State an advantage of using a parallel circuit for lighting.
(1)
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(b) The lighting circuit is connected to a mains supply that provides an alternating current.
Explain what is meant by an alternating current.
You may draw a diagram to help your answer.
(2)

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(c) Lamp Y is removed and replaced with a low-energy lamp.
When the low-energy lamp is connected to a 230 V supply, the current in it is 0.12 A.
(i) Calculate the amount of energy transferred by the low-energy lamp in 7 hours.
(3)

energy transferred = .................................... J

(ii) The low-energy lamp gives the same amount of light as lamp Y, but uses much less power.
Which row of the table compares the low-energy lamp correctly to lamp Y?
(1)

(Total for question = 8 marks)

Q16.

A student is given an unknown electrical component, X.

He uses a circuit to investigate how the current in X varies with the voltage across it.

(a) Which of these circuits is correct for his investigation?

(1)
(b) The table shows the student's results.

(i) Plot a graph of these results and draw a curve of best fit.
(4)
 (ii) State the equation linking voltage, current and resistance.
(1)
(iii) Calculate the resistance of component X when the voltage across it is 10.0 V.
Give the unit.
(4)

resistance = ............................... unit ...............................

(iv) Describe the pattern shown by this graph.
(3)
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(v) Suggest a conclusion for the investigation.
(2)
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(Total for question = 15 marks)