Q1.

A butcher wants to fit an alarm to a deep freeze, which will warn him if there is a danger of
damage to stock in the freezer.

The freezer has sensors with the following outputs:

T is logic 1 if the temperature is too high to store frozen food; and logic 0 if the temperature is at
or below the required temperature
C is logic 1 if the lid is closed and logic 0 if the lid is open.

A student is asked to produce a logic system to give an output A to operate the alarm (the alarm
sounds if A is high). He decides that the alarm should sound if:

the lid is closed and the temperature is too high, or

the temperature is low and the lid is left open.

(a) He designs a system to implement this function. Write a Boolean expression for the output
A, in terms of T and C.

........................................................................................................................
(3)

(b) Draw a logic diagram for the system, using any type of logic gates.
(5)

Page 1 of 33
 (c) Using NAND gates only, draw a diagram of a logic system which has the same function as
a 2-input OR gate.

(2)

(d) Draw a logic diagram for the system in part (b), using NAND gates only. Draw a ring round
any redundant gates or re-draw the final system.

(5)
(Total 15 marks)

Q2. A student designs an electronic system to control a ventilation fan for a greenhouse. The fan
should be switched on only when both the temperature and humidity exceed certain levels that
can each be set independently.

(a) Choosing appropriate input, process and output subsystems from the list below, draw a
labelled block diagram to show a possible design for the system.

Choose from:

AND gate comparator driver humidity sensor

fan motor temperature sensor voltage divider

(7)

Page 2 of 33
 (b) In which subsystem would:

(i) a MOSFET be used .................................................................................................

(1)

(ii) an op-amp be used ..................................................................................................

(1)

(iii) a thermistor be used? ..............................................................................................

(1)

(c) The controller circuit operates from a 12 V power supply and draws a current of 25 mA
under all conditions.
The fan motor requires a current of 450 mA when switched on and operates from the
same 12 V power supply.

Calculate:

(i) the total current drawn by the whole system when the fan motor is switched on

...............................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) the input power to the whole system when the fan motor is switched on.

...............................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 13 marks)

Q3. The Boolean equation for a logic circuit with inputs A and B and output Q is:

Q = (A . B) + ( . )

(a) Complete the truth table to show the logic values of the terms below for all the
combinations of the inputs A and B.

A B A.B . Q

0 0

0 1

1 0

1 1
(5)

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 (b) Complete the diagram below to show how a logic circuit can be constructed that has the
same function as the Boolean equation above using two AND gates, two NOT gates, and
one OR gate.

(5)

(c) State the logic function of the complete circuit above.

........................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 11 marks)

Q4. A student is designing a simple testing device to check that metal bars used in a factory are
cut to a set length. The device uses three sensitive switches, A, B, and C, which give a logic 1
when pressed.

The bar is placed in the device and pressed against switch A.

(a) The device operates from a 9 V power supply.

(i) State what is meant by logic 1 in this system.

...............................................................................................................
(1)

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 (ii) Complete the circuit diagram below, adding a resistor and switch so that the output
gives a logic 1 when the switch is pressed.

(2)

(b) If the bar is the correct length when placed against switch A, it presses switch B, but not
switch C.

There are three outputs:

L is high if the bar is too long
R is high if the bar length is the right length
S is high if the bar length is too short.

If the bar is not pressed against switch A, all outputs are low.

Write Boolean expressions for the outputs, in terms of A, B, and C.

L = .................................................................................................................
(1)

R = .................................................................................................................
(1)

S = .................................................................................................................
(1)

(c) Draw a logic diagram, using any logic gates, to show how output R can be produced from
inputs A, B and C.

(3)

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 (d) Convert your logic diagram in part (c) to one that uses only NOR gates, drawing the
converted system with the smallest number of gates possible in the space below.

(3)
(Total 12 marks)

Q5. A student designs a high power lamp system which flashes when the music reaches a
certain sound level at a party. The system will automatically switch on when the volume of music
received by a microphone, that gives only a low output voltage, exceeds a set level which can be
adjusted. 5 Hz pulses generated in the system are then gated through to a driver which controls
a lamp.

(a) Draw a system diagram as a possible plan for this system.

(8)

(b) In which subsystem(s) could

(i) an op-amp be used?

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

...............................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) a potentiometer be used?

...............................................................................................................
(1)

(iii) a MOSFET be used?

...............................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 12 marks)

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Q6. A student constructs a circuit from the following logic diagram.

(a) Complete the truth table below for this logic diagram.

A B C D Q

0 0

0 1

1 0

1 1
(3)

(b) Write down Boolean expressions for the logic signals at C, D and Q in terms of the inputs
A and B.

C = .................................................................................................................
(1)

D = .................................................................................................................
(1)

Q = .................................................................................................................
(2)

(c) What single logic gate could perform the function of the whole circuit above?

........................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 8 marks)

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Q7. (a) Complete the circuit diagram below for a difference amplifier with a voltage gain of 100.
Label the inputs and output.

(6)

(b) The difference amplifier is used with strain gauge sensors to measure the strain on a
metal girder in a bridge.

A strain gauge sensor consists of very fine wires enclosed in a plastic case, as shown
below. When the sensor is stretched its resistance increases and when compressed its
resistance decreases. The changes in resistance are very small.

Two strain gauge sensors are glued to the girder, one to the top and one to the bottom, as
shown below.

Page 8 of 33
 When the girder bends, the resistance of sensor 1 decreases and the resistance of
sensor 2 increases.
The sensors are connected to the circuit shown below.

(i) What is the voltage at point A?

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

...............................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) If sensor 1 and sensor 2 are both unstrained and each has a resistance of 200 Ω,
what will be the difference in voltage between points A and B?

...............................................................................................................
(1)

(c) The inputs to the difference amplifier in part (a) are connected to points A and B. When the
metal girder bends a small amount, the resistance of sensor 1 decreases by 1% and that
of sensor 2 increases by 1%.

Estimate, showing your calculation, the output voltage of the difference amplifier under
these conditions.

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

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

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

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

........................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 11 marks)

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Q8. As part of his project, a student constructs the following logic circuit.

(a) Write down the Boolean expressions for:

D = ......................................................................................................................
(1)

E = ......................................................................................................................
(2)

(b) Write down the Boolean expression for Q in terms of D and E.

Q = ......................................................................................................................
(2)

(c) Complete the truth table below for the logic circuit above.

A B C D E Q

0 0 0

0 0 1

0 1 0

0 1 1

1 0 0

1 0 1

1 1 0

1 1 1
(4)

(d) His supervisor suggests that the logic circuit can be simplified. What single logic gate
would have the same function as the whole circuit above?

............................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 10 marks)

Q9. The diagram below shows an apparatus used to demonstrate that electron beams possess
energy and momentum.

Page 10 of 33
Electrons are accelerated by the electron gun and travel through the space in the tube which has
been evacuated to a low pressure. They collide with the mica wheel and cause it to rotate.

(a) (i) Explain how the electrons would lose energy if the tube were not evacuated.

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

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

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

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

...............................................................................................................
(3)

(ii) The pressure of the gas in the tube is 0.20 Pa when the room temperature is 300 K.
The volume of the tube is 3.5 × 10–2 m 3. Determine the number of moles of gas in
the tube.

universal gas constant, R = 8.3 J mol–1 K–1

(2)

(iii) The Avogadro constant is 6.0 × 1023 mol–1.

How many gas molecules are there in the tube?

...............................................................................................................
(1)

(b) In the electron gun, the electrons of mass 9.1 × 10–31 kg and charge 1.6 × 10–19 C are
accelerated to a speed of 2.7 × 107 m s –1. The beam current is 5.0 mA.

(i) Calculate, in J, the energy of each electron in the beam.

(1)

(ii) Use the definition of the volt to determine the potential difference through which the
electrons are accelerated.
(2)

(iii) How many electrons are accelerated each second?

(2)

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 (iv) What happens to the energy of the electrons when they strike the mica target?

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

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

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

...............................................................................................................
(2)

(v) Determine the force exerted on the paddle wheel by the electrons. Assume that the
electrons are brought to rest when they collide.
(3)

(vi) The moment of this force about the axle of the paddle causes rotational acceleration
of the paddle. What is the magnitude of this moment?
(2)
(Total 18 marks)

Q10. (a) Figure 1 and Figure 2 show two circuits in which a supply of e.m.f. 6.0 V and internal
resistance 5.0 Ω is delivering power to a pair of resistors.

Figure 1 Figure 2

When maximum power is dissipated in an external circuit, the resistance of the external
circuit is equal to the internal resistance of the supply.

(i) For the circuit in Figure 1, determine the value of R which results in the maximum
power being delivered to the external circuit.
(3)

(ii) Calculate the terminal potential difference when the supply is delivering maximum
power to the circuit in Figure 1.
(1)

(iii) Calculate the power that will be dissipated by the 15 Ω resistor when the supply is
delivering maximum power to the external circuit.
(2)

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 (iv) For the circuit in Figure 2, explain why the supply cannot deliver maximum power in
this circuit for any value of the resistor R.

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

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

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

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

...............................................................................................................
(2)

(b) (i) The 15 Ω resistor is made from wire of length 2.3 m. The wire has a diameter of
3.0 × 10–4 m. Calculate the resistivity of the material from which the wire is made.
(3)

(ii) Sketch below a graph showing how the resistance of 2.3 m of wire made from this
material varies with the diameter of the wire. The value for a wire of diameter
3.0 × 10–4 m has been plotted for you.

(2)
(Total 13 marks)

Q11. A 1.0 kΩ resistor is thermally insulated and a potential difference of 6.0 V is applied to it for
2.0 minutes. The thermal capacity of the resistor is 9.0 J K–1. The rise in temperature, in K, is

A 1.3 × 10–3

B 8.0 × 10–3

C 0.48

D 0.80
(Total 1 mark)

Page 13 of 33
Q12. Two resistors R1 and R2 are made of wires of the same material. The wire used for R1 has
half the diameter and is twice as long as the wire used for R2.

What is the value of the ratio ?

A 8

B 4

C 1

D 0.5
(Total 1 mark)

Q13. The diagram shows a network of four 2 Ω resistors.

The effective resistance, in Ω, between X and Y is

A 0.5

B 1.2

C 1.7

D 2.0
(Total 1 mark)

Q14. A metal wire is maintained at a constant temperature. Which one of the following graphs
best represents the relationship between the dissipated power P and the current I in the wire?

(Total 1 mark)

Page 14 of 33
Q15. (a) Figure 1 and Figure 2 show two circuits that may be used for controlling the voltage
across a 3.0 Ω resistor. In each circuit the supply has an e.m.f. E of 10 V and negligible
internal resistance.

Figure 1 Figure 2

(i) Calculate the minimum voltage which can exist across the 3.0 Ω resistor using the
circuit shown in Figure 1.
(3)

(ii) State one advantage of using the circuit shown in Figure 2 for controlling the voltage
across the 3.0 Ω resistor.

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

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

...............................................................................................................
(1)

(iii) The total resistance of the potentiometer wire in Figure 2 is 30 Ω. Explain why the
voltage across the 3.0 Ω resistor would not be half of the maximum when the slider
of the potentiometer is half-way along the wire, as shown in Figure 2.

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

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

...............................................................................................................
(2)

(iv) Label with a letter P the approximate position of the slider in Figure 2, when the
voltage across the 3.0 Ω resistor is about half the maximum possible.
(1)

Page 15 of 33
 (b) The circuit in Figure 3 is used to balance the power dissipated by two components that
have different resistances. This is achieved by adjusting the position of S.

Figure 3

(i) Show that for the power dissipation to be the same, the ratio V1/V2 = 3/2.
(2)

(ii) Calculate the power dissipated by one of the components when they are balanced.
(1)
(Total 10 marks)

Q16. The graph in Figure 1 shows how the resistance of a thermistor varies with temperature.

Figure 1

(a) Explain why the resistance decreases at higher temperatures.

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

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

........................................................................................................................
(2)

Page 16 of 33
(b) The thermistor is included in the circuit shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2

The thermistor has to be maintained at a temperature of 60°C.

Calculate:

(i) the potential difference across the thermistor;

(3)

(ii) the power that has to be removed from the thermistor to maintain the temperature at
60°C.
(2)

(c) (i) Sketch below a possible variation of resistance with temperature for a material that
becomes superconducting at a temperature of –80°C.
(1)

(ii) State one application of superconductors and explain briefly the advantage of
superconductors over ordinary conductors in the application you have chosen.

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

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

...............................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 10 marks)

Page 17 of 33
Q17. The diagram shows two wires, P and Q, of equal length, joined in series with a cell. A
voltmeter is connected between the end of Q and a point X on the wires. The p.d. across the cell
is V. Wire Q has twice the area of cross-section and twice the resistivity of wire P. The variation
of the voltmeter reading as the point X is moved along the wires is best shown by

(Total 1 mark)

Q18. Copper metal is a good conductor of electricity because copper atoms in copper metal

A have gained an extra or “free” electron

B are ionised so that both ions and “free” electrons can move

C have a negative charge because of the “free” electrons

D have lost an electron to form positive ions and “free” electrons

(Total 1 mark)

Page 18 of 33
Q19. The electrical energy for a small village of 155 houses is to be generated by a bank of solar
cells. The average power used by each house, taken over a year, is 800 W.

The average power per square metre arriving at the surface of the Earth from the Sun is 650 W.
The efficiency of the conversion of solar energy to electrical energy is 15%.

(a) (i) Calculate the average power the solar cells need to provide for the whole village.
(1)

(ii) Calculate the total area of solar cells needed to provide the power in (i).
(3)

(iii) Give one reason why, in practice, a greater area will need to be covered by solar
cells.

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

...............................................................................................................
(1)

(iv) Suggest two problems, other than the large area needed for solar cells, that occur
using solar power alone to provide the supply to the village.

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

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

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

...............................................................................................................
(2)

(b) The emf of the bank of solar cells is 230 V.

(i) Calculate the supply current when the village is using 75 kW, assuming the cells
have no internal resistance.
(2)

(ii) Calculate the potential difference delivered to the villagers' electrical equipment when
the current calculated in (i) is produced in a bank of cells with an internal resistance
of 0.050 Ω.
(3)
(Total 12 marks)

Q20. In an experiment to determine the resistivity of a wire, a student made the following
measurements:

potential difference across the wire = 2.5 V

current in the wire = 0.29 A
diameter of the wire = 2.4 × 10–4 m
length of the wire = 0.75 m

(a) Calculate the resistivity of the material from which the wire is made.
(3)

Page 19 of 33
 (b) Calculate the power dissipated per metre of the wire.
(2)
(Total 5 marks)

Q21. The 12 V battery in the circuit shown has negligible internal resistance. The diodes have
'ideal' characteristics.

The current through the battery is approximately

A 0A

B 0.10 A

C 0.20 A

D 0.40 A
(Total 1 mark)

Page 20 of 33
Q22. Three identical resistors X, Y and Z are connected across a battery as shown.

The ratio is

C 1

D 2

(Total 1 mark)

Q23. The circuit in Figure 1 is used to investigate how the potential difference V between the
terminals of a cell varies as the current I in the circuit changes. Figure 2 shows the graph of the
results.

Figure 1 Figure 2

Which one of the following can be deduced from the gradient of the graph?

A The internal resistance of the cell

B The e.m.f. of the cell

C The power dissipated by the cell

D The resistance of the variable resistor

(Total 1 mark)

Page 21 of 33
Q24. A 1.5 m length of wire has a cross-sectional area 5.0 × 10–8 m 2. When the potential
difference across its ends is 0.20 V, it carries a current of 0.40 A. The resistivity of the material
from which the wire is made is

A 6.0 × 107 Ω m

B 1.7 × 10–8 Ω m

C 1.1 × 106 Ω m

D 9.4 × 10–7 Ω m
(Total 1 mark)

Q25. The resistance of a metallic conductor increases with temperature because, at higher
temperatures,

A more electrons become available for conduction

B the conductor becomes a superconductor

C the amplitude of vibration of lattice ions increases

D the length and cross-sectional area of the conductor both increase

(Total 1 mark)

Q26. A student is provided with three resistors with the values of 1 Ω, 2 Ω and 3 Ω.

(a) (i) Show how all 3 resistors can be connected together to provide the greatest value of
resistance.
(1)

(ii) Calculate this largest value of resistance.

(2)

(b) (i) Sketch the arrangement of the same resistors that will provide the smallest value of
resistance.
(1)

(ii) Calculate this smallest value of resistance.

(2)
(Total 6 marks)

Page 22 of 33
Q27. A manufacturer asks you to design the heating element in a car rear-window de-mister. The
design brief calls for an output of 48 W at a potential difference of 12 V. The diagram below
shows where the eight elements will be on the car window before electrical connections are
made to them.

(a) Calculate the current supplied by the power supply.

Current = ....................................................
(1)

(b) One design possibility is for the eight elements to be connected in parallel.

(i) Calculate the current in each element in this parallel arrangement.

Current = ....................................................
(1)

(ii) Calculate the resistance required for each element.

Resistance = ....................................................
(2)

(c) Another design possibility is to have the eight elements connected in series.

(i) Calculate the current in each element in this series arrangement.

Current = ....................................................
(1)

(ii) Calculate the resistance required for each element.

Resistance = ....................................................
(2)

(d) State one disadvantage of the series design compared to the parallel arrangement.

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

........................................................................................................................
(1)

Page 23 of 33
 (e) The series design is adopted. Each element is to have a rectangular cross-section of
0.12 mm by 3.0 mm. The length of each element is to be 0.75 m.

(i) State the units of resistivity.

...............................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) Calculate the resistivity of the material from which the element must be made.

Resistivity = ....................................................
(2)
(Total 11 marks)

Q28. The diagram below shows a graph of potential difference against current for a thermistor.

(a) Sketch an experimental arrangement that you could use to collect the data for this graph.
(3)

(b) The thermistor is connected in parallel with a 2.0 kΩ resistor. The current in the resistor is
6.0 mA.

(i) Calculate the potential difference across the thermistor.

Potential difference = ................................................

(2)

(ii) Use the graph to calculate the power dissipated in the thermistor.

Power dissipated in thermistor = ..............................

(3)

(c) Describe and explain what happens to the resistance of the thermistor as its temperature
increases.

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

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

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

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

........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 10 marks)

Page 24 of 33
Q29. Figure 1 shows several 12 V, 21 W lamps connected in parallel. The circuit is protected by
a fuse which melts if the current in the circuit exceeds 15 A.

Figure 1

(a) Determine the maximum number, n , of lamps that can be used without melting the fuse.

n .......................................................................
(4)

(b) Show that the working resistance of a single 12 V, 21 W lamp is 6.9 Ω.

(2)

(c) Two of the 12 V, 21 W lamps are connected in parallel with a 12 V, 4.0 W lamp of
resistance 36 Ω as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2

Calculate the resistance of the parallel combination of lamps, when they are working
normally.

Resistance .........................................................................
(3)
(Total 9 marks)

Page 25 of 33
Q30. (a) The diagram below shows a graph of V against I for a filament lamp. Calculate the
maximum resistance of the lamp over the range shown by the graph.

Resistance .......................................................
(3)

(b) Sketch, on the axes below, a graph of current against potential difference for a diode.

(2)
(Total 5 marks)

Q31. In the circuit shown in the diagram below cell X has an emf of 12 V and a negligible internal
resistance. The resistances of RA and RB are 10 Ω and 15 Ω respectively.

Page 26 of 33
(a) Calculate the potential difference across RB.

Potential difference .......................................

(2)

(b) Cell X is replaced by cell Y that has an emf of 12 V and an internal resistance of
7.5 Ω. Calculate the terminal potential difference across cell Y.

Potential difference ......................................

(3)
(Total 5 marks)

Page 27 of 33
Q32. The diagram below shows part of an electrical circuit where five wires form a junction. The
electric currents are shown on the figure.

State the size of the current in wire X. Draw an arrow on the diagram to indicate the direction of
the current.

Current .................................................
(Total 2 marks)

Page 28 of 33
Q33. The diagram below shows part of a miniature electronic circuit with two small resistors
connected in parallel. The material from which each resistor is made has a resistivity of
1.3 × 105 Ω m and both resistors have dimensions of 12 mm by 2.5 mm by 1.5mm.

(a) (i) Show that the resistance of one of these resistors is about 400 MΩ.

(3)

(ii) The potential difference across the resistors is 5.0 V.

Calculate the power dissipated in one resistor.

(2)

Page 29 of 33
 (iii) The heat energy from the resistors is lost through a base of size 7.5 mm by 12 mm.

Calculate the total heat energy lost through this base every second.

Total heat energy lost per second .........................

(1)

(iv) Calculate the total rate at which heat energy is dissipated per unit area of the base.

Total heat energy lost per unit area every second ............................
(2)

(b) The designer reduces the size of the circuit including the base by making every dimension
smaller by a factor of 10. The potential difference across the resistors is unchanged.

(i) Show that this reduction in dimensions results in the resistance of each resistor
increasing by a factor of 10.

(2)

(ii) Explain why this change results in an increase in the temperature of the components
in the circuit.

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

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

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

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

...............................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 12 marks)

Page 30 of 33
Q34. (a) State Ohm’s law.

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

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

........................................................................................................................
(2)

(b) A filament lamp labelled ‘12 V, 2.0 A’ has a constant resistance of 2.0 Ω for electrical
currents up to 0.50 A.

Sketch on the axes below the current-voltage graph for this lamp over the range of voltages
shown. Show clearly any calculations you made in order to answer the question.

(3)

(c) Sketch on the axes below the current-voltage characteristic for a semi-conductor diode.

(3)
(Total 8 marks)

Page 31 of 33
Q35. (a) State Ohm’s law.

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

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

........................................................................................................................
(2)

(b) A filament lamp labelled ‘12 V, 2.0 A’ has a constant resistance of 2.0 Ω for electrical
currents up to 0.50 A.

Sketch on the axes below the current-voltage graph for this lamp over the range of voltages
shown. Show clearly any calculations you made in order to answer the question.

(3)

(c) Sketch on the axes below the current-voltage characteristic for a semi-conductor diode.

(3)
(Total 8 marks)

Page 32 of 33
Page 33 of 33