Cambridge International AS & A Level

5: Electrical circuits – Topic questions

The questions in this document have been compiled from a number of past papers, as indicated in the table
below.

Use these questions to formatively assess your learners’ understanding of this topic.

Question Year Series Paper number

6 2017 June 21
6 2017 March 22
7 2017 June 22

The mark scheme for each question is provided at the end of the document.
6 (a) Define the ohm.

...................................................................................................................................................

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

(b) A cell X of electromotive force (e.m.f.) 1.5 V and negligible internal resistance is connected in
series to three resistors A, B and C, as shown in Fig. 6.1.

X 1.5 V

6.0 Ω C

B 4.0 Ω

3.0 Ω

Fig. 6.1

Resistors A and B have resistances 6.0 Ω and 3.0 Ω respectively and are connected in parallel.
Resistor C has resistance 4.0 Ω and is connected in series with the parallel combination.

Calculate

(i) the current in the circuit,

current = ........................................................A [3]

(ii) the current in resistor B,

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

 (iii) the ratio
power dissipated in resistor B .
power dissipated in resistor C

ratio = ...........................................................[2]

(c) The resistors A, B and C in (b) are wires of the same material and have the same length.

(i) Explain how the resistors may be made with different resistance values.

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

(ii) Calculate the ratio

average drift speed of the charge carriers in resistor B .
average drift speed of the charge carriers in resistor C

ratio = ...........................................................[2]

(d) A cell of e.m.f. 1.5 V and negligible internal resistance is connected in parallel with cell X in
Fig. 6.1 with their positive terminals together.

State the change, if any, to the current in

(i) cell X,

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

(ii) resistor C.

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

[Total: 12]
6 (a) Three resistors of resistances R1, R2 and R3 are connected as shown in Fig. 6.1.

V
R1

I
R2

R3

Fig. 6.1

The total current in the combination of resistors is I and the potential difference across the
combination is V.

Show that the total resistance R of the combination is given by the equation
1 1 1 1
= + + .
R R1 R 2 R 3

[2]

(b) A battery of electromotive force (e.m.f.) 6.0 V and internal resistance r is connected to a
resistor of resistance 12 Ω and a variable resistor X, as shown in Fig. 6.2.

6.0 V r

12 Ω

Fig. 6.2

(i) By considering energy, explain why the potential difference across the battery’s terminals
is less than the e.m.f. of the battery.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................[2]
(ii) A charge of 2.5 kC passes through the battery.
Calculate

1. the total energy transformed by the battery,

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

2. the number of electrons that pass through the battery.

number = ...........................................................[1]

(iii) The combined resistance of the two resistors connected in parallel is 4.8 Ω.

Calculate the resistance of X.

resistance of X = ....................................................... Ω [1]

(iv) Use your answer in (b)(iii) to determine the ratio

power dissipated in X .
power dissipated in 12 Ω resistor

ratio = ...........................................................[2]

(v) The resistance of X is now decreased. Explain why the power produced by the battery is
increased.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

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

[Total: 11]
7 (a) Define electromotive force (e.m.f.) of a cell.
...................................................................................................................................................

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

(b) A cell C of e.m.f. 1.50 V and internal resistance 0.200 Ω is connected in series with resistors X
and Y, as shown in Fig. 7.1.

C
1.50 V

A B
0.200 Ω

X Y

Fig. 7.1

The resistance of X is constant and the resistance of Y can be varied.

(i) The resistance of Y is varied from 0 to 8.00 Ω.

State and explain the variation in the potential difference (p.d.) between points A and B
(terminal p.d. across C). Numerical values are not required.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................[3]

(ii) The resistance of Y is set at 6.00 Ω. The current in the circuit is 0.180 A.

Calculate

1. the resistance of X,

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

2. the p.d. between points A and B,

p.d. = ....................................................... V [2]

3. the efficiency of the cell.

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

[Total: 10]
Question Answer Marks
6 (a) volt / ampere 1

6 (b) (i) RT = [1 / 3.0 + 1 / 6.0]–1 + 4.0 (= 6.0 Ω) 1

Ι = 1.5 / 6.0 1

= 0.25 A 1

6 (b) (ii) VB = 0.5 V 1

I = 0.5 / 3.0
= 0.17 (0.167) A

6 (b) (iii) P = I2R or VI or V2/ R 1

ratio = (0.1672 × 3.0) / (0.252 × 4.0) 1
= 0.33
6 (c) (i) vary/change/different radius/diameter/cross-sectional area (of wire) 1

6 (c) (ii) v = I / Ane 1

(𝐼𝐵 /𝐴𝐵 ) 𝐼 𝐴
ratio = (𝐼𝐶 /𝐴𝐶 )
or 𝐼𝐵 × 𝐴𝐶
𝐶 𝐵
𝐼𝐵 𝐴 0.167 3.0
(R ∝ 1/A so) ratio = 𝐼𝐶
× 𝐴𝐶 = 0.25
× 4.0 1
𝐵

= 0.50
6 (d) (i) 0.25 A to 0.13 (0.125) A or halved 1

6 (d) (ii) no change 1

Total: 12

6 (a) I = I1 + I2 + I3 1
(V/R) = (V/R1) + (V/R2) + (V/R3) or (I/V) = (I1 /V) + (I2 /V) + (I3 /V) 1
and (so) 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3

6 (b) (i) e.m.f. is total energy available per unit charge 1

energy is dissipated in the internal resistance / resistor / r 1

6 (b) (ii) 1 Energy = EQ 1

3
= 6.0 × 2.5 × 10 1
= 1.5 × 104J
6 (b) (ii) 2 number = 2.5 × 103/ 1.6 × 10–19 1
= 1.6 × 1022 (1.56 × 1022)
6 (b) (iii) 1 / 4.8 = 1 / 12 + 1 / RX 1
RX = 8.0 Ω
6 (b) (iv) P = V2/ R 1
or
P = VI and V = IR
ratio = (V2/ 8) / (V2/ 12) = 12 / 8 = 1.5 1

6 (b) (v) (total) current, or I, increases and P = EI or P = 6I or P ∝ I 1

or
total (circuit) resistance decreases and P = E2/R or P = 36/R or P ∝ 1/R
Total: 11
Question Answer Marks
7 (a) energy transformed from chemical to electrical / unit charge (driven 1
around a complete circuit)

7 (b) (i) the current decreases (as resistance of Y increases) 1

lost volts go down (as resistance of Y increases) 1

p.d. AB increases (as resistance of Y increases) 1

7 (b) (i) 1 1.50 = 0.180 × (6.00 + 0.200 + RX) 1

RX = 2.1(3) Ω 1

7 (b) (ii) 2 p.d. AB = 1.5 − (0.180 × 0.200) or 0.18 × (2.13 + 6.00) 1

= 1.46(4) V 1

7 (b) (ii) 3 efficiency = (useful) power output / (total) power input or IV / IE 1

( = 1.46 / 1.5) = 0.97 [0.98 if full figures used] 1

Total: 10
Notes about the mark scheme are available separately.