Revision NotesExam Questions
IGCSEPhysics: Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award)CIEExam Questions4. Electricity & MagnetismElectrical Quantities

Electrical Quantities (CIE IGCSE Physics: Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award))

Exam Questions

3 hours39 questions

Select a question set to download for
Electrical Quantities

Select an answer set to view for
Electrical Quantities

1a1 mark

A student investigates how the resistance of a filament lamp changes with the potential difference (p.d.) across it.

He uses the circuit shown in Fig. 1.1.

p1-1a

On Fig. 1.1, draw the symbol for a voltmeter connected to measure the potential difference across the lamp.

How did you do?

1b2 marks

The student connects the crocodile clip to a length l = 20.0 cm of the slide wire. 
He measures the potential difference, V, and the current, I, for the lamp.

 
(i)
Record the voltmeter and ammeter readings shown in Fig. 1.2 for a value of l = 20.0 cm.
 
V = ...............................................................
 
I = ...............................................................
[1]
 

p1-1b

(ii)
Calculate, and record in Table 1.1, the resistance R of the lamp at l = 20.0 cm.
Use your readings from (b)(i) and the equation R space equals space V over I
[1]
 

Table 1.1

l/cm R/Ω
20.0  
40.0 7.5
60.0 10
80.0 12
100.0 13

How did you do?

1c4 marks

The student connects the crocodile clip to other lengths l of the slide wire.

He measures the potential difference V and the current I for the lamp and calculates the resistance each time. His results are shown in Table 1.1.

Plot a graph of R / Ω (y-axis) against l / cm (x-axis).

p1-1c

How did you do?

1d2 marks

Extended tier only

The student notices that the lamp is very dim when l = 20.0 cm but becomes very bright when l = 100.0 cm.

State what the shape of the graph tells you about how the resistance of the lamp changes with the temperature of the filament.

Justify your statement using your results from the graph.

How did you do?

1e2 marks

In this type of experiment, it is possible to change the current in the lamp by using a variable resistor instead of a slide wire.

On Fig. 1.3, complete the circuit diagram to show a variable resistor used for this purpose.

 

p1-1e

How did you do?

Did this page help you?

2a2 marks

A student is investigating a power supply.
She is using the circuit shown in Fig. 3.1.

t~Ua3y2w_q3

The student connects the crocodile clip to a length l = 100.0 cm of the resistance wire and measures the potential difference V0 across terminals P and Q and the current I0 in the circuit.

q3a

(i)

Record the values of V0 and I0 shown on the meters in Fig. 3.2 and Fig. 3.3.

V0 = ........................................................... V

I0 = ........................................................... A
[1]

(ii)

Calculate the resistance R0 of 100.0 cm of the wire. Use your values of V0 and I0 and the equation R subscript 0 equals V subscript 0 over I subscript 0

R0 = ...........................................................Ω
[1]

How did you do?

2b1 mark

The student then connects the crocodile clip to lengths l = 70.0 cm, 60.0 cm, 50.0 cm, 40.0 cm and 30.0 cm of the resistance wire. She measures the current I in the circuit for each length.

Her readings are shown in Table 3.1.

q3b

Calculate, and record in Table 3.1, the value of 1 over I for length l = 70.0 cm of the wire.

How did you do?

2c4 marks

Plot a graph of l / cm (y-axis) against1 over I divided by 1 over straight A (x-axis). You do not need to start your axes at the origin (0,0).

q3c

How did you do?

2d2 marks
(i)

Determine the gradient G of the graph. Show clearly on the graph how you obtained the necessary information.

 

 

G = ........................................................ [1]

 

(ii)

Calculate the electromotive force (e.m.f.) E of the power supply. Use your value of R0 from (a)(ii) and the equation E equals fraction numerator G cross times R subscript 0 over denominator k end fraction, where k = 100 cm.

 

 

E = ........................................................ [1]

How did you do?

2e2 marks

The ammeter in this circuit has a small resistance which affects the current. The effect of this resistance on the measured current I will be different for each measured length l of the resistance wire.

State and explain which length l will be most affected by the resistance of the ammeter.

How did you do?

Did this page help you?

3a1 mark
A student is determining the resistance of a piece of wire.
   
Fig. 2.1 shows the circuit she uses.
screenshot-2022-11-08-at-10-29-59

Record the current I in the circuit, as shown on the ammeter in Fig. 2.2.

   
   
I = ........................................................ 
screenshot-2022-11-08-at-10-32-32

How did you do?

3b1 mark

The student places the sliding contact C at a distance l = 20.0 cm from P. The voltmeter reading is shown in Fig. 2.3. Record the voltmeter reading in Table 2.1 for l = 20.0 cm.

screenshot-2022-11-08-at-11-10-05

How did you do?

3c1 mark

The student repeats the procedure using values of l = 40.0 cm, 60.0 cm, 80.0 cm and 100.0 cm.
The readings are shown in Table 2.1.

Complete the column headings in the table.

screenshot-2022-11-08-at-11-10-05

How did you do?

3d4 marks

Plot a graph of V / V (y-axis) against l / cm (x-axis). Start both axes at the origin (0, 0).

screenshot-2022-11-08-at-11-19-13

How did you do?

3e4 marks

Extended tier only

(i)
Determine the gradient G of the graph. Show clearly on the graph how you obtained the necessary information.
   
   
G = ........................................................ [2]
 
(ii)
Calculate the resistance R of each centimetre of the wire. Use the following equation:
R space equals space fraction numerator G k over denominator I end fraction,
where k = 1.0 V/cm and where I is the current recorded in (a).
   
Include the unit.
   
   
R = ........................................................ [2]

How did you do?

Did this page help you?

4a3 marks

A student is investigating a resistance wire. She uses the circuit shown in Fig. 3.1.

p3-3a

(i)
On Fig. 3.1, draw a voltmeter connected to measure the potential difference V across terminals P and Q.
[1]
 
(ii)
The student connects the crocodile clip to a length l = 90.0 cm of the resistance wire and measures the potential difference V across terminals P and Q and the current I in the circuit.
 

p3-3b

Read, and record in Table 3.1, the values of V and I shown on the meters in Fig. 3.2 and Fig. 3.3.

[2]

q3-table

How did you do?

4b1 mark

The student then connects the crocodile clip to lengths l = 60.0 cm and I = 40.0 cm of the resistance wire. She measures the potential difference V across terminals P and Q and the current I in the circuit. Her readings are shown in Table 3.1.

Complete the column headings in Table 3.1.

How did you do?

4c3 marks
(i)
Calculate, and record in Table 3.1, the resistance R of each length l of the wire.
Use the readings from Table 3.1 and the equation R space equals fraction numerator space V over denominator I end fraction
[2]
 
(ii)
Calculate, and record in Table 3.1, the value of R/l for each length of wire.
[1]

How did you do?

4d1 mark

Use your results in Table 3.1 to calculate the resistance R25 of a 25.0 cm length of the resistance wire.
Show your working.

 
 
R25 = ..................................................... Ω 

How did you do?

4e1 mark

Suggest one reason why different students, carrying out the experiment carefully with the same equipment, may not obtain identical results.

How did you do?

4f2 marks

The student finds that, during the experiment, the wire becomes hot because of a high current.

She decides to use a variable resistor to prevent this.

Complete the circuit in Fig. 3.4 to show a variable resistor used for this purpose in the experiment.

 

p3-3f

How did you do?

Did this page help you?

5a1 mark

A student is determining the resistance of a resistance wire.

The circuit is shown in Fig. 2.1.

p2-2a

Record the current I in the circuit, as shown on the ammeter in Fig. 2.2.

p2-2b

I = ........................................................ 

How did you do?

5b3 marks

The student places the sliding contact C at a distance l = 20.0 cm from B.

 
She records the potential difference V across the length l of the resistance wire.

 
She repeats the procedure using l values of 40.0 cm, 60.0 cm, 80.0 cm and 100.0 cm. All the readings are shown in Table 2.1.

Calculate, and record in Table 2.1, V over l for each value of l.

Complete the V over l column heading.

 
Table 2.1
l/cm V divided by straight V V over l/
20.0 0.50  
40.0 0.92  
60.0 1.62  
80.0 2.08  
100.0 2.40  

How did you do?

5c1 mark

Look carefully at the values in Table 2.1.

 
(i)
Tick the box to show your conclusion from the results.
 
square V over l is approximately constant.
square V over l is decreasing as V increases.
square V over l is increasing as V increases.
square There is no simple pattern for V over lin the results.
[1]
 
(ii)
Justify your conclusion by reference to your results.
[1]

How did you do?

5d3 marks

Calculate the resistance of 100 cm of the resistance wire.

Use the equation R space equals fraction numerator space V over denominator I end fractionwhere V is the potential difference across 100 cm of the resistance wire. Use the value of current I from part (a). Give your answer to a suitable number of significant figures for this experiment and include the unit.

 
 
R = ........................................................ 

How did you do?

5e1 mark

In this type of experiment, it is sensible to keep the temperature of the resistance wire as close to room temperature as possible. Suggest one way to minimise the rise in temperature of the resistance wire.

How did you do?

5f1 mark

Draw the circuit symbol for a variable resistor.

How did you do?

Did this page help you?

67 marks
A student is investigating the relationship between the power produced by an electrical heater and the time taken to heat a beaker of water. The power of the heater is given by the equation P = VI, where V is the potential difference (p.d.) across the heater and I is the current in the heater.
   
Plan an experiment to investigate the relationship between the power produced by an electrical heater and the time taken to heat a beaker of water.
   
The following apparatus is available:
   
ammeter
voltmeter
0–12 V variable power supply
250 cm3 beaker
heater
thermometer
stopwatch
   
The student can also use other apparatus and materials that are usually available in a school laboratory.
   
You should:
   
  • complete the diagram in Fig. 4.1 to show the circuit that you would use
  • explain briefly how you would carry out the investigation
  • state the key variables that you would control
  • draw a table with column headings, to show how you would display your readings (you are not required to enter any readings in the table)
  • explain how you would use your results to reach a conclusion.

screenshot-2022-11-08-at-12-50-01

How did you do?

Did this page help you?