Mains Electricity (Edexcel GCSE Physics)

Exam Questions

49 mins8 questions
1a
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1 mark

Alternating current is the movement of charge

square   A   up and down.

square   B   in many directions.

square   C   in one direction.

square   D   backwards and forwards.

1b
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1 mark

State an electrical device or component that provides direct current.

1c
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2 marks

Describe the difference between direct and alternating current.

1d
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1 mark

Which row about the UK domestic supply is correct?


   Type of Current Frequency (Hz) Voltage (V)
  square  A A.C 50 230
  square  B A.C 230 50
  square  C D.C 50 230
  square  D D.C 230 50

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2a
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1 mark
State a device that produces A.C.
2b
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1 mark

Explain the purpose of the neutral mains input wire.

2c
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1 mark

What colour is the insulating cable of the live wire in a UK plug?

   A   blue

   B   green and yellow stripes

   C   brown

   D   red

2d
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3 marks

State the potential difference of the 

i)
earth wire,
[1]
ii)
live wire,
[1]
iii)
neutral wire.
[1]

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3a
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2 marks

State the function of the earth wire in a UK plug.

3b
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3 marks

A fuse is commonly used to ensure it is safe to use a circuit. 

Explain how a fuse ensures the circuit is safe to use.

3c
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3 marks

Explain why it is dangerous to provide any connection between the live and earth wires.

3d
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1 mark

Explain why switches and fuses should be connected in the live wire of a domestic circuit.

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1a2 marks

Explain what is meant by the term A.C.

1b2 marks

Figure 1 shows a kettle. The kettle uses A.C. current to heat water.

2-3-q5a-e-kettle-metal-case-safety-sq-igcse

Figure 1

The kettle has a metal case. 

Explain why it would be dangerous for the live wire from the electric cable to touch the case of the kettle.

1c3 marks

The kettle uses mains power to function.

 
(i)
State the potential difference of the UK main supply.
[1]
(ii)
A label on the kettle says that its power output is 2.5 kW.
 
Show that the current in the kettle is about 11 A.
[2]
1d3 marks
(i)
State the relationship between voltage, current and resistance.
[1]
 
(ii)
Calculate the resistance of the kettle.
[2]
 
resistance .......................................... Ω

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2a3 marks

Figure 1 shows an incomplete table of the insulating cable colours for the wires in a UK plug.

Complete the table by filling in the missing information.

Colour of insulating cable Name of wire
Blue  
Brown  
Red  
Yellow and green stripes  

Figure 1

2b2 marks

An electric lamp contains a 3 A fuse.

Explain the role of the fuse within the circuit of the lamp.

2c1 mark

Which of the diagrams shows a fuse which has been correctly connected to the circuit?

 
square  A square  B
circuit-1 circuit-2
   
   
square  C square  D
circuit-3 circuit-4

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3a1 mark

A battery-powered lawn mower uses direct current.

Which graph correctly shows direct current?

 
square  A square  B
dc1 dc2
   
   
square  C square  D
dc3 dc4
3b1 mark

Electric lawnmowers are powered by the mains supply. An electric lawnmower is fitted with a 5 A fuse. 

Which row of the table correctly describes where the fuse should be fitted and how the fuse does its job?

 
   Where is it positioned? What does it do?
  square  A live wire reduces the current to 5 A
  square  B neutral wire breaks the circuit
  square  C live wire breaks the circuit
  square  D neutral wire reduces the current to 5 A
3c1 mark

The owner of an electric lawnmower wants to install a circuit breaker to protect themself and the lawnmower from a surge in current.

Under normal operating conditions, the lawnmower draws a current of 4 A.

The manufacturer provides the graph shown in Figure 1 with the purchase of the circuit breaker.

10-4-m-3c-lawnmower

Figure 1

Which row of the table correctly describes what will happen when the current is 4 A, and what will happen if the current rises to 14 A?

 
   4 A 14 A
  square  A circuit does not break circuit does not break
  square  B circuit does not break circuit breaks quickly
  square  C circuit breaks quickly circuit does not break
  square  D circuit breaks quickly circuit breaks quickly

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4a3 marks

Sam has a toaster and the fuse blows. Sam takes the fuse out and sees that it has 13 A written on it.

Sam doesn't have any 13 A fuses, but they have a 3 A fuse and decide to use that.

Describe what will happen when Sam switches on the toaster.

4b1 mark

Sam buys a 13 A fuse for the toaster.

Figure 1 shows the possible positions to place the fuse in the circuit.

10-4-m-4b-toaster

Figure 1

Which fuses show the correct position for the fuse?

 

square   A   Fuse X and Fuse Y

square   B   Fuse X only

square   C   Fuse Z only

square   D   Fuse X and Fuse Z

4c3 marks

As well as a fuse, the toaster is fitted with an earth wire as a safety feature.

Explain how the earth wire makes the toaster safe to use.

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5a1 mark

Which of the following shows an A.C. circuit?

 
10-4-m-5a-circuit-options
5b1 mark

Which graph correctly shows an alternating current?

 
10-4-m-5b-graph-options
5c1 mark

Figure 1 shows a circuit diagram for a D.C. circuit. The circuit contains a fuse.

10-4-m-5c-parallel-circuit-with-fuse

Figure 1

Each of the ammeters reads 1.2 A.

Which option correctly describes the fuse that should be fitted to the circuit in this position?

 

square   A   1.0 A

square   B   3.0 A

square   C   5.0 A

square   D   13.0 A

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