IGCSE Cambridge (CIE) Physics 29 mins 3 questions

Alternative to Practical Questions

Electric Circuits &

Electrical Safety
Circuit Diagrams & Circuit Components / Current in Circuits / EMF & Potential
Difference in Circuits / Combined Resistance / Potential Dividers / Electrical Safety

Scan here to return to the course

or visit savemyexams.com

Total Marks /29

© 2024 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 1
1 A student investigates a wind turbine, which is an electrical generator driven by a
propeller blade.

Plan an experiment which will enable him to investigate how the current in a resistor
connected across the terminals of the turbine varies with the speed of the air flow
through the turbine.

The apparatus available includes:

a model wind turbine as shown in Fig. 4.1

an electric fan to provide the moving air to turn the turbine

a device for measuring air speed.

In your plan, you should:

list any additional apparatus needed

complete the wind turbine circuit diagram on Fig. 4.1

state the key variables to be kept constant

explain briefly how to carry out the experiment, including how the speed of the air
flow is to be changed

explain how to use the readings to reach a conclusion.

© 2024 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 2
 (7 marks)

© 2024 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 3
2 (a) A student determines the resistances of some filament lamps.

Fig. 2.1 shows the first circuit she uses.

(i) Record the potential difference V across the lamp L1, as shown on the voltmeter in
1
Fig. 2.2.

V 1 = .................................................. V [1]

(ii) Record the current I in the circuit, as shown in Fig. 2.3.

1

I 1 = .................................................. A [1]

© 2024 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 4
 V1
(iii) Calculate the resistance R 1 of the filament of lamp L1. Use the equation R 1 = .
I1
Include the unit.

R 1 = ..................................................... [2]

(4 marks)

(b) The student disconnects the voltmeter. She connects lamp L2 in series with lamp L1. She
connects the voltmeter across lamp L2.

She measures the current I in the circuit and the potential difference V across
2 2
lamp L2.

I 2 = ..... 0.30 A ..... V 2 = ..... 1.7 V .....

V2
Calculate the resistance R2 of the filament of lamp L2. Use the equation R2 = .
I2

R 2 = .............................................

The student disconnects the voltmeter. She connects lamp L3 in series with lamps L1 and
L2. She connects the voltmeter across lamp L3.

She measures the current I in the circuit and the potential difference V across lamp
3 3
L3.

© 2024 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 5
 I 2 = ..... 0.26 A ..... V 2 = ..... 1.2 V .....

V3
Calculate the resistance R3 of the filament of lamp L3. Use the equation R3 = .
I3

R 3 = ...................................

(1 mark)

(c) Calculate R1 + R2 + R3. Give your answer to a suitable number of significant figures for
this experiment.

R1 + R2 + R3 = .....................................................

(1 mark)

(d) Some students make suggestions about the results of the experiment.

Suggestion A: R1 + R2 + R3 should be equal to 3 × R1

Suggestion B: R1 + R2 + R3 should be less than 3 × R1

Suggestion C: R1 + R2 + R3 should be greater than 3 × R1

State which suggestion A, B or C agrees with your results. Justify your answer by
reference to your results.

(2 marks)

(e) Draw a circuit diagram to show the circuit used in part (b) with all three lamps connected
in series.

© 2024 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 6
 (3 marks)

© 2024 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 7
3 (a) A student is investigating a circuit containing different lamps. She is using the circuit
shown in Fig. 3.1.

On Fig. 3.1, draw a voltmeter connected so that it measures the potential difference
(p.d.) across lamp X.

(1 mark)

(b) The student uses the ammeter to measure the current in the circuit.

© 2024 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 8
 Record the current IS in amperes, A, in the circuit, as shown in Fig. 3.2.

IS = ............................................................

(1 mark)

(c) (i) The student uses the voltmeter to measure the p.d. VX across lamp X and then
reconnects the voltmeter to measure the p.d. VY across lamp Y.

© 2024 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 9
Record the value of the p.d. VX across lamp X, shown in Fig. 3.3.

VX = ...............................................................

Record the value of the p.d. VY across lamp Y, shown in Fig. 3.4.

VY = ............................................................... [1]

(ii) She then measures the p.d. VS across both lamps in series.

Record the value of the p.d. VS across both lamps in series, shown in Fig. 3.5.

VS = ...............................................................[1]

(iii) A student suggests that VS should be equal to (VX + VY). State whether the readings
support this suggestion. Justify your statement with reference to the results.

[2]

© 2024 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 10
 (4 marks)

(d) Calculate the resistance R1 of lamp X. Use the readings from (b) and (c)(i) and the
equation

VX
R1 = .
IS

R1 = ......................................................Ω .

(1 mark)

© 2024 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 11
(e) Extended tier only

(i) The circuit components are to be rearranged so that

lamps X and Y are connected in parallel

the ammeter measures the current in lamp X only

the voltmeter measures the p.d. across the lamps.

Draw a circuit diagram of this arrangement.

[2]

(ii) The student sets up the circuit as described in (e)(i).

She measures and records the current in lamp X and the p.d. across the lamps.

She then calculates a new resistance R2 for lamp X in this parallel circuit.

R2 = 8.3 Ω

The student notices that lamp X is very bright in this parallel circuit, but it was dim in the
series circuit in (a).

Suggest how temperature affects the resistance of a lamp. Justify your suggestion by
reference to the value of R1 from (d) and the value of R2.

[2]

(4 marks)

© 2024 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 12