Name:

Date:

P2 - Test 4
ELECTRICITY
Intermediate

GCSE Mark Grade

PHYSICS
AQA - Triple Science
Materials
For this paper you must have:
Ruler
Pencil and Rubber
Scientific calculator, which you are expected to use when appropriate

Instructions
Answer all questions
Answer questions in the space provided
All working must be shown

Information
The marks for the questions are shown in brackets

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 Solar cells produce electricity using light from the Sun.
1.

The symbol for a solar cell is:

A householder has three solar cells.

Each solar cell has an output potential difference of 0.70 V

(a) Which arrangement of three solar cells will give a potential difference of 2.10 V?

Tick one box.

(1)

(b) A solar cell has a resistance of 2.5 Ω when the output potential difference is 0.70 V

Calculate the current through the solar cell.

Use the equation:

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Current = ____________________ A
(2)

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The graph below shows a graph of current against potential difference for a different type of solar
cell.

(c) The power output of the solar cell is calculated using the equation.

power = current × potential difference

Which value of potential difference on the graph above gives the maximum power output of
the solar cell?

Tick one box.

0.1 V 0.3 V 0.6 V 0.7 V

Give the reason for your answer.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

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 (d) Write down the equation that links efficiency, total power input and useful power output.

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(1)

(e) The total power input to the solar cell is 2.4 W when the efficiency is 0.20

Calculate the useful power output of the solar cell.

___________________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Useful power output = ____________________ W

(3)
(Total 9 marks)

Diagram 1 shows a hairdryer.

2. Diagram 2 shows how the heaters and fan of the hairdryer are connected to a 3-pin plug.
The hairdryer does not have an earth wire.

(a) What colour is the insulation around the wire connected to the live pin inside the plug?

______________________________
(1)

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(b) Why does the hairdryer not need an earth wire?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(c) All the switches are shown in the OFF position.

(i) Which switch or switches have to be ON to make:

(1) only the fan work; ____________________________________________

(2) heater 2 work? ______________________________________________

(2)

(ii) The heaters can only be switched on when the fan is also switched on.

Explain why.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

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 (d) The table shows the current drawn from the 230 volt mains electricity supply when different
parts of the hairdryer are switched on.

Current in amps

Fan only 1.0

Fan and heater 1 4.4

Fan and both heaters 6.5

Calculate the maximum power of the hairdryer.

Show clearly how you work out your answer and give the unit.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Maximum power = ______________________________

(3)
(Total 9 marks)

Electrical circuits have resistance.

3.
(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)

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(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.

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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)

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(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 0°C Resistance at 100°C in

Metal sample
in ohms 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)

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(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)

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 (a) The diagram shows a polythene rod being rubbed with a woollen cloth.
4.

The polythene rod becomes negatively charged.

Explain how this happens.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

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(b) A student put the charged polythene rod on to a balance. The rod was separated from the
metal pan of the balance by a thin block of insulating material.
The student then held a second charged polythene rod above, but not touching, the first
rod. The reading on the balance increased.

(i) Explain why the reading on the balance increases.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(ii) The student observed that the nearer the two rods are to each other, the bigger the
increase in the balance reading.

What should the student conclude from this observation?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

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 (a) The diagram shows the circuit used to obtain the data needed to plot the current–potential
5. 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)

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(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.

Energy Cost of one Average lifetime

Type of light bulb
efficiency light bulb in hours

Halogen 10% £1.95 2 000

Light Emitting Diode

32% £11.70 36 000
(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)

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 (a) Fine powders poured through a pipe can become charged. The diagram shows the
6. apparatus used by a student to investigate this effect.

The student poured 75 cm3 of polystyrene beads down the pipe. The beads fell into a metal
can and the charge on them was measured directly using a coulombmeter.

The student repeated this twice more, but each time used 75 cm3 of beads of a different
size.

(i) When they fell through the pipe, the polystyrene beads became negatively charged.

Explain how this happened.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

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______________________________________________________________
(3)

(ii) Give one control variable in the student's investigation.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

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(b) The results obtained by the student are shown in the table.

Diameter of polystyrene beads in mm Charge in microcoulombs

1.0 0.080

2.0 0.044

3.0 0.012

(1 000 000 microcoulombs = 1 coulomb)

(i) Describe the connection between the size of the polystyrene beads and the total
charge on the beads.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii) Explain how these results might be different if the student had used a shorter pipe.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(c) In industry, powders are often pumped through pipes. If the static charge caused a spark,
the powder could ignite and cause an explosion.

(i) Is an explosion more likely to happen when pumping very fine powders or when
pumping powders that consist of much larger particles?

______________________________________________________________

Give a reason for your answer.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii) Suggest one way that the risk of an explosion could be reduced.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

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 (d) The table gives the minimum ignition energy (MIE) value for a number of fine powders.
The MIE is the minimum amount of energy required to cause a fine powder to ignite.

Type of powder MIE in millijoules

Coal dust 60.00

Aluminium powder 10.00

Cornstarch dust 0.30

Iron powder 0.12

The MIE values for different substances are all measured in the same way and under the
same conditions of pressure and temperature.

Why is this important?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 10 marks)

A student investigated how the resistance of a piece of nichrome wire varies with length.
7.
Figure 1 shows part of the circuit the student used.

Figure 1

(a) Complete Figure 1 by adding an ammeter and a voltmeter.

Use the correct circuit symbols.

(3)

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(b) Describe how the student would obtain the data needed for the investigation.

Your answer should include a risk assessment for one hazard in the investigation.

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(6)

(c) Why would switching off the circuit between readings have improved the accuracy of the
student’s investigation?

Tick one box.

The charge flow through the wire would not change.

The potential difference of the battery would not increase.

The power output of the battery would not increase.

The temperature of the wire would not change.

(1)

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(d) The student used crocodile clips to make connections to the wire.

They could have used a piece of equipment called a ‘jockey’.

Figure 2 shows a crocodile clip and a jockey in contact with a wire.

Figure 2

How would using the jockey have affected the accuracy and resolution of the student’s
results compared to using the crocodile clip?

Tick two boxes.

The accuracy of the student’s results would be higher.

The accuracy of the student’s results would be lower.

The accuracy of the student’s results would be the same.

The resolution of the length measurement would be higher.

The resolution of the length measurement would be lower.

The resolution of the length measurement would be the same.

(2)
(Total 12 marks)

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 The current in a circuit depends on the potential difference provided by the cells and the total
8. resistance of the circuit.

(a) Figure 1 shows the graph of current against potential difference for a component.

What is the name of the component?

Draw a ring around the correct answer.

diode filament bulb thermistor

(1)

(b) Figure 2 shows a circuit containing a 6 V battery.

Two resistors, X and Y, are connected in parallel.

The current in some parts of the circuit is shown.

(i) What is the potential difference across X?

Potential difference across X = _______________ V

(1)

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(ii) Calculate the resistance of X.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Resistance of X = _______________ Ω
(2)

(iii) What is the current in Y?

Current in Y = _______________ A
(1)

(iv) Calculate the resistance of Y.

______________________________________________________________

Resistance of Y = _______________ Ω
(1)

(v) When the temperature of resistor X increases, its resistance increases.

What would happen to the:

• potential difference across X

• current in X

• total current in the circuit?

Tick ( ) three boxes.

Decrease Stay the same Increase

Potential difference
across X

Current in X

Total current in the circuit

(3)
(Total 9 marks)

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 (a) A washing machine is connected to the mains electricity supply using a cable and three-pin
9. plug.

Figure 1 shows a three-pin plug.

Figure 1

Name the materials used in the structure of a plug. Give the reason why each material is
used.

Pin ________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Outer case _________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) The three-pin plug contains a fuse. The fuse is connected to one of the wires inside the
cable.

(i) Which one of the wires inside the cable is the fuse connected to?

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii) The fuse is a thin wire inside a closed glass tube. The wire acts as a resistor.

What effect does a current through a wire have on the wire?

______________________________________________________________
(1)

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 (iii) The power of the washing machine varies between 0.7 kW and 2 kW depending on
which part of the wash cycle is operating.

Calculate the maximum current drawn from the mains electricity supply by the
washing machine.

The mains electricity supply is at a potential difference of 230 V.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Current = __________________________ A
(2)

(c) Figure 2 shows how the mains electricity cable is connected to the washing machine.

The earth wire is connected to the metal case of the washing machine.

Figure 2

If a fault makes the metal case live, the earth wire and fuse inside the plug prevent the
mains cable from overheating and causing a fire.

Explain how.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

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 (d) New research has shown that many people underestimate the hazards of using mains
electricity.

It is important that people do understand the hazards of using mains electricity.

Suggest why.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 9 marks)

(a) Figure 1 shows the inside of a battery pack designed to hold three identical 1.5 V cells.
10.
Figure 1

Which one of the arrangements shown in Figure 2 would give a 4.5 V output across the
battery pack terminals T?

Figure 2

(1)

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(b) Figure 3 shows a variable resistor and a fixed value resistor connected in series in a
circuit.

Figure 3

Complete Figure 3 to show how an ammeter would be connected to measure the current
through the circuit.

Use the correct circuit symbol for an ammeter.

(1)

(c) The variable resistor can be adjusted to have any value from 200 ohms to 600 ohms.

Figure 4 shows how the reading on voltmeter V1 and the reading on voltmeter V2 change
as the resistance of the variable resistor changes.

Figure 4

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(i) How could the potential difference of the battery be calculated from Figure 4?

Tick (✔) one box.

9 + 3 = 12 V

9–3=6V

9÷3=3V

Give the reason for your answer.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(ii) Use Figure 4 to determine the resistance of the fixed resistor, R.

Resistance of R = ___________ Ω

Give the reason for your answer.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(iii) Calculate the current through the circuit when the resistance of the variable resistor
equals 200 Ω.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Current = ___________ A
(3)
(Total 9 marks)

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 A student set up the electrical circuit shown in the figure below.
11.

(a) The ammeter displays a reading of 0.10 A.

Calculate the potential difference across the 45 Ω resistor.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Potential difference = _______________________ V

(2)

(b) Calculate the resistance of the resistor labelled R.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Resistance = _______________________ Ω
(3)

(c) State what happens to the total resistance of the circuit and the current through the circuit
when switch S is closed.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

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