Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2014

Last exams 2024

|

Energy Sources (DP IB Physics: SL)

Exam Questions

4 hours45 questions
1
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1 mark

Engineers are able to compare fuels by unit to analyse efficiency when designing new cars.

Which of the rows below correctly match the units of specific energy and the energy density? 

 

Specific Energy

Energy Density

A.

J

J

B.

Nm

kg m−3

C.

J kg−1

J m−3

D.

kg m2 s−2

 J kg m−3

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    2
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    1 mark

    Sankey diagrams are used to represent energy transfers. 

    Which Sankey diagram shows the most efficient lightbulb?

    8-1-ib-sl-easy-mcq-q2-phy

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      3
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      1 mark

      The Sankey diagram for a new toaster is being analysed in a laboratory. 

      What is the correct amount of energy supplied to the bread as heat?

      8-1-q3-ib-sl-mcq-phy

      • 60 J

      • 40 J

      • 100 J

      • 0 J

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      4
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      1 mark

      A scientist is investigating different primary energy sources.

      Which row contains only primary energy sources?

      A.

      oil

      petrol

      gas

      B.

      waste

      biofuels

      biomass

      C.

      wave

      solar

      electricity

      D.

      wind

      geothermal

      hydroelectric

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        5
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        1 mark

        Fossil fuels are a non-renewable form of energy.

        Which statement gives a correct description of how fossil fuels are used to produce electricity? 

        • Burning fossil fuels provides thermal energy to a solar panel causing electrons to be excited and a current to be produced

        • Burning fossil fuels produces steam, which can turn turbines to generate electricity

        • Burning fossil fuels provides thermal energy to heat water under the earth, this water produces steam which turns a turbine to produce electricity

        • In instances of low wind speeds, burning fossil fuels can create steam and thermal energy to rotate big wind turbines

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        6
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        1 mark

        Energy resources can be described as renewable or non-renewable. 

        Which row gives a correct renewable and a correct non-renewable resource?

         

        Renewable Resource

        Non-Renewable Resource

        A.

        Solar energy

        Wind energy

        B.

        Coal

        Hydroelectricty

        C.

        Tidal Energy

        Nuclear Fission

        D.

        Natural Gas

        Diesel

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          7
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          1 mark

          What is the most common energy source used in central heating systems around the world?

          • Natural Gas

          • Electricity

          • Petrol

          • Solar

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          8
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          1 mark

          Fuels can be compared per unit by analysing specific energy or energy density. 

          Which formula is correct for the density of a material?

          • density = specific energy × energy density

          • density = specific energy + energy density

          • d e n s i t y space equals space fraction numerator E n e r g y space d e n s i t y over denominator S p e c i f i c space e n e r g y end fraction

          • d e n s i t y space equals space fraction numerator S p e c i f i c space e n e r g y over denominator E n e r g y space d e n s i t y end fraction

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          9
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          1 mark

          Solar heating panels and photovoltaic cells can be used in countries where there is bright sunlight for large portions of the day. 

          Which row identifies the correct statements for the use of both solar heating panels and photovoltaic cells? 

           

          Solar Heating Panels

          Photovoltaic Cells

          A.

           heat tap water

          generate electricity

          B.

          cool drinking water

          heat drinking water

          C.

          store water

          store electricity 

          D.

          generate electricity

          heat tap water

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            10
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            1 mark

            Energy is consumed from different sources. A survey carried out in 2019 identifies the amount of energy consumed from: coal, oil, natural gas and renewables.

            Which row identifies the sources of energy in order of most consumed to least consumed? 

             

            Most Consumed Second-Most Consumed Third-Most Consumed Least Consumed

            A.

            Coal Oil Natural Gas Renewables

            B.

            Renewables Coal Oil Natural Gas

            C.

            Oil Coal Natural Gas Renewables

            D.

            Natural Gas Oil Renewables Coal

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              11 mark

              Energy density is a property of a substance which is calculated by multiplying its specific energy with which quantity?

              • Volume

              • Mass

              • Volume × mass

              • fraction numerator Mass blank over denominator Volume end fraction

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              21 mark

              Diesel fuel has a specific energy of about 4.5 × 107 J kg−1 and an energy density of close to 3.5 × 1010 J m−3. Which value is closest to the density of diesel?

              • 1.2 × 10−3 kg m−3

              • 800 kg m−3

              • 3.7 × 1010 kg m−3

              • 1.7 × 1018 kg m−3

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              31 mark

              The Sankey diagram shows the energy transformations in a laptop computer while a person is watching a film.

              q13_energy-sources_ib-sl-physics-mcq

              What is the efficiency of the laptop?

              • 3 %

              • 8 %

              • 31 %

              • 69 %

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              41 mark

              Possible energy sources used in power stations are

              1. coal
              2. biofuel
              3. nuclear fuel
              4. water released from natural reservoirs

              Which of these are primary sources of energy?

              • I and II

              • I, III and IV

              • III only

              • I, II, III and IV

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              51 mark

              Which line in the table correctly shows a renewable and a non-renewable energy, and a major direct use for both energy sources?

               

              Renewable

              Non-renewable

              Direct use of both

              A.

              geothermal

              natural gas

              heating homes

              B.

              nuclear fuel

              oil

              generating electricity

              C.

              geothermal

              natural gas

              transport

              D.

              solar energy

              nuclear fuel

              heating homes

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                61 mark

                Horizontal-axis wind turbines convert a proportion of the kinetic energy of the wind incident on the propeller into kinetic energy of the rotating blades. The conversion cannot be 100 % because:

                • Wind is an unreliable energy source

                • Density and temperature of the air affect speed of rotation

                • Air molecules would be brought to rest if all the energy was transferred

                • Momentum of the blades keeps them in motion

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                71 mark


                An array of photovoltaic cells is set up so that 20 solar cells are connected together as shown. Each cell has an output of 12 V and 2.5 A.

                q17_energy-sources_ib-sl-physics-mcq

                What is the potential difference and the current output of the array?

                 

                Potential difference / V

                Current / A

                A.

                48

                10.0

                B.

                48

                12.5

                C.

                60

                10.0

                D.

                60

                12.5

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                  81 mark

                  What is an advantage of pumped storage systems?

                  • They can be sited in most areas where energy is needed

                  • They are carbon neutral

                  • Energy can be generated rapidly at times of peak demand

                  • Efficiency is greater than one since energy is being used to run them which would otherwise go to waste

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                  91 mark

                  A wind turbine has a power output P when the wind speed is v. What is the wind speed when the power output is reduced to 1 halfP if the efficiency is not affected?

                  • v over 4

                  • fraction numerator v over denominator square root of 8 end fraction

                  • v over 2

                  • fraction numerator v over denominator cube root of 2 end fraction

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                  101 mark

                  An arrangement of wind turbines is shown, with four possible directions of wind.

                  Which orientation of the turbines to the wind will allow the maximum energy to be generated from this wind farm?

                  q20_energy-sources_ib-sl-physics-mcq

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                    1
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                    1 mark

                    Water flows from a lake into a turbine that is a vertical distance of 90 m below the lake, as shown.

                    q23_work-energy-_-power_aqa-as-physics-mcq

                    The mass flow rate of the water is 3000 kg min–1. The turbine has an efficiency of 60%. Acceleration due to free fall is 10 m s−2.

                    What is the output power of the turbine?

                    • 1.62 kW

                    • 27 kW

                    • 45 kW

                    • 2700 kW

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                    2
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                    1 mark

                    What is the efficiency of a system whose Sankey diagram is shown below?

                    8-1-sl-mcq-hard-q2-phy

                    The Sankey diagram is drawn to scale.

                    • 10%

                    • 20%

                    • 30%

                    • 40%

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                    3
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                    1 mark

                    A coal-fired power station with an efficiency ε burns fuel that has an energy density and a specific energy S. The rate at which the mass of the fuel is consumed is M.

                    What is the power output of the power station? 

                    • fraction numerator D space cross times space M over denominator epsilon end fraction

                    • fraction numerator M space cross times space S over denominator epsilon end fraction

                    • ε × M × S

                    • ε × × M

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                    4
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                    1 mark

                    Which adaptation to a wind turbine produces the largest increase in its maximum possible theoretical power output?

                    • Increasing the radius of the blades by a factor of two

                    • Increasing the blade area by a factor of two

                    • Increasing the density of the incident air by a factor of two

                    • Increasing the speed of the incident air by a factor of two

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                    5
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                    1 mark

                    Burning 1 kg of coal produces less energy than burning 1 litre of gasoline. The density of gasoline is 1 g cm−3

                    Which option is correct?

                    • Specific energy of coal is greater than the specific energy of gasoline

                    • Energy density of coal is greater than the energy density of gasoline

                    • Energy density for gasoline is greater than the energy density for coal

                    • Specific energy for gasoline is greater than the specific energy for coal

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                    6
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                    1 mark

                    In a nuclear reactor, a chain reaction is produced and controlled. Uranium-235 is the isotope used in many nuclear reactors.

                    Which of the following statements is incorrect?

                    • The fission causes 2 or 3 neutrons to be released every second.

                    • This causes further uranium nuclei to fission.

                    • This releases further neutrons that can be absorbed again, leading to a chain reaction.

                    • These neutrons can be absorbed by other nuclei.

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                    7
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                    1 mark

                    A wind turbine of blade length m has wind of a speed  m s−1 and air density ρ incident on its blades. 

                    Which expression shows the power obtained by the wind turbine every second? 

                    • 1 half r pi rho squared v squared

                    • 1 half rho pi r squared space v cubed

                    • 1 half rho r squared v cubed

                    • 1 half rho pi v squared space r cubed

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                    8
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                    1 mark

                    The following nuclear fusion reaction is taking place in a nuclear reactor: 

                    straight H presubscript 1 presuperscript 2 plus straight H presubscript 1 presuperscript 3 space rightwards arrow space He presubscript 2 presuperscript 4 space plus space straight n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1 space plus space energy

                    The following data is available: 

                    • The mass defect ≈ 0.02 u
                    • Atomic mass unit, u ≈ 2.0 × 10−27 kg
                    • Number of seconds in a year = 3 × 107

                    What is an estimate of the number of such fusion reactions required to keep an average household, which uses approximately 24 000 kWh of electrical energy per year, running for a year? 

                    • 2 × 1015 

                    • 1 × 1019 

                    • 3 × 1021 

                    • 2 × 1026 

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                    9
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                    1 mark

                    Burning 1000 kg of coal can yield 3 × 1010 J of energy. When a thermal neutron is absorbed by a uranium-235 nucleus it produces fission products as well as three neutrons. 

                    straight n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1 space plus space straight U presubscript 92 presuperscript 235 space rightwards arrow space Zr presubscript 40 presuperscript 98 space plus space Te presubscript 52 presuperscript 135 space plus space 3 straight n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1 space plus space energy

                    The following data is available:

                    • Mass defect ≈ 0.2 u
                    • Mass of straight U presubscript 92 presuperscript 235 ≈ 4 × 10−25 kg
                    • Atomic mass unit, u ≈ 2.0 × 10−27 kg

                    What is an estimate of the mass of coal needed to give the same amount of energy as 1 kg of Uranium-235?

                    • 3 × 10kg

                    • 2.6 × 106 kg

                    • 4.7 × 108 kg

                    • 7.7 × 1013 kg

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                    10
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                    1 mark

                    A solar panel has a surface area of 2.5 m2 and an efficiency of 25 %. The average intensity of sunlight received per day is 8 kWh m−2  for an average of 10 hours per day. 

                    The average electricity consumption per factory is 100 kWh per day on an industrial estate of five factories where each factory is in operation for 20 hours each day. 

                    How many solar panels are needed to power the industrial estate for one day?

                    • 5

                    • 10

                    • 25

                    • 50

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