Exampro GCSE Physics P2 Foundation - Static and Electrical Circuits Self Study Questions Name: Class: Author: Date: Time: 29 Marks: 29 Comments: Page of 45
Q. The diagram shows a circuit. (a) (i) Name component X.... What does meter Y measure?... (iii) What does meter Z measure?... (3) (b) Which of the equations shows how current, potential difference and resistance are related? Tick the box against the correct equation. current = potential difference resistance potential difference = current resistance resistance = current potential difference () (Total 4 marks) Page 2 of 45
Q2. A student designed the circuit below to measure temperature using a thermistor. To calibrate the thermistor to measure temperature, the student placed the thermistor in a beaker of water at 0 C and took the voltmeter reading. The student then heated the water slowly with a Bunsen burner. The student recorded the reading on the voltmeter every 0 C. (a) (i) Before calibrating the thermistor the student completed a risk assessment. Write down one possible hazard that the student should have written in the risk assessment and what the student should do to reduce the risk of the hazard causing an injury. At 0 C the reading on the ammeter is 0.5 A. Calculate the reading on the voltmeter at 0 C. Write down the equation you use, and then show clearly how you work out your answer. Voltmeter reading =... V Page 3 of 45
(b) Most of the readings taken by the student are displayed in the graph. (i) Explain why the reading on the voltmeter changes when the temperature of the water increases. (3) What is the temperature interval that can be measured with this circuit? () Page 4 of 45
(iii) Once calibrated, between which temperatures would this circuit give the greatest resolution for temperature readings? Tick ( ) one box. 20 C to 40 C 40 C to 60 C 60 C to 80 C Give a reason for your answer. (c) Thermistors have many practical uses, including being used as a thermometer to measure temperature. Give one other practical use for a thermistor....... () (Total marks) Q3. A student did an experiment with two strips of polythene. She held the strips together at one end. She rubbed down one strip with a dry cloth. Then she rubbed down the other strip with the dry cloth. Still holding the top ends together, she held up the strips. Page 5 of 45
(a) (i) What movement would you expect to see?...... () Why do the strips move in this way?... (b) Complete the four spaces in the passage. Each strip has a negative charge. The cloth is left with a... charge. This is because particles called... have been transferred from the... to the.... (4) (c) The student tried the experiment using two strips of aluminium. The strips did not move. Complete each of the sentences. (i) Materials, such as aluminium, which electricity will pass through easily, are called.... () Materials, such as polythene which electricity will not pass through easily, are called.... () (Total 9 marks) Q4. (a) The diagram shows the circuit used to investigate the resistance of a material. The diagram is incomplete; the ammeter and voltmeter are missing. (i) Draw the symbols for the ammeter and voltmeter on the diagram in the correct places. How can the current through the material be changed?...... () Page 6 of 45
(b) The material, called conducting putty, is rolled into cylinders of different lengths but with equal thicknesses. Graph shows how the resistance changes with length. Graph (i) Why has the data been shown as a line graph rather than a bar chart?...... () The current through a 30 cm length of conducting putty was 0.5 A. Use Graph to find the resistance of a 30 cm length of conducting putty. Resistance =... ohms () (iii) Use your answer to (b) and the equation in the box to calculate the potential difference across a 30 cm length of conducting putty. potential difference = current resistance Show clearly how you work out your answer.......... Potential difference =... volts Page 7 of 45
(c) A second set of data was obtained using thicker pieces of conducting putty. Both sets of results are shown in Graph 2. Graph 2 (i) What is the relationship between the resistance and the thickness of the conducting putty?...... () Name one error that may have reduced the accuracy of the results.... () (iii) How could the reliability of the data have been improved?...... () (Total 0 marks) Page 8 of 45
Q5. (a) Draw one line from each circuit symbol to its correct name. Circuit symbol Name Diode Light-dependent resistor (LDR) Lamp Light-emitting diode (LED) (3) (b) Figure shows three circuits. The resistors in the circuits are identical. Each of the cells has a potential difference of.5 volts. Figure Circuit Circuit 2 Circuit 3 (i) Use the correct answer from the box to complete the sentence. half twice the same as The resistance of circuit is... the resistance of circuit 3. () Page 9 of 45
Calculate the reading on voltmeter V 2. Voltmeter reading V 2 =... V () (iii) Which voltmeter, V, V 2 or V 3, will give the lowest reading? Draw a ring around the correct answer. V V 2 V 3 () Page 0 of 45
(c) A student wanted to find out how the number of resistors affects the current in a series circuit. Figure 2 shows the circuit used by the student. Figure 2 The student started with one resistor and then added more identical resistors to the circuit. Each time a resistor was added, the student closed the switch and took the ammeter reading. The student used a total of 4 resistors. Figure 3 shows three of the results obtained by the student. Figure 3 Number of resistors in series (i) To get valid results, the student kept one variable the same throughout the experiment. Which variable did the student keep the same? () The bar chart in Figure 3 is not complete. The result using 4 resistors is not shown. Complete the bar chart to show the current in the circuit when 4 resistors were used. Page of 45
(iii) What conclusion should the student make from the bar chart? () (Total 0 marks) Q6. The drawing shows the circuit used to investigate how the current through a 5 ohm (Ω) resistor changes as the potential difference (voltage) across the resistor changes. (a) Draw, in the space below, a circuit diagram of this circuit. Use the correct symbols for each part of the circuit. (b) (i) Write down the equation that links current, potential difference and resistance.... () Page 2 of 45
Calculate the potential difference across the 5 ohm (Ω) resistor when the current through the resistor equals 0.4 A. Show clearly how you work out your final answer....... potential difference =... volts (iii) Complete the graph to show how the current through the resistor changes as the potential difference across the resistor increases from 0 V to 3 V. Assume the resistor stays at a constant temperature. (c) The resistor is replaced by a 3 V filament lamp. The resistance of the lamp increases as the potential difference across it increases. Why?...... () (Total 8 marks) Page 3 of 45
Q7. (a) Draw lines to join the picture to the correct circuit symbol. The lamp has been done for you. (b) A family tent is to be fitted with a simple lighting circuit. The diagram shows the first circuit used. (i) Are the lamps connected in series or in parallel?... () Page 4 of 45
This is not a good circuit for using in the tent. Why?...... () The diagram shows the second circuit used. (iii) Give two reasons why this circuit is better than the first circuit........ 2....... (Total 6 marks) Q8. A circuit was set up as shown in the diagram. Page 5 of 45
(a) The table gives the current through three of the ammeters. Complete the table to show the current through the other two ammeters. Ammeter Reading on ammeter in amps A l 0.2 A 2 0.6 A 3 0.3 A 4 A 5 (b) The reading on the voltmeter is 2 V. What is the resistance of R 2? Show your working and include the correct unit.......... Resistance =... (3) (c) In the circuit above, the resistor R 2 burned out and current stopped flowing in it. There was no other change to the circuit. Complete the table below to show the readings on the ammeters after this took place. Ammeter Reading on ammeter in amps A l 0.2 A 2 0.0 A 3 A 4 A 5 (3) (Total 8 marks) Page 6 of 45
Q9. (a) The diagram shows the inside of a three-pin plug. (i) What name is given to the wire labelled S? Draw a ring around the correct answer. earth live neutral () What is the colour of the insulation around the wire labelled T? Draw a ring around the correct answer. blue brown green and yellow () (b) The plug contains a 3 amp fuse. (i) Which one of the following is the correct circuit symbol for a fuse? Draw a ring around the correct answer. () The diagram shows the parts of the fuse. What would happen if a current of 20 amps passed through the 3 amp fuse? () Page 7 of 45
(c) Not all electrical appliances are earthed. (i) Which one of the following appliances must be earthed? Tick ( ) one box. Table lamp Toaster Hair straighteners Give a reason for your answer. Earthing an appliance helps to protect a person against a possible risk. What is the risk? () (d) The diagrams show how two lengths of mains electrical cable were joined. The individual wires have been twisted together and covered with insulating tape. This is not a safe way to join the cables. What is the possible risk from joining the two lengths of mains electrical cable in this way?...... () Page 8 of 45
(e) The diagram below shows a connecting box being used to join two lengths of electrical cable. This is a safe way to join the cables. The cable grips are important parts of the connecting box. Explain why............. (Total 0 marks) Q0. In a hairdryer circuit there is a heater and a motor. It is important that the motor is always running when the heater is switched on. (a) Using the symbols shown below only once each, draw a circuit for a hairdryer. Page 9 of 45
(b) Modern hairdryers are described as double insulated. Explain what this term means.......... (c) On a modern hairdryer handle it states: 600 W 230 V 50 Hz (i) [A] Write an equation which shows the relationship between current, power and voltage.. () [B] Calculate the current in the hairdryer when it is on full power. Show clearly how you get your answer... Current =... A [A] Write an equation which shows the relationship between current, resistance and voltage.. () [B] The resistance of the heater is 20 ohms. Calculate the resistance of the motor. Show clearly how you get your answer... Resistance =... ohms (Total 0 marks) Page 20 of 45
Q. (a) Electrical circuits often contain resistors. The diagram shows two resistors joined in series. Calculate the total resistance of the two resistors.... Total resistance =... Ω () (b) A circuit was set up as shown in the diagram. The three resistors are identical. (i) Calculate the reading on the voltmeter. Reading on voltmeter =... V The same circuit has now been set up with two ammeters. Draw a ring around the correct answer in the box to complete the sentence. smaller than The reading on ammeter A 2 will be equal to the reading on ammeter A. greater than () (Total 4 marks) Page 2 of 45
Q2. A computer is set up to produce a graph of the current through an electric lamp during the first few milliseconds after it is switched on. The lamp is modified then tested in the same way. (a) Describe three differences in the way the lamp behaves after it has been modified..... 2.... 3.... (3) Page 22 of 45
(b) The current through the modified lamp depends on the total resistance of the filament and component X. The smaller this total resistance is, the greater the current. The following graphs show how the resistance of the lamp filament and component X change as the lamp heats up to its operating temperature. Use the information shown on the graphs to explain the behaviour of the modified lamp................... (4) (Total 7 marks) Page 23 of 45
Q3. (a) A student uses some everyday items to investigate static electricity. A strip of plastic is cut from a plastic carrier bag 2 The plastic strip is rubbed with a cloth 3 The plastic strip is hung over a wooden rod (i) Draw a ring around the correct answer in the box to complete each sentence. Rubbing the plastic strip with a cloth causes the strip to become negatively charged. electrons This happens because neutrons move from the cloth onto the plastic strip. protons a negative The cloth is left with a positive charge. zero When the plastic strip is hung over the wooden rod, the two halves of the strip move equally away from each other. What two conclusions should the student make about the forces acting on the two halves of the plastic strip?... 2... Page 24 of 45
(b) Electrical charges move more easily through some materials than through other materials. Through which one of the following materials would an electrical charge move most easily? Draw a ring around your answer. aluminium glass rubber () (Total 5 marks) Q4. Some students want to find out how the current through component X changes with the voltage they use. The diagram shows their circuit. The graph shows their results. (a) Describe, as fully as you can, what happens to the current through component X as the students increase the voltage.......... (4) (b) The students want to find out whether component X allows the same current to flow through it in the opposite direction. (i) How should they change the circuit to test this?... () Page 25 of 45
The graph shows the students extra results. What do the extra results tell you?......... () (Total 6 marks) Q5. (a) The diagram shows how static electricity is used to paint a metal car panel. Use words from the box to complete the following sentences. attract opposite repel same All the paint droplets have the same type of charge. This makes the paint droplets... each other and spread out. The car panel and the paint droplets have the... type of charge. This causes the car panel to... the paint droplets. The car panel is covered by an even layer of paint. (3) Page 26 of 45
(b) In which one of the following situations is static electricity dangerous and not useful? Put a tick ( ) in the box next to your answer. using a photocopier refuelling an aircraft a smoke precipitator Give a reason for your answer....... (Total 5 marks) Q6. A small torch uses a single cell to make the bulb light up. (a) Label the symbol for a cell and the symbol for a bulb (lamp) Page 27 of 45
(b) The graphs show the voltage across two different types of cell as they transfer the last bit of their stored energy through the torch bulb. Describe the differences that the graphs show between the two types of cell.......... (3) (c) The diagram shows how bright the torch bulb is for different voltages. From the point when the voltage of each cell starts to fall, how long will the bulb stay lit: (i) with the ordinary cell?... with the nicad cell?... (4) (Total 9 marks) Page 28 of 45
Q7. The diagram shows a simple circuit. (a) The circuit includes an LDR. What do the letters LDR stand for? Draw a ring around your answer. Light-dependable resistor light-dependent resistor light-direct resistor () Page 29 of 45
(b) The graph shows how the resistance of an LDR changes with light intensity. Describe in detail how the resistance of the LDR changes as the light intensity increases from 0 to 50 lux................... (3) (c) (i) Complete the following sentence by drawing a ring around the correct line in the box. decrease A decrease in the light intensity of light on the LDR will not change the reading on the ammeter. increase () Page 30 of 45
Give a reason for your answer to part (c)(i). () (d) An LDR can be used to switch a circuit on and off automatically. In which one of the following would an LDR be used? Put a tick ( ) in the box next to your answer. a circuit to switch on central heating when it gets cold a circuit to switch on security lighting when it gets dark a circuit to switch on a water sprinkler when the soil in a greenhouse is dry () (Total 7 marks) Page 3 of 45
M. (a) (i) resistor (iii) voltage / potential difference / volts / v current / amps / A (b) potential difference = current resistance no mark if more than one box ticked [4] M2. (a) (i) spilling boiling / hot water accept any sensible suggestion suitable precaution to reduce risk from hot water eg clamp the probe / complete the experiment standing accept any sensible answer but must be linked to the named risk 3 (V) allow mark for substitution into correct equation ie 0.5 6 2 (b) (i) resistance of thermistor decreases therefore the current in the circuit increases causing a bigger share of the p.d. across 6 Ω resistor 0 00 ( C) accept 0 00 C (iii) 20 C to 40 C because a small temperature change gives a bigger voltmeter reading change Page 32 of 45
(c) thermostat accept a correct description of a use [] M3. (a) (i) (bottom or other ends) move apart or repel accept they move apart have same charge accept both have negative charge (from part (b) do not credit both have positive charge same or like charges repel not just opposite charges attract 2 (b) positive electrons cloth polythene accept strips (c) (i) conductors accept metals insulators accept non-conductors/poor conductors do not credit non-metals [9] M4. (a) (i) ammeter symbol correct and drawn in series accept do not accept lower case a voltmeter symbol correct and drawn in parallel with the material do not accept Page 33 of 45
adjust / use the variable resistor accept change the resistance or change the number of cells accept battery for cell accept change the p.d / accept change the voltage accept increase / decrease for change (b) (i) data is continuous (variable) 36 (Ω) correct answer only (iii) 5.4 or their (b) 0.5 allow mark for correct substitution 2 (c) (i) the thicker the putty the lower the resistance answer must be comparative accept the converse any one from: measuring length incorrectly accept may be different length measuring current incorrectly do not accept different currents measuring voltage incorrectly do not accept different voltage ammeter / voltmeter incorrectly calibrated thickness of putty not uniform meter has a zero error accept any sensible source of error eg putty at different temperatures do not accept human error without an explanation do not accept pieces of putty not the same unless qualified do not accept amount of putty not same do not accept systematic / random error Page 34 of 45
(iii) V (iii) repeat readings accept check results again accept do experiment again accept do it again accept compare own results with other groups do not accept take more readings [0] M5. (a) allow mark for each correct line if more than one line is drawn from any symbol then all of those lines are wrong 3 (b) (i) half 3(V) (c) (i) potential difference / voltage of the power supply accept the power supply accept the voltage / volts accept number of cells / batteries accept (same) cells / batteries do not accept same ammeter / switch / wires bar drawn height.(00)a ignore width of bar allow mark for bar shorter than 3 rd bar 2 (iii) as the number of resistors increases the current decreases [0] Page 35 of 45
M6. (a) all symbols correct accept push switch symbol switch may be open or closed any lines through symbols = 0 marks correct circuit drawn polarity of cells not relevant provided they are joined correctly voltmeter must be across resistor only two cells are required in the diagram ignore the order of the components allow small gaps in circuit omission of any component = 0 marks (b) (i) potential difference = current resistance accept voltage or p.d. for potential difference accept V= I R accept provided I R subsequent use correct do not accept C for current 2 allow mark for correct substitution wrong working loses both marks 2 (iii) straight line drawn through the origin judge by eye straight line passes through I = 0.4, V = their (b) / 2 and 0.0 this mark may be awarded if all points shown including these points are correct even if no line is drawn N.B. a curve scores 0 marks (c) temperature increases accept filament lamp / it gets hotter allow heat for temperature [8] Page 36 of 45
accept the value of A 4 + 0.2 M7. (a) all 3 lines drawn correctly (b) (i) series (only correct, mark) deduct one mark if more than one line from or to a single box 2 any one from: both lamps or lights must be on together if one blows, the other goes out switch controls both bulbs do not accept bulbs dimmer (iii) any two from each lamp or light can be switched on independently if one lamp blows the other stays on switching the second lamp on does not affect brightness of first or bulbs brighter (than in first circuit) or energy explanation 2 [6] M8. (a) 0.9. Page 37 of 45
accept the value of A 4 + 0.2 3 (b) V = I R or 2 = 0.6 R or accept V = A R V = I ohm s sign do not credit Ohm s law triangle 2 R = 20 correct numerical answer earns both marks ohms (c) A 3 = 0.3 A 4 = 0.3 accept the same numeric value as A 3 A 5 = 0.5 [8] M9. (a) (i) neutral brown (b) (i) centre symbol ringed accept any correct indication fuse (wire) melts accept fuse blows accept fuse breaks / snaps accept burns out appliance doesn t work is insufficient overheat is insufficient do not accept blows up (c) (i) Toaster Page 38 of 45
(only one with) a metal case / outside reason only scores if toaster chosen accept it is metal accept outside / case / metal conducts (electricity) do not accept it conducts electricity electric shock / electrocution do not accept explosion (d) overheating of cables or fire it refers to the electric cable accept short circuit / sparking overheating of tape is insufficient do not accept electrocution / shock (e) stop cable(s) being pulled loose / free accept wire(s) for cable(s) accept to hold cables in place and so breaking the circuit or and shorting (one wire to another) or and causing a fire risk / sparking accept appliance / plug would not work [0] M0. (a) series circuit all four components must be included if a battery included the neatness mark may still be awarded circuit fully functional or properly connected this is the neatness mark do not credit a parallel circuit with one switch controlling both components (b) case or outer parts are made of plastic or insulator or non-metallic there is no electrical pathway between inner and outer insulation accept no connection between inner and outer part do not credit two layers of insulation Page 39 of 45
(c) (i) [A] power = voltage current accept P = V I or W = V A or any transformation [B] 600 230 =current 6.96 or 7 accept with no working for two marks accept 6.95 in [A] award a mark for a triangle if calculation correctly performed [A] voltage = current resistance accept V = I R or any transformation [B] 230 7 = overall R = 33 accept 230 6.96 = overall R = 33 resistance of motor = 33 20 = 3 accept with no working for two marks do not credit negative answer accept consequential errors from c(i) in [A] award a mark for a triangle if calculation correctly performed [0] M. (a) 25(Ω) (b) (i) 2(V) allow mark for showing a correct method, ie 6 / 3 2 equal to [4] Page 40 of 45
M2. (a) current rises/starts lower/starts from zero for mark ideas that: * smaller/only 0.45 (A) change in current quicker/only 2 (ms) for current to settle slightly lower/0.45 (A) final current maximum only 0.45 (A) rather than.5 (A) (*must compare e.g. only... or state figure from first graph) any 2 for further mark each 3 (b) resistance of filament rises as temperature rises/higher at operating temperature resistance of X falls as temperature rises/low(er) at operating temperature total resistance stays roughly the same as temperature rises so current stays roughly the same as temperature rises (must be related to previous point) resistance of X falls faster at first than resistance of filament rises so current rises (must be related to previous point) operating resistance slightly increased so operating current slightly reduced (must be related to previous point) resistance of X high at start so current zero/low each gains mark (must be related to previous point) (to a maximum of 4) 4 [7] M3. (a) (i) electrons a positive (forces are) equal accept (forces are)the same forces are balanced is insufficient (forces act in) opposite directions accept (forces) repel both sides have the same charge is insufficient (b) aluminium [5] Page 4 of 45
M4. (a) idea that it/current increases (with voltage) gains mark but current increases steadily (with voltage) (allow in proportion) gains 2 marks 4 no current at first gains mark but no current until voltage is more than 0.3 (volts) gains 2 marks (b) (i) reverse component X/power supply/change battery round for mark idea that X doesn t conduct in opposite/let current through/no current (in opposite direction) (credit X is a diode) for mark 2 [6] M5. (a) repel opposite attract correct order only (b) refuelling an aircraft reason cannot score if refuelling aircraft is not chosen Page 42 of 45
a spark may cause an explosion / fire / ignite the fuel accept the static for a spark accept named fuel there must be a consequence of having a spark do not accept answers in terms of people getting a shock or electrocuted [5] M6. (a) cell and bulb / light correctly labelled for mark each 2 (b) ordinary cell has higher voltage (normally / at start) for mark or ordinary cell.3v nicad.2v (normally / at start) voltage of ordinary cell falls more slowly (accept lasts longer) gains mark but as above with relevant quantification e.g. falls to zero in 60 seconds compared to 6 seconds e.g. falls to zero in 70 seconds compared to 6 seconds from time zero or nicad falls to zero 0 times as fast gains 2 marks 3 (c) (i) answer in range 32-34 (seconds) (inclusive) gains mark but answer in range 22-24 (seconds) (inclusive) gains 2 marks 2 (seconds) gains mark but 2 (seconds) units not required in (c) gains 2 marks 4 [9] M7. (a) a light-dependent resistor Page 43 of 45
(b) any three from: resistance starts at 500 (kilohms) (resistance) falls rapidly as intensity increases from 0 accept resistance falls accept brightness for intensity (resistance) halves between 0 and 20 lux (resistance) falls slightly between 20 and 50 lux or (resistance) almost constant / levels out between 20 and 50 lux at 50 lux, resistance = 0 (kilohms) for full credit the word resistance must be used correctly at least once an answer resistance falls as intensity increases gains 2 marks - this may be combined with one of the bullet point marks for full credit (c) (i) decrease 3 resistance increases this can score without (c)(i) (d) A circuit to switch on security lighting when it gets dark. [7] Page 44 of 45
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