1 (a) Distinguish between electromotive force (e.m.f.) and potential difference (p.d.).

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(b) A battery of e.m.f. 12 V and internal resistance 0.50 Ω is connected to two identical lamps, as
shown in Fig. 6.1.

12 V

0.50 1

Fig. 6.1

Each lamp has constant resistance. The power rating of each lamp is 48 W when connected
across a p.d. of 12 V.

(i) Explain why the power dissipated in each lamp is not 48 W when connected as shown in
Fig. 6.1.

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...................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Calculate the resistance of one lamp.

resistance = ..................................................... Ω [2]

 (iii) Calculate the current in the battery.

current = ...................................................... A [2]

(iv) Calculate the power dissipated in one lamp.

power = ..................................................... W [2]

(c) A third identical lamp is placed in parallel with the battery in the circuit of Fig. 6.1. Describe and
explain the effect on the terminal p.d. of the battery.

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2 (a) Define potential difference (p.d.).

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(b) A power supply of e.m.f. 240 V and zero internal resistance is connected to a heater as shown
in Fig. 6.1.

240 V

Fig. 6.1
 The wires used to connect the heater to the power supply each have length 75 m. The
wires have a cross-sectional area 2.5 mm2 and resistivity 18 nΩ m. The heater has a
constant resistance of 38 Ω.

(i) Show that the resistance of each wire is 0.54 Ω.

[3]

(ii) Calculate the current in the wires.

current = .............................................. A [3]

(iii) Calculate the power loss in the wires.

power = ............................................. W [3]

(c) The wires to the heater are replaced by wires of the same length and material but having
a cross-sectional area of 0.50 mm2. Without further calculation, state and explain the
effect on the power loss in the wires.

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3 Two resistors A and B have resistances R1 and R2 respectively. The resistors are connected in
series with a battery, as shown in Fig. 6.1.

A B

R R
1 2
Fig. 6.1
The battery has electromotive force (e.m.f.) E and zero internal resistance.
(a) State the energy transformation that occurs in

(i) the battery,

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............................................................................................................................. [1]

(ii) the resistors.

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(b) The current in the circuit is Ι.

State the rate of energy transformation in
(i) the battery,

............................................................................................................................. [1]

(ii) the resistor A.

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(c) The resistors are made from metal wires. Data for the resistors are given in Fig. 6.2.

resistor A B

resistivity of metal ρ ρ/2

length of wire l l

diameter of wire d 2d
Fig. 6.2
 Use information from Fig. 6.2 to determine the ratio

power dissipated in A
.
power dissipated in B

ratio = .................................................. [3]

(d) The resistors A and B are connected in parallel across the same battery of e.m.f. E. Determine
the ratio

power dissipated in A
.
power dissipated in B

ratio = .................................................. [2]

4 (a) Define charge.

......................................................................................................................................[1]

(b) A heater is made from a wire of resistance 18.0 Ω and is connected to a power supply of
240 V. The heater is switched on for 2.60 Ms.

Calculate

(i) the power transformed in the heater,

power = ............................................. W [2]

 (ii) the current in the heater,

current = .............................................. A [1]

(iii) the charge passing through the heater in this time,

charge = ............................................. C [2]

(iv) the number of electrons per second passing a given point in the heater.

number = ........................................... s–1 [2]

5 (a) Define potential difference (p.d.).

......................................................................................................................................[1]

(b) A battery of electromotive force 20 V and zero internal resistance is connected in series with
two resistors R1 and R2, as shown in Fig. 6.1.
20 V

R1 R2

0 – 400Ω 600 Ω

Fig. 6.1
 The resistance of R2 is 600 Ω. The resistance of R1 is varied from 0 to 400 Ω.

Calculate

(i) the maximum p.d. across R2,

maximum p.d. = .............................................. V [1]

(ii) the minimum p.d. across R2.

minimum p.d. = .............................................. V [2]

(c) A light-dependent resistor (LDR) is connected in parallel with R2, as shown in Fig. 6.2.
20 V

R1 R2
LDR
D
R2
0 – 400Ω

600 Ω
Fig. 6.2
When the light intensity is varied, the resistance of the LDR changes from 5.0 kΩ to 1.2 kΩ.
(i) For the maximum light intensity, calculate the total resistance of R2 and the LDR.

total resistance = ............................................. Ω [2]

(ii) The resistance of R1 is varied from 0 to 400 Ω in the circuits of Fig. 6.1 and Fig. 6.2.
State and explain the difference, if any, between the minimum p.d. across R2 in each
circuit. Numerical values are not required.

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6 (a) The output of a heater is 2.5 kW when connected to a 220 V supply.

(i) Calculate the resistance of the heater.

resistance = ............................................. Ω [2]

(ii) The heater is made from a wire of cross-sectional area 2.0 × 10–7 m2 and resistivity
1.1 × 10–6 Ω m.
Use your answer in (i) to calculate the length of the wire.

length = ............................................. m [3]

(b) The supply voltage is changed to 110 V.

(i) Calculate the power output of the heater at this voltage, assuming there is no change in
the resistance of the wire.

power = ............................................. W [1]

(ii) State and explain quantitatively one way that the wire of the heater could be changed to
give the same power as in (a).

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7 A battery of electromotive force 12 V and negligible internal resistance is connected to two resistors
and a light-dependent resistor (LDR), as shown in Fig. 4.1.

8.0 kΩ

12 V S
X

12 kΩ

A
Y

Fig. 4.1

An ammeter is connected in series with the battery. The LDR and switch S are connected across
the points XY.

(a) The switch S is open. Calculate the potential difference (p.d.) across XY.

p. d. = .............................................. V [3]

(b) The switch S is closed. The resistance of the LDR is 4.0 kΩ. Calculate the current in the
ammeter.

current = .............................................. A [3]

(c) The switch S remains closed. The intensity of the light on the LDR is increased. State and
explain the change to

(i) the ammeter reading,

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 (ii) the p.d. across XY.

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8 (a) A wire has length 100 cm and diameter 0.38 mm. The metal of the wire has resistivity
4.5 × 10–7 Ω m. Show that the resistance of the wire is 4.0 Ω.

[3]

(b) The ends B and D of the wire in (a) are connected to a cell X, as shown in Fig. 6.1.

me
tal

Fig. 6.1

The cell X has electromotive force (e.m.f.) 2.0 V and internal resistance 1.0 Ω.

A cell Y of e.m.f. 1.5 V and internal resistance 0.50 Ω is connected to the wire at points B and
C, as shown in Fig. 6.1.

The point C is distance l from point B. The current in cell Y is zero.

 Calculate

(i) the current in cell X,

current = ...................................................... A [2]

(ii) the potential difference (p.d.) across the wire BD,

p.d. = ...................................................... V [1]

(iii) the distance l.

l = .................................................... cm [2]

(c) The connection at C is moved so that l is increased. Explain why the e.m.f. of cell Y is less than
its terminal p.d.

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9 (a) Define the ohm.

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(b) Determine the SI base units of resistivity.

base units of resistivity = ................................................. [3]

(c) A cell of e.m.f. 2.0 V and negligible internal resistance is connected to a variable resistor R
and a metal wire, as shown in Fig. 5.1.

me
tal

Fig. 5.1
The wire is 900 mm long and has an area of cross-section of 1.3 × 10–7 m2. The resistance of
the wire is 3.4 Ω.
(i) Calculate the resistivity of the metal wire.

resistivity = ................................................. [2]

(ii) The resistance of R may be varied between 0 and 1500 Ω.

Calculate the maximum potential difference (p.d.) and minimum p.d. possible across
the wire.

maximum p.d. = ................................................... V

minimum p.d. = ....................................................V

[2]
 (iii) Calculate the power transformed in the wire when the potential difference across the wire
is 2.0 V.

power = ............................................. W [2]

(d) Resistance R in (c) is now replaced with a different variable resistor Q. State the power
transformed in Q, for Q having (i) zero resistance,

power = ............................................. W [1]

(ii) infinite resistance.

power = ............................................. W [1]

10 (a) Suggest electrical sensing devices, that may be used to monitor changes in
(i) light intensity,

..............................................................................................................................[1]

(b) A student designs the circuit of Fig. 9.1 to detect changes in temperature in the range 0
°C to 100 °C.

+V

thermistor,
resistance RT

constant resistance R VOUT

Fig. 9.1
 The resistance of the thermistor is RT and that of the resistor is R. The
V
student monitors the potential difference OUT.
State and explain
(i) whether VOUT increases or decreases as the temperature of the thermistor increases,

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(ii) whether the change in VOUT varies linearly with the change in temperature of the
thermistor.

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11 The volume of fuel in the fuel tank of a car is monitored using a sensing device. The device
gives a voltage output that is measured using a voltmeter. The variation of voltmeter reading
with the volume of fuel in the tank is shown in Fig. 9.1.

voltmeter 3
reading
/V 2

0
0 20 40 60 80
empty full
volume /
litres

Fig. 9.1
(a) Use Fig. 9.1 to determine the range of volume over which the volume has a linear relationship
to the voltmeter reading.

from .................................. litres to .................................. litres [1]

(b) Suggest why, comparing values from Fig. 9.1,

(i) when the tank is nearly full, the voltmeter readings give the impression that fuel
consumption is low,

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............................................................................................................................. [2]

(ii) when the voltmeter first indicates that the tank is nearly empty, there is more fuel remaining
than is expected.

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