Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2014

Last exams 2024

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Power Generation & Transmission (DP IB Physics: HL)

Exam Questions

3 hours45 questions
1
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1 mark

To reduce power losses in the transmission lines between a power station and a town, two transformers are used. One is sited near to the power station and the second near to the town.

Which line correctly identifies the types of transformer used?

  Power station Town
A. step-down step-down
B. step-down step-up
C. step-up step-down
D. step-up step-up

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    2
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    1 mark

    A dynamo which outputs direct current features a coil rotating in a magnetic field.

    How is the direct current produced?

    • The induced emf in the coil changes direction every full turn and the commutator connects with a different side of the coil every half turn.

    • The induced emf in the coil changes direction every half turn and the commutator connects with the same side of the coil every half turn.

    • The induced emf in the coil does not change direction and the commutator connects with the same side of the coil.

    • The induced emf in the coil changes direction every half turn and the commutator connects with a different side of the coil every half turn.

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    3
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    1 mark

    Alternating current from a generator has a root mean square current of I.

    Which expression give the peak current?

    • 2 I

    • I square root of 2

    • I over 2

    • fraction numerator I over denominator square root of 2 end fraction

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    4
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    1 mark

    A student constructs a circuit with a supply of alternating current connected to an oscilloscope. They place a diode bridge between the supply and the oscilloscope.

    Which diagram correctly represents the graph which will be seen on the oscilloscope?

    11-2-ib-hl-mcqs-easy-q4-qs--a11-2-ib-hl-mcqs-easy-q4-qs-b

    11-2-ib-hl-mcqs-easy-q4-qs-c

    11-2-ib-hl-mcqs-easy-q4-qs-d

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      5
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      1 mark

      A step-down transformer has an input voltage in the primary coil of 4000 V and an output voltage of 20 V in the secondary coil.

      If the primary coil has 8000 turns, how many turns does the secondary coil have?

      • 40

      • 200

      • 80

      • 400

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      6
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      1 mark

      Transformers allow current and voltage to be varied. 

      Which combination of voltage and current is the most efficient for transferring power over long distances in cables?

       

        Voltage Current
      A. high high
      B. low low
      C. high low
      D. low high

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        7
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        1 mark

        A transformer receives alternating current. Both the rms voltage and the rms current increase by a factor of square root of 2.

        How is the maximum power affected?

        • It increases by a factor of square root of 2.

        • It increases by a factor of 2.

        • It increases by a factor of fraction numerator 1 over denominator square root of 2 end fraction.

        • It does not increase.

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        8
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        1 mark

        The following input voltage is connected to a capacitor and resistor in parallel.

        11-2-ib-hl-mcqs-easy-q8-qs

        Which graph represents the output voltage after the capacitor-resistor configuration?

        • 11-2-ib-hl-mcqs-easy-q8-qs-graph-and-4-options-a

        • 11-2-ib-hl-mcqs-easy-q8-qs-graph-and-4-options-b

        • 11-2-ib-hl-mcqs-easy-q8-qs-graph-and-4-options-c

        • 11-2-ib-hl-mcqs-easy-q8-qs-graph-and-4-options-d

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        9
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        1 mark

        A diode bridge is shown below, alternating current is supplied between terminals 1 and 2. 

        When terminal 1 is positive, which diodes are conducting?

        11-2-ib-hl-mcqs-easy-q9-qs

        • 1 and 2

        • 3 and 4

        • 1 and 4

        • 2 and 3

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        10
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        1 mark

        A laptop charger must convert the alternating voltage it receives into the following direct voltage.

         

        11-2-ib-hl-mcqs-easy-q10-qs-graph-and-4-options 

        Which circuit will achieve this?

        • 11-2-ib-hl-mcqs-easy-q10-qs-graph-and-4-options-a

        • 11-2-ib-hl-mcqs-easy-q10-qs-graph-and-4-options-b

        • 11-2-ib-hl-mcqs-easy-q10-qs-graph-and-4-options-c

        • 11-2-ib-hl-mcqs-easy-q10-qs-graph-and-4-options-d

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        1
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        1 mark

        Two identical resistors R are connected in parallel to an ac power supply with root mean squared (rms) voltage which provides rms current, I. What is the maximum power developed in one of the resistors in the circuit?

        • fraction numerator I V over denominator square root of 2 end fraction

        • I V

        • square root of 2 I V

        • 2 I V

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        2
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        1 mark

        A square loop of conducting wire is rotated at a constant rate in a region of magnetic field. The graph shows the variation with time t of the induced emf in the loop during one cycle.

        11-2-hl-mcq-medium-12-qun

        The resistance of the coil is 10.0 Ω. Which of the following values gives the average power dissipated in the loop?

        • 90 W

        • 45 W

        • fraction numerator 90 over denominator square root of 2 end fractionW

        • 90 square root of 2 W

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        3
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        1 mark

        What is the maximum instantaneous power delivered by a sinusoidal ac power supply with rms voltage V  supplying rms current 2I?

        • I V

        • 2 I V

        • 4 I V

        • fraction numerator 2 over denominator square root of 2 end fraction I V

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        4
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        1 mark

        An ac generator produces a root mean squared emf ε at frequency f. The rotational speed of the coil in the generator is increased by a factor of three. Which of the following correctly identifies the new values of frequency and output emfrms?

          emf frequency
        A. 3 epsilon f over 3
        B. 3 epsilon 3 f
        C. 3 square root of 2 space epsilon 3 f
        D. 3 square root of 2 space epsilon f over 3

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          5
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          1 mark

          An ideal transformer is supplied with power P. The transformer has Np turns on the primary coil and Ns turns on the secondary coil. Select the correct power output from the secondary coil.

          • fraction numerator N subscript p V subscript s I subscript p over denominator N subscript s end fraction

          • N subscript p over N subscript s cross times P

          • P

          • P to the power of negative 1 end exponent

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          6
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          1 mark

          The graph shows the variation with time t of the output voltage V of an ac generator.

          11-2-hl-mcq-medium-16-qun

          Which graph, with identical scales on the axes, shows the output when the speed of rotation is doubled?

          • 11-2-hl-mcq-medium-16-ans-a-wrong

          • 11-2-hl-mcq-medium-16-ans-b-wrong

          • 11-2-hl-mcq-medium-16-ans-c-wrong

          • 11-2-hl-mcq-medium-16-ans-d-correct

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          7
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          1 mark

          A power station produces ac voltage which is stepped up by a factor of 104. This reduces the power loss in the transmission cables by a factor of

          • 102

          • 104

          • 108

          • 1012

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          8
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          1 mark

          The secondary coil of an ac transformer is connected to two diodes as shown. 

          11-2-hl-mcq-medium-q18-qun

          Which graph correctly shows the variation with time of the potential difference VPQ between P and Q?

          • 11-2-hl-mcq-medium-18-ans-a-wrong

          • 11-2-hl-mcq-medium-18-ans-b-wrong

          • 11-2-hl-mcq-medium-18-ans-c-correct

          • 11-2-hl-mcq-medium-18-ans-d-wrong

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          9
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          1 mark

          A resistor of 3.0 kΩ is connected to an alternating current (ac) power supply of root mean square voltage 120 V. The graph shows the power dissipated in the resistor.

          11-2-hl-mcq-medium-q9-graph

          Which row correctly shows the frequency of the ac power supply and the average power dissipated in the resistor?

            frequency / Hz power / W
          A. 50 4.8
          B. 50 9.6
          C. 100 4.8
          D. 100 9.6

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            10
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            The diagram shows a diode bridge rectification circuit connected to a load resistor.

            11-2-hl-mcq-medium-q19-qun

            Which change to the circuit will produce an output signal showing the most smoothing?

            • 11-2-hl-mcq-medium-q10-a-wrong

            • 11-2-hl-mcq-medium-q10-b-wrong-

            • 11-2-hl-mcq-medium-q10-c-wrong-

            • 11-2-hl-mcq-medium-q10-answer-d-correct

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            1
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            1 mark

            In which of these circuits can full-wave rectification be achieved?

             

            11-2-ib-hl-mcq-q1_1

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              2
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              1 mark

              The sinusoidal current shown below flows through an 90 Ω resistor. It has an rms value of 2 A.

              11-2-ib-hl-mcq-q2_

              Which graph correctly shows the power dissipated in this resistor?

              11-2-ib-hl-mcq-q2_2

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                3
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                1 mark

                A cathode-ray oscilloscope screen with a grid of 1cm squares displays an alternating potential difference waveform. The gain and time base dials are set to show the full waveform on the screen.

                 

                11-2-ib-hl-mcq-q3

                 

                Which mathematical expression correctly describes the waveform of the potential difference?

                • V space equals space 10 sin open parentheses 1000 straight pi t close parentheses

                • V space equals space 5 sin open parentheses 1000 straight pi t close parentheses

                • V space equals space 10 sin open parentheses fraction numerator straight pi t over denominator 2 end fraction close parentheses

                • V space equals space sin open parentheses fraction numerator straight pi t over denominator 10 end fraction close parentheses

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                4
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                1 mark

                A coil, P, is connected to an alternating supply of potential difference. Another coil, Q, is placed nearby and connected to an oscilloscope. 

                A thick iron loop is now introduced, such that it passes through the centre of coil P and the centre of coil Q. 

                Which of the following shows the effect on the oscilloscope trace of introducing this new component?

                 

                  Height of trace Number of cycles on screen
                A. increase increase
                B. increase stays the same
                C. stays the same increase
                D. stays the same stays the same

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                  5
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                  1 mark

                  A step-up transformer is being tested before its use in a power distribution system that passes underwater. 

                  The secondary coil has 200 turns and is connected to a sample section of insulated power cable. The four metre-long cable has a resistance of 1050 Ω m-1. This is passed under a tank of water containing 5 L of water. The primary coil has 10 turns and is connected to a supply of alternating current. 

                  In 16 seconds, the temperature of the water increases from 23.5 °C to 24.5 °C. The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J kg-1 °C-1

                  Assuming 4 over 5 of the average power dissipated in the cable is transferred to the water's thermal store, what is the rms current of the alternating supply connected to the primary coil?

                  • 10.0 A

                  • 5 square root of 5 A

                  • 25.0 A

                  • 12.5 A

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                  6
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                  1 mark

                  Which of the following graphs best represents the variation of current I with time t through the segment AB in the circuit below?

                   

                  11-2-ib-hl-mcq-q6_1

                   

                  11-2-ib-hl-mcq-q6_2

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                    7
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                    1 mark

                    A power station generates power P to be delivered to a city distance L away using cables with a total resistance of R. This power is generated at voltage Vp and then stepped up by an ideal transformer before travelling along the cables.

                    The turns of the coils are in a ratio of N : 1, where N > 1. The station spends £0.10 per kW h of energy produced. 

                    How much money is lost by the station in one hour due to power loss in the cables?

                    • fraction numerator open parentheses N P close parentheses squared R over denominator 10 space 000 V subscript p squared end fraction

                    • fraction numerator 360 P squared R over denominator open parentheses N V subscript p close parentheses squared end fraction

                    • fraction numerator P squared R over denominator 10 space 000 open parentheses N V subscript p close parentheses squared end fraction

                    • fraction numerator 360 open parentheses N P close parentheses squared R over denominator V subscript p squared end fraction

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                    8
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                    The graph shows the output voltage from a half-wave rectifier. The load resistor has a resistance of 2.0 mΩ. An engineer wishes to smooth the output voltage by placing a capacitor in parallel across the load resistor.

                    new-graph

                    Which capacitor would be best for this task?

                    • 30 pF

                    • 40 nF

                    • 50 mF

                    • 6 F

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                    9
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                    1 mark

                    The voltage of an a.c. source varying with time t is shown in the graph below. 

                    k1g1UAGK_11-2-ib-hl-hmcq-9-q-stem

                    Which of the following gives the correct expression for the root-mean-square voltage, Vrms, if the peak voltage is V0?

                    • 0

                    • V subscript 0 over 2

                    • V subscript 0

                    • fraction numerator V subscript 0 over denominator square root of 2 end fraction

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                    10
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                    1 mark

                    Power is generated in a power station, stepped up and then transmitted around the country via transmission cables before being stepped down again to be used in homes. 

                    The total power incident on one transmission cable is 1000 MW. The cable is 100 km long and has a resistance of 0.02 Ω per m. As the electricity is transported along the cable 50% of the power is lost by the time it gets to the transformer. The primary coil has 3000 turns and the secondary coil 300 turns. 

                    How much current will be present in the transmission wire as it comes out of the transformer?

                    • 5 A

                    • 50 A

                    • 500 A

                    • 5000 A

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