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iGCSE Paper 2 – Formula Practice

Exercises
6 Transformers
42 marks / 45 mins
1. ! Transformer; transformer equation

Topics EM induction | EM forces

Marks 4 marks
ID QCJ94Q6.10
2. ! Transformer calculation

Topics EM induction
Marks 3 marks
ID QB04.H.13B
3. ! Transformers; coils

Topics EM induction
Marks 5 marks
ID QSP18.2H.06
4. Transformer investigation; heat loss; power calculation

Topics Mains electricity | Control in circuits | Work; power; energy

Marks 8 marks
ID Q18S.2H.07
5. ! Connecting circuits; Ohm's law resistance + p.d.; transformers

Topics Potential difference in circuits | EM induction

Marks 12 marks
ID Q14S.IP1.07
6. ! Transformers + National Grid

Topics Mains electricity | EM induction

Marks 10 marks
ID Q13S.IP2.06
 Instructions…

Use these focus questions to revise the formula you will need to…

 Know what the units and symbols mean

 Rearrange Mathematically
 Apply and use in a context

Make sure you know how to do each step for each equation.

Step Action

Write out the equations, in all their rearrangements and label with
1
units/ meanings….

2 Try an exam question in the booklet

When you get to a formula bit circle any numbers, decide on an

3
equation to use and try it out

4 Check your answers, working and units used.

Q1.
The diagram below shows a transformer.

(i) Name the material used to make the core of the transformer.
(1)

(ii) The primary coil has 48 000 turns and the secondary coil 4000 turns.

If the input voltage is 240 V a.c., calculate the output voltage.

(2)

(iii) Explain how the use of such a transformer could be adapted to transform a low
voltage into a higher voltage.
(1)
(Total 4 marks)

Q2.
A transformer is used to reduce the 230 V a.c. mains to the 12 V supply required for the
lighting system. The transformer has 1150 turns on its primary coil.

Calculate the number of turns on the secondary coil of the transformer. Show clearly how
you work out your answer.
(2)
(Total 2 marks)

Q3.
Figure 1 shows the construction of a simple transformer.

Figure 1
(a) Why is iron a suitable material for the core of a transformer?

Tick one box.

It is a metal.

It will not get hot.

It is easily magnetised.

It is an electrical conductor.

(1)

(b) A student makes three simple transformers, J, K and L.

Figure 2 shows how the potential difference across the secondary coil of each
transformer varies as the potential difference across the primary coil of each
transformer is changed.

Figure 2

How can you tell that transformer J is a step-down transformer?

(1)

(c) Each of the transformers has 50 turns on the primary coil.

Calculate the number of turns on the secondary coil of transformer L.

Use the correct equation from the Physics Equations Sheet.

(3)
(Total 5 marks)
Q4.
A student used a simple transformer to investigate how the number of turns on the
secondary coil affects the potential difference (p.d.) across the secondary coil.

The student kept the p.d. across the primary coil fixed at 2V.

Figure 1 shows the results collected by the student.

Figure 1

(a) Figure 1 contains one anomalous result.

Suggest one possible reason why this anomalous result occurred.

(1)

(b) The transformer changes from being a step-down to a step-up transformer.

How can you tell from Figure 1 that this happens?

(1)

A spot-welder is a device that uses a transformer to produce a large current to join sheets
of metal together.

Figure 2 shows a transformer demonstrating how a large current can heat and join two
nails together.
 Figure 2

(c) How does the amount of infrared radiation emitted by the nails change when the
power supply is switched on?
(1)

(d) Calculate the current from the power supply needed to provide a power output of
336 W.

Use the data in Figure 2.

The transformer is 100% efficient.

(5)
(Total 8 marks)

Q5.
The current in a circuit depends on the potential difference (p.d.) provided by the cells and
the total resistance of the circuit.

(a) Using the correct circuit symbols, draw a diagram to show how you would connect
1.5 V cells together to give a p.d. of 6 V.
(2)

(b) Figure 1 shows a circuit containing an 18 V battery.

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

• X has a resistance of 3 Ω.

• There is a current of 2 A in X.

Figure 1

(i) Calculate the p.d. across X.

(2)

(ii) Calculate the p.d. across Y.

 (2)

(iii) Calculate the total resistance of X and Y.

(2)

(c) Figure 2 shows a transformer.

Figure 2

(i) An 18 V battery could not be used as the input of a transformer.

Explain why.
(2)

(ii) The transformer is 100% efficient.

Calculate the output current for the transformer shown in Figure 2.

(2)
(Total 12 marks)

Q6.
The diagram shows a transformer with a 50 Hz (a.c.) supply connected to 10 turns of
insulated wire wrapped around one side of the iron core.
A voltmeter is connected to 5 turns wrapped around the other side of the iron core.

(a) What type of transformer is shown in the diagram?

Draw a ring around the correct answer.

step-down step-up switch mode

(1)

(b) The table shows values for the potential difference (p.d.) of the supply and the
voltmeter reading.

p.d. of the supply Voltmeter reading

in volts in volts
 6.4 3.2

3.2

6.4

(i) Complete the table.

(2)

(ii) Transformers are used as part of the National Grid.

How are the values of p.d. in the table different to the values produced by the
National Grid?
(1)

(c) Transformers will work with an alternating current (a.c.) supply but will not work with
a direct current (d.c.) supply.

(i) Describe the difference between a.c. and d.c.

(2)

(ii) Explain how a transformer works.

(4)
(Total 10 marks)
Mark schemes

Q1.
(i) iron
for 1 mark
1

(ii) 20
gains 2 marks

else working
gains 1 mark
2

(iii) reverse input/output

for 1 mark

or increase secondary turns

1
[4]

Q2.
60
allow 1 mark for correct transformation
2
[2]

Q3.
(a) It is easily magnetised.
1

(b) p.d. across the secondary coil is smaller (than p.d. across the primary coil)
1

(c) ratio Vp = 6

Vs 12
accept any other correct ratio taken from the graph
1

6 = 50

12 Np
use of the correct turns ratio and substitution or correct
transformation and substitution
1

Np = 100
allow 100 with no working shown for 3 marks
1
[5]

10
Q4.
(a) any one from:
• too few turns / coils on the secondary
allow number of turns / coils on the primary was
increased

• p.d. across the primary was reduced

ignore human error
1

(b) the p.d. (across the secondary) goes above 2V

allow p.d. across secondary is higher than p.d. across
primary after 20 turns
1

(c) it increases (until the nails reach a constant temperature)

1

(d)
1

Vp = 280 (V) 1

280 × Ip = 336
allow their calculated
Vp × Ip = 336 1

Ip = 1.2 (A)
allow an answer that is consistent with their calculated
value of Vp 1

or

336 = Is × 1.75 (1)

Is = 192 (A) (1)

allow

Ip = 1.2 (A) (1)

allow an answer that is consistent with their calculated
value of Is
an answer of 1.2 (A) scores 5 marks
11
 [8]

Q5.
(a) attempt to draw four cells in series
1

correct circuit symbols

circuit symbol should show a long line and a short line, correctly
joined together
example of correct circuit symbol:

(b) (i) 6 (V)

allow 1 mark for correct substitution, ie
V = 3 × 2 scores 1 mark
provided no subsequent step
2

(ii) 12 (V)
ecf from part (b)(i)
18 – 6
or
18 – their part (b)(i) scores 1 mark
2

(iii) 9 (Ω)
ecf from part (b)(ii) correctly calculated
3 + their part (b)(ii) / 2
or
18 / 2 scores 1 mark
provided no subsequent step
2

(c) (i) need a.c.

1

battery is d.c.
1

(ii) 3 (A)
allow 1 mark for correct substitution, ie
18 × 2 = 12 × Is scores 1 mark
2
[12]

Q6.
(a) step-down
1

(b) (i) 1.6

correct order only
1

12
 12.8
1

(ii) values of p.d. are smaller than 230 V

1

(c) (i) a.c. is constantly changing direction

accept a.c. flows in two / both directions
accept a.c. changes direction(s)
a.c. travels in different directions is insufficient
1

d.c. flows in one direction only

1

(ii) an alternating current / p.d. in the primary creates a changing / alternating

magnetic field
1

(magnetic field) in the (iron) core

current in the core negates this mark
accept voltage for p.d.
1

(and so) an alternating p.d.

1

(p.d.) is induced across secondary coil

1
[10]

Examiner reports

Q1.
The answers to this question were generally pleasing. In (iii) the expected scoring response was
to reverse the input and output terminals but full credit was also given to the many candidates
who correctly rewired the transformer.

Q2.
This question was often high scoring.

Most candidates could recall the equation needed in this part and many candidates went on to
calculate the correct answer.

Q4.
(a) Many students had the correct idea, but imprecise detail such as ‘wrong number of turns’
or ‘number of turns was miscounted’ were insufficient to score the mark.

(b) Many students tried to answer the question from a general knowledge about transformers,
rather than using information from the graph, and so did not gain credit.

(c) Most of the answers were correct. A very small number of students wrote ‘hotter’ but made
no reference to infrared or thought it was just a temperature increase.

(d) This question involved a two stage calculation, a new feature of the examination.
Nearly 33 % of students knew the equations to use and how to use them, scoring all five

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 marks. A further 35% of students correctly used one equation to give a partially correct
answer, scoring three marks.

Q5.
(a) Of the whole exam paper, this question had the highest percentage of students who did
not attempt an answer. Around three-quarters of students correctly identified that four
cells would be needed and drew the correct symbols. However, these were often joined
by dotted lines, or not joined at all.

(b) The calculations were very well answered with nearly all students scoring both marks for
part (i) and more than three-quarters scoring full marks for parts (ii) and (iii).

(c) (i) Around half of students had the correct idea. However, some failed to score both
marks by just referring to either the fact that the transformer needs alternating
current to work, or that the battery supplies direct current, but not referring to both.
Incorrect answers commonly referred to the voltage being too high, or too low.

(ii) This calculation question was well answered, with around three-quarters of students
scoring both marks.

Q6.
(a) Most students recognised the transformer illustrated as being a step-down transformer.

(b) (i) Most students were able to complete a table with values of potential difference from
the input and output of the transformer.

(ii) Most students knew that the values of potential difference produced by the National
Grid were larger than those given in the question.

(c) (i) Only half of the students gave an adequate description of the difference between a.c
and d.c., for example, ‘a.c. flows in two directions whereas d.c. only flows in one
direction’. A quarter of students scored zero. Their explanations often used ‘ways’
instead of ‘directions’ and referred to ‘positive’ and ‘negative’.

(ii) The explanation of how a transformer works was poorly answered with more than a
third of students scoring zero out of four.

Many answers only referred to the number of turns on each coil. Very few students
mentioned the changing magnetic field in the primary coil and others stated that
there was a current in the core.

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