8 Potential difference, electromotive

force and power Exam practice questions

Page 112–115 Exam practice questions

1 ΔQ = IΔt ⇒ C = A s (The answer is B.) [Total 1 Mark]
2 a) Rearranging P = VI
𝑃 1500 W
𝐼 = = = 6.5 A [2]
𝑉 230 V

b) Substituting into Q = It, and remembering to put the time in seconds:

𝑄 = 6.5 A × 20 × 60 s = 7.8 × 103 C (to 2 significant figures) [2]
c) Rearranging the definition that power = work done/ time taken:

thermal energy = power × time of operation

= 1500 J s −1 × 20 × 60 s = 1.8 MJ [2]
[Total 6 Marks]
-1
3 a) ΔE = PΔt = 50 J s × (12 × 60 × 60) s = 2.16 MJ [2]
−1
b) 1 kW h ≡ 1000 J s × (1.0 × 60 × 60) s ≡ 3.6 MJ [2]
(365 × 2.16) MJ
c) Number of units of electricity used in 1 year = = 219 units [2]
3.6 MJ

Cost = 219 × 15 p
= £32.85
≈ £33 [1]
[Total 7 Marks]
4 a) Energy saved over 8000 hours = �60 – 18�W × 8000 h
= 42 × 8 kWh = 336 kWh [2]
Cost of energy saved will be = 336 × 15 p
= £50.40 [1]
Allowing for £2 cost of lamp, total cost saved will be £48.40, which comfortably exceeds the
manufacturer’s claim. [2]
b) Apart from monetary cost, the saving in energy is important in conserving the world’s energy
resources as well as reducing the carbon footprint (less electrical energy consumed means
less carbon dioxide is created in its production). Against this, there may be a greater carbon
cost in manufacturing a low-energy lamp compared with a filament lamp, although it will
almost certainly last longer. From a safety aspect, the low-energy lamp will probably not get
as hot. [2]
[Total 7 Marks]

© Graham George & Mike Benn 2015

8 Potential difference, electromotive
force and power Exam practice questions

5 W = J s −1 (power = rate of doing work)

J = N m (work = force × distance)
N = kg m s −2 (from F = ma)
W = kg m s −2 × m × s −1 = kg m2 s −3
The answer is D. [Total 1 Mark]
6
Quantity or quantities

Which quantity is the product of two other Power = p.d. × current (from P = VI) [1]
quantities?
Which quantity is one of the quantities divided Current = power ÷ p.d. (from P = VI)
by one of the other quantities? p.d. = power ÷ current (from P = VI) [3]
(3 possible answers) p.d. = energy ÷ charge (from V = W/Q)
Which quantity, when divided by time, gives Current = charge ÷ time (from I = Q/t) [2]
another quantity in the table? Power = energy ÷ time (from P = W/t)
(2 possible answers)

[Total 6 Marks]
3 −3
7 a) ΔE = PΔt = VIΔt = 800 × 10 V × 500 × 10 A × 1.0 s = 400 kJ [2]
𝛥𝛥 400 × 103 J
b) ΔE = PΔt ⇒ Δt = = = 400 s ≈ 7 minutes [2]
𝑃 1000 J s-1

c) It has been assumed that all the energy radiated by the fire is received by the person. [1]
[Total 5 Marks]
8 a) Work done = force × distance moved
= 𝑚𝑚 × Δℎ = 0.600 kg × 9.8 N kg −1 × 0.94 m = 5.5 J [2]
work done
b) Power =
time taken
5.5 (3)J
=
7.7 s

= 0.72 W [2]
c) 𝑃 = 𝑉𝑉 = 3.2 V × 0.75 A = 2.4 W [2]
useful power taken out 0.718 W
d) Efficiency = = × 100% ≈ 30% [2]
total power put in 2.40 W

e) The rest of the energy will be converted into thermal energy by the work done by the motor
against friction as it rotates and by the masses against air resistance. Also, thermal energy will
be generated in the coil of the motor and in the connecting wires due to the current in them
having to overcome their electrical resistance. [2]
[Total 10 Marks]

© Graham George & Mike Benn 2015

8 Potential difference, electromotive
force and power Exam practice questions

9 a) The spread of the measurements for t is from 7.5 s to 7.9 s = 0.4 s.

The average value is therefore 7.7 ± 0.2 s. [1]
0.2 s
This gives the percentage uncertainty in t as × 100% = 3%. [1]
7.7 s
0.01 m
b) The percentage uncertainty in the height Δh is × 100% = 1%. [1]
0.94 m

The useful output power of the motor is given by mgΔh/t and so the percentage uncertainty
in its value is 3% (for t) + 1% (for Δh) = 4%. [1]
4
The uncertainty in the power is therefore × 0.72 W = 0.03 W.
100

The value for the power should therefore be written as 0.72 ± 0.03 W [1]
[Total 5 Marks]

10 a) Power delivered by alternator = 𝑉𝑉 = 14V × 70 A = 980 W.

b) Current taken by starter motor is given by rearranging 𝑃 = 𝑉𝑉:
𝑃 1500 W
𝐼 = = = 125 A
𝑉 12 V
c) For each headlight:
𝑃 60 W
𝐼 = = = 5A
𝑉 12 V
so the next fuse up, i.e. 8 A would be suitable.
d) Energy = 𝑉𝑉𝑉 = 12 V × 1 A × (62 × 60 × 60)s ≈ 2.7 M J
e) If the four sidelights are left on for 12 hours:
energy used = 4 × 5 W × (12 × 60 × 60) s = 864 000 J
[Total 12 Marks]

11 Using 𝑃 = 𝐹𝐹 power to drive at 90 km per hour up a gradient of 10% is given by:

90 × 103 m
P = 0.1 × 𝑚𝑚 × 𝑣 = 0.1 × 1740 kg × 9.8 N kg −1 ×
60 ×60 s

= 43 kW (to 2 s.f.)
Maximum power is stated as 180 kW, so fraction of maximum power
43 kW 1
= = 0.24 ≈
180 kW 4
[Total 5 Marks]

© Graham George & Mike Benn 2015

8 Potential difference, electromotive
force and power Exam practice questions

12 a) [3]

−1
b) P = VI = 0.53 V × 1.8 A = 0.954 J s [2]
𝐼 1.8 C s-1
c) I = nAvq ⇒ v = = [1]
𝑛𝑛𝑛 8.0 × 1028 m-3 × 0.059 × 10-6 m2 × 1.6 × 10-19 C
−3 −1
= 2.38 × 10 m s [1]
𝑃
d) From P = Fv ⇒ F =
𝑣

0.954 N m s-1
Total force on all the electrons in the wire = [1]
2.38 × 10-3 m s-1

= 400 N [1]
−6 2
e) Volume of wire = length × area of cross-section = 1.0 m × 0.059 × 10 m [1]
Number of electrons in wire = n × volume
28 −3 −6 2
= 8.0 × 10 m × 1.0 m × 0.059 × 10 m
21
= 4.72 × 10 electrons [1]
total force 400 N
Force on each electron = = [1]
number of electrons 4.72 × 1021 electrons
−20
= 8.5 × 10 N per electron [1]
[Total 13 Marks]

J Nm kg m s−2 × m
13 V = = = = kg m2 s −3 A−1
C As As

The answer is B.

[Total 1 Mark]

© Graham George & Mike Benn 2015

8 Potential difference, electromotive
force and power Exam practice questions

−1
14 a) ΔQ = IΔt = 4.5 C s × (4.0 × 60 × 60) s = 64 800 C [2]
b) Assuming p.d. is constant at 12 V: [1]
ΔE = VΔQ = 12 V × 64 800 C = 780 kJ [2]
c) Charge stored = area under graph ≈ 12¼ squares [1]
Each square ≡ 1.0 A × 2.0 h ≡ 2.0 A × (60 × 60) s ≡ 7200 C [1]
4 5
Charge after 10 hours = 12.25 × 7200 C = 8.8 × 10 C ≈ 1 × 10 C [1]
4 8.8 × 104
d) As 3600 C ≡ 1 A h ⇒ 8.8 × 10 C ≡ A h = 24 A h [2]
3600

Allowing for the difficulty in getting an accurate value for the area (any value between 12 and
12½ squares is reasonable), this is a good approximation to the manufacturer’s stated value
of 25 A h. [2]
[Total 12 Marks]

15 a) Difference in energy between 50-inch plasma and 50-inch LED

−1 9
= (300 – 71) J s × (365 × 12 × 60 × 60) s = 3.61 × 10 J per year [2]
3.61 × 109 J per year
= = 1000 units per year [1]
3.6 × 106 J unit-1

Cost difference per year = 1000 × 15 p = £150 [1]

Difference in purchase price of televisions £950 − £650 = £300
The payback time would therefore be 2 years. [1]
2
�50-inch�
b) 2 = 1.42 [2]
�42-inch�

300 W
For plasma set: = 1.43
210 W
71 W
For LED set: = 1.42 [2]
50 W

This strongly suggests that the power taken is proportional to the screen size squared. As the
area of the screen is proportional to the square of the screen size, the data suggest that the
power taken is proportional to the area of the screen. As most of the power will be used
illuminating the screen, this is not unexpected. [2]
[Total 11 Marks]

Stretch and challenge

16 a) E k = ½mv2

mass
As density = ⇒ mass = density × volume
volume

The air travels a distance v in 1 second, so volume of air stopped in 1 s = Av [1]

© Graham George & Mike Benn 2015

8 Potential difference, electromotive
force and power Exam practice questions

d𝑚
Mass of air stopped in 1 s = = density × volume stopped per second = ρ × Av [1]
d𝑡
d(½𝑚𝑣 2 )
P= [1]
d𝑡
2 d𝑚 2 3
= ½v × = ½v × ρAv = ½ρAv [2]
d𝑡

b) Energy will also be expended doing work against rotor blade friction and air resistance and in
the gearbox, generator and converter. [2]
3
c) P = 0.3 × ½ρAv [1]
−3 1.82 2 3 3 −3
= 0.3 × 0.5 × 1.3 kg m × π × � � m × (12.5 ) m s = 970 W [2]
4

This is therefore fairly close to the manufacturer’s claim of 1 kW. [1]

−1
d) If the average UK wind speed is 6 m s , the average power will be
3
6 m s-1
P av = 970 W × � -1
� = 107 W [2]
12.5 m s
−1 −1
As the turbine does not operate for speeds below 4 m s or above 13 m s , the actual output
would be less than this, probably somewhat less than 100 W. The turbine was shown,
therefore, not to be a viable proposition and so was withdrawn from sale. [2]
[Total 15 Marks]

© Graham George & Mike Benn 2015