iGCSE (Pre – 2017 Questions)

IGCSE Mains Electricity

S I made a silly slip

K I just did not know the

Practice Exam Questions science

R I misread the question

Improvement
E My writing was not clear/
Qu. Mark Max point detailed
SKREAM
A I did not apply the
1 4 knowledge

2 4 M I applied the maths

incorrectly

3 1

4 9

5 7

6 5

7 8

8 5

9 3

Total 46

Overall Comment

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iGCSE (Pre – 2017 Questions)
Questions

Q1.
(b) A hairdryer connected to the mains supply takes a current of 5.5 A.
(i) Which of these fuses should be used with the hairdryer?
(1)
A 3A
B 5A
C 7A
D 13 A
(ii) Explain your answer.

1)

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(iii) The hairdryer has a plastic case so there is no need for an earth wire connection
in the plug.
Explain why the hairdryer is still safe to use. (2)
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(Total for question =4 marks)

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iGCSE (Pre – 2017 Questions)

Q2.

A washing machine has an electric motor and an electric

heater.

The mains voltage is 230 V.

the current in the heater is about 10 A when it is working.

(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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iGCSE (Pre – 2017 Questions)
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(Total for question = 4 marks)

Q3.

A student is listening to a radio.

(a) The radio is powered by batteries that provide a direct current (d.c.).

What is direct current?

(1)
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(Total for question = 1 marks)

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iGCSE (Pre – 2017 Questions)

Q4.

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)

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iGCSE (Pre – 2017 Questions)

(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)

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iGCSE (Pre – 2017 Questions)

Q5.

A soldering iron is a tool used when joining electronic components in a circuit.

It has an electric heater.
(a) Soldering iron A operates when connected to the mains supply.

Soldering iron A is labelled 230 V, 30 W.

(i) What does 30 W tell you about the energy transfer in the soldering iron?

(2)

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iGCSE (Pre – 2017 Questions)

(ii) This soldering iron has an earth connection.

Explain how an earth connection protects the user.

(2)

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(b) Soldering iron B is connected to a low voltage power supply.

Soldering iron B is labelled 24 V, 70 W.

A student says:

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iGCSE (Pre – 2017 Questions)

(i) Use information from the soldering iron labels to evaluate this statement.

(3)

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(Total for question = 7 marks)

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iGCSE (Pre – 2017 Questions)

Q6.

A wind turbine generates electricity for the National Grid.

(b) The generator in the wind turbine transfers 39 MJ of energy in 1 minute.

The generator current is 490 A.
(i) Calculate the output voltage of the generator.
(3)

Voltage = ........................................................... V

(c) The generator provides a direct current (d.c.).

This d.c. is changed to an alternating current (a.c.).
The frequency of the alternating current is 50 Hz.
(i) Explain the meaning of 50 Hz alternating current.
(2)

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(Total for question = 5marks)

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iGCSE (Pre – 2017 Questions)

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iGCSE (Pre – 2017 Questions)

Q7.

This question is about an electric kettle.

(a) The Sankey diagram represents the energy transfers taking place when the kettle
heats some water.

What is the efficiency of the kettle?

(1)
A 0.1
B 0.9
C 200
D 1800

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iGCSE (Pre – 2017 Questions)
(b) Why does the heating element in the kettle get hot when its electrical supply is
switched on?
(2)

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(c) The power of the heating element in the kettle is 2000 W when it is connected to a
230 V mains supply.
(i) State the equation linking power, current and voltage.
(1)

(ii) Show that the current in the heating element is approximately 9 A.

(2)

Current = ........................................................... A

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iGCSE (Pre – 2017 Questions)

(iii) The plug of the kettle has a fuse.

Fuses are available in values of
1A 3A 7A 13 A
Identify the fuse that is the most suitable for this kettle, and explain why.
(2)

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(Total for question = 8 marks)

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iGCSE (Pre – 2017 Questions)

Q8.

A student uses an electric heater to investigate efficiency.

He places the heater in an aluminium block, switches the heater on and measures the
temperature of the block each minute for 20 minutes.

(a) The student wants to calculate the electrical energy supplied to the heater.
(i) Complete the table by recording the readings shown on the meters below.
(2)

(ii) Show that the energy supplied to the heater in 20 minutes is about 30 000 J.
(3)

(Total for question = 5 marks)

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iGCSE (Pre – 2017 Questions)

Q9.

The diagram shows a heater coil and a resistor connected to a 12 V battery and an ammeter.
The ammeter reading is 1.2 A.

(a) The voltage across the heater coil is about 7 V.

(iv) Calculate the energy transferred to the heater coil in 5.0 minutes.
(3)

Energy transferred = ........................................................... J

(Total for question = 3 marks)

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iGCSE (Pre – 2017 Questions)
Markscheme
Q1.

Q2.

Q3.

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Q4.

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Q5.

19
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Q6.

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Q7.

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iGCSE (Pre – 2017 Questions)
Q.8

Q9.

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