Trilogy

2 Electricity
Foundation Questions & Answers
Q1.
Electrical circuits have resistance.

(a) Draw a ring around the correct answer to complete the sentence.

decreases.

When the resistance of a circuit increases, the current in the circuit increases.

stays the same.

(1)

(b) Use the correct answer from the box to complete each sentence.

a filament bulb an LED an LDR

An electrical component which has a resistance that increases as the

temperature increases is _________________________ .

An electrical component which emits light only when a current flows through it

in the forward direction is _________________________ .

(2)

(c) When some metals are heated the resistance of the metal changes.

The equipment for investigating how the resistance of a metal changes when it is
heated is shown in the diagram.

In this question you will be assessed on using good English, organising information
clearly and using specialist terms where appropriate.
 Describe an investigation a student could do to find how the resistance of a metal
sample varies with temperature. The student uses the equipment shown.

Include in your answer:

• how the student should use the equipment

• the measurements the student should make

• how the student should use these measurements to determine the resistance

• how to make sure the results are valid.

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(6)

(d) The table shows some data for samples of four metals P, Q, R and S.

The metal samples all had the same cross-sectional area and were the same length.

Resistance at
Resistance at 100°C
Metal sample 0°C
in ohms
in ohms
 P 4.05 5.67

Q 2.65 3.48

R 6.0 9.17

S 1.70 2.23

A graph of the results for one of the metal samples is shown.

Temperature in °C

(i) Which metal sample, P, Q, R or S, has the data shown in the graph?
(1)

(ii) One of the results is anomalous. Circle this result on the graph.
(1)

(iii) Suggest a reason for the anomalous result.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(iv) The same equipment used in the investigation could be used as a

thermometer known as a ‘resistance thermometer.’
 Suggest two disadvantages of using this equipment as a thermometer
compared to a liquid-in-glass thermometer.

1. ____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 14 marks)

Q2.
The diagram shows an electronic circuit.

(a) Write down the names of the components in the list below.

A = _____________________________________________

B = _____________________________________________
 C = _____________________________________________

D = _____________________________________________

E, F and G = _____________________________________________
(5)

(b) The graph shows how the resistance of component B depends on its temperature.

Describe, in as much detail as you can, how the resistance of component B changes
as its temperature rises from 0ºC to 80ºC.

___________________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________________

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(4)

(c) At what temperature does component B have a resistance of 1000 ohms?

Answer _____________________ °C .
(2)
(Total 11 marks)

Q3.
A student used electrical circuits to investigate the relationship between resistance,
potential difference and current.

Figure 1 shows how the student connects the first circuit he set up.

Figure 1
(a) The circuit does not work.

Draw the correct circuit.

(2)

(b) The student then sets up the circuit correctly.

Look at Figure 2.

Figure 2

What is the reading on the voltmeter?

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(c) The student then set up a circuit to investigate how resistance affects the brightness
of a lamp.

Figure 3 shows the circuit he set up.

Figure 3

The student increases the resistance of the variable resistor.

 What effect does this have on the brightness of the lamp?

Explain your answer.

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(2)

(d) Write down the equation that links current, potential difference and resistance.

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(e) When the potential difference across the lamp is 3.3 V the current is 0.15 A.

Calculate the resistance of the lamp in the student’s experiment.

___________________________________________________________________

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Resistance = _________________ Ω
(3)
(Total 9 marks)

Q4.
(a) The diagram shows the circuit used to obtain the data needed to plot the current–
potential difference graph for a filament bulb.

(i) Why is the component labelled ‘J’ included in the circuit?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii) The resistance of the bulb increases as the potential difference across the bulb
 increases. Why?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(iii) The bulb is at full brightness when the potential difference across the bulb is
12 V.
The current through the bulb is then 3 A.

Calculate the power of the bulb when it is at full brightness and give the unit.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Power = _________________________
(3)

(b) In this question you will be assessed on using good English, organising information
clearly and using specialist terms where appropriate.

The table gives data about two types of light bulb people may use in their homes.

Average
Type of light Energy Cost of one
lifetime in
bulb efficiency light bulb
hours

Halogen 10% £1.95 2 000

Light Emitting
32% £11.70 36 000
Diode (LED)

Both types of light bulb produce the same amount of light.

Evaluate, in terms of cost and energy efficiency, the use of the two types of light
bulb.

To gain full marks you must compare both types of light bulb and conclude which
light bulb would be the best to use.

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(6)
(Total 11 marks)

Q5.
An electric current is a flow of electrical charge through a circuit.

(a) Complete the sentence.

Use a word from the box.

atoms electrons ions molecules

Metals are good conductors of electricity because electrical charge is transferred

by delocalised __________________________
(1)

(b) Draw one line from each symbol to the name of the component.

Standard symbol Name of component

(3)

(c) The table below shows information about some electrical appliances.

Electrical
Power in watts
appliance

1500
 Hairdryer

2500

Kettle

3000
Electric hob

360

Television

A student plugs all four of the appliances into one multi-way socket.

The mains electricity is 230 V.

The highest safe current in the socket is 30 A.

Explain why it is not safe to use all four appliances at the same time.

In your answer you should:

• calculate the total power needed

• use the equation

current = power ÷ potential difference

to calculate the total current needed.

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(4)

(d) The figure below shows how electrical power is transferred from power stations to
consumers using the National Grid.
 Transformer 1 is a step-up transformer.

Explain why step-up transformers are used in the National Grid.

___________________________________________________________________

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(3)

(e) What is the purpose of Transformer 2?

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(1)

(f) In a power station 900 MJ of thermal energy were released by burning natural gas.

Write down the equation that links efficiency, useful input energy transfer and useful
output energy transfer.

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(1)

(g) In a power station 900 MJ of thermal energy were released by burning natural gas.

Only 405 MJ was generated.

Calculate the efficiency of this energy transfer.

___________________________________________________________________

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Efficiency = _________________
(2)
(Total 15 marks)
Q6.
A student finds some information about energy-saving light bulbs.

(a) A 30W light bulb uses 600J of electrical energy in a certain period of time. In that
time, it produces 450 J of light energy. The rest of the energy is wasted.

(i) Calculate the energy wasted by the light bulb in this period of time.

______________________________________________________________

Wasted energy = _________________ J

(1)

(ii) What happens to the energy wasted by the light bulb?

______________________________________________________________

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(1)

(iii) Calculate the efficiency of this light bulb.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Efficiency = ______________________________
(2)

(iv) Calculate the period of time, in seconds, during which the 600 J is provided to
the 30 W light bulb.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Time = _____________ s
(2)

(b) A company that makes light bulbs provides information about some of their
products.

The table shows some of this information.

Power in watts Lifetime in hours Cost of bulb in £

Filament bulb 60 1250 2.00

LED bulb 12 50 000 16.00

(i) Suggest why it is important to confirm this information independently.

______________________________________________________________
(1)
 (ii) A homeowner is thinking about replacing his filament bulbs with LED bulbs.

A 12 W LED bulb gives the same light output as a 60 W filament bulb.

Suggest reasons why the homeowner is likely to choose LED bulbs.

Use the information given in the table.

______________________________________________________________

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______________________________________________________________
(2)

(iii) State one factor, other than efficiency, that is important when considering the
choice of a bulb for lighting in the home.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 10 marks)

Q7.
Figure 1 shows a circuit diagram containing two identical lamps arranged in parallel.

The reading on the ammeter is 186 mA.

Figure 1

(a) Which statement about the current through the lamps is true?

Tick one box.

The current through both lamp P and lamp Q is

0.093 A

The current through both lamp P and lamp Q is

0.186 A
 The current through both lamp P and lamp Q is
0.93 A

The current through both lamp P and lamp Q is

1.86 A
(1)

(b) One of the lamps breaks and is not replaced.

Which statement about the current in the other lamp is true?

Tick one box.

The current through the lamp is 0.093 A

The current through the lamp is 0.186 A

The current through the lamp is 0.93 A

The current through the lamp is 1.86 A

(1)

(c) Figure 2 shows a circuit that can be used to alter the brightness of a lamp.

Figure 2

The resistance of the variable resistor is increased.

What effect will this have on the brightness of the lamp?

Explain your answer.

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(2)

(d) When the potential difference across the lamp is 3.3 V, the current is 0.15 A.

Write down the equation that links current, potential difference and resistance.
 Equation ___________________________________________________________
(1)

(e) Calculate the resistance of the lamp.

___________________________________________________________________

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Resistance = __________________ Ω
(3)

(f) Sketch a current–potential difference graph for a filament lamp.

(1)
(Total 9 marks)
Mark schemes

Q1.
(a) decreases
1

(b) a filament bulb

allow bulb
1

an LED
1

(c) Marks awarded for this answer will be determined by the Quality of
Communication (QoC) as well as the standard of the scientific response.

0 marks
No relevant content.

Level 1 (1−2 marks)

There is a basic description of the method. This is incomplete and would not
lead to any useful results.

Level 2 (3−4 marks)

There is a description of the method which is almost complete with a few
minor omissions and would lead to some results.

Level 3 (5−6 marks)

There is a detailed description of the method which would lead to valid results.
To gain full marks an answer including graph, or another appropriate
representation of results, must be given.

examples of the physics points made in the response:

• read V and I
• read temperature
• apply heat
allow hot water to cool
• read V and I at least one other temperature
• determine R from V / I
• range of temperatures above 50 °C

extra detail:
• use thermometer to read temperature at regular intervals of temperature
• remove source of heat and stir before taking readings
• details of attaining 0 °C or 100 °C
• last reading taken while boiling
• graph of R against T
• at least 3 different temperatures
6

(d) (i) Q
1

(ii) (80, 3.18)

1
 (iii) any one from:

• measurement of V too small

• measurement of I too big
• incorrect calculation of R
• thermometer misread
allow misread meter
ignore any references to an error that is systematic
1

(iv) any two from:

• not portable
allow requires a lot of equipment allow takes time to set up
• needs an electrical supply
• cannot be read directly
accept it is more difficult to read compared to liquid-in-glass
2
[14]

Q2.
(a) A = battery (of cells)/cells/cell
B = thermistor/temperature dependent resistor
C = transistor
D = LED/light emitting diode
E, F, G = resistors
each for 1 mark
5

(b) ideas that (resistance) falls from 3000 to 200 units – ohms/Ω – referred to
at least once
each for 1 mark

(credit quickly at first then more slowly with 2 marks) (max 4 for part (b))
4

(c) any figure in the range 22 – 26 (inclusive)

gains 1 mark

but 24
gains 2 marks
2
[11]

Q3.
(a)
 battery connected correct way round
1
ammeter and voltmeter correct way round
1

(b) 6.4 V
1

(c) (the lamp will) get dimmer

1

because increasing the resistance decreases the current

1

(d) potential difference = current × resistance

allow V = IR
1

(e) 3.3 = 0.15 × R

1

R = 3.3 ÷ 0.15
1

= 22(Ω)
1
allow 22 with no working shown for 3 marks
[9]

Q4.
(a) (i) to obtain a range of p.d. values
accept increase / decrease current / p.d. / voltage /
resistance
accept to change / control the current / p.d. / voltage /
resistance
to provide resistance is insufficient
a variable resistor is insufficient
do not accept electricity for current
1

(ii) temperature of the bulb increases

accept bulb gets hot(ter)
accept answers correctly
expressed in terms of collisions between (free) electrons and
 ions / atoms
bulb gets brighter is insufficient
1

(iii) 36
allow 1 mark for correct substitution, ie 12 × 3 provided no
subsequent step shown
2

watt(s) / W
accept joules per second / J/s
do not accept w
1

(b) Marks awarded for this answer will be determined by the Quality of Written
Communication (QWC) as well as the standard of the scientific response.
Examiners should also refer to the information in the Marking guidance, and
apply a ‘best-fit’ approach to the marking.

0 marks
No relevant content.

Level 1 (1-2 marks)

There is a basic comparison of either a cost aspect or an energy efficiency
aspect.

Level 2 (3-4 marks)

There is a clear comparison of either the cost aspect or energy efficiency
aspect
OR
a basic comparison of both cost and energy efficiency aspects.

Level 3 (5-6 marks)

There is a detailed comparison of both the cost aspect and the energy
efficiency aspect.

For full marks the comparisons made should support a conclusion as to which
type of bulb is preferable.

Examples of the points made in the response:

cost

• halogen are cheaper to buy

simply giving cost figures is insufficient

• 6 halogen lamps cost the same as one LED

• LEDs last longer

• need to buy 18 / more halogen lamps to last the same time as one LED

• 18 halogens cost £35.10

• costs more to run a halogen than LED

• LED has lower maintenance cost (where many used, eg large

 departmental store lighting)

energy efficiency

• LED works using a smaller current

• LED wastes less energy

• LEDs are more efficient

• LED is 22% more energy efficient

• LED produces less heat

• LED requires smaller input (power) for same output (power)

6
[11]

Q5.
(a) electrons
1

(b)

extra lines from a symbol negate the mark

3

(c) the total power = 7360 watts

1

current = 7360 ÷ 230

1

= 32 A
allow 32 with no working shown for 3 marks
1

so the current is greater than 30 A

1

(d) to increase the voltage (across the cables) or to decrease the current (through the
cables)
1

reducing energy losses (in the cables)

do not allow electricity for energy
do not allow no energy loss
1
 increasing the efficiency of transmission
1

(e) to decrease the potential difference for domestic use

1

(f)
1

(g) 405 / 900

1

=0.45
accept 45%
1
allow 0.45 or 45% with no working shown for 2 marks
[15]

Q6.
(a) (i) 150
1

(ii) transferred to the surroundings by heating

reference to sound negates mark
1

(iii) 0.75
450 / 600 gains 1 mark
accept 75% for 2 marks
maximum of 1 mark awarded if a unit is given
2

(iv) 20 (s)
correct answer with or without working gains 2 marks
correct substitution of 600 / 30 gains 1 mark
2

(b) (i) to avoid bias

1

(ii) use less power and last longer

1

1 LED costs £16, 40 filament bulbs cost £80

or

filament costs (5 times) more in energy consumption

1

(iii) any one from:

• availability of bulbs
• colour output
• temperature of bulb surface
 1
[10]

Q7.
(a) 0.093 A
1

(b) 0.093 A
1

(c) (increasing the resistance) decreases the current

1

therefore (the lamp will be) dimmer

1

(d) potential difference = current × resistance

accept correct rearrangement with R as subject
1

(e) 3.3 = 0.15 × R

1

R = 3.3 / 0.15 (Ω)

1

R = 22 (Ω)
1
allow 22 (Ω) without working shown for 3 marks

(f) line drawn from the origin with a decreasing gradient.

1
[9]