Section B: Exam Style Questions –

Answers
1. a) The blue (neutral) wire and the green and yellow (earth) have been reversed. [1]
b) No, not unless there is a fault in the appliance. [1]
c) No, not unless there is a fault in the appliance. [1]
d) Yes, because the currents flowing in the live and neutral wires are not equal. [1]
e) To break the circuit by melting [1] should the current become too great [1]. (To stop overheating
and possible risk of fire).
f) I = W/V [1] therefore normal working current, I = 2 000W ÷ 230 V  I = 8.7 A [1] therefore
the 5A fuse is too small [1].

2. a) Energy = power × time [1] (This is not a given equation, so correct recall gains 1 mark.)
Therefore energy in joules = 1 000 W × 3 600 s [1]  Answer 3 600 000 J. [1]
b) Energy per 90 minutes, i.e 1.5 h [1], use = 1.2 kW × 1.5 h  1.8 kWh [1].

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therefore 3.6 kWh per week [1], and 187.2 kWh per year [1].
c) Power = voltage × current [1] therefore power rating of the lamp is 230 V × 0.255A
 59 W. [1] Since P = E/t, t = E/P so t = 3 600 000 J / 59 W [1]  Answer 61 000 s [1] (or 17
hours).

3. Graph a shows an AC supply [1]. Graph b shows the output of a microphone [1].
Graph c shows the output of a battery (a DC supply). [1]
4. a) Rubbing plastic with a dry cloth [1] causes some electrons to be transferred either to or from the
rod [1] leaving the rod with either a net negative or positive charge respectively [1].
b) Charge your different types of plastic strip, A and B, by rubbing them and suspend them by
nylon threads [1]. Charge a third strip of type A and bring it close to each suspended strip. It
will repel the first charged strip of type A and attract the charged strip of type B [1]. Repeat the
experiment with the third charged strip of type B [1]. This will repel the first strip of type B and
attract the strip of type A, showing that the strips have different types of charge [1].
c) Metal is a conductor, so any imbalance in charge caused by rubbing [1] will result in the excess
positive or negative charge being neutralised by a flow of electrons through the ruler and
through the person holding it – either to or from the ‘earth’ [1].

5. a) Photocopiers [1] and inkjet printers [1].

b) Sparks igniting flammable fuel when refuelling planes [1] and damage to electronic
components [1].

6. a) Good conductors have a large number of ‘free’ electrons [1] but in insulators charge is not free
to move away from the atom [1].
b) Current is measured in amps [1], charge is measured in coulombs [1].
c) Charge = current × time. [1] Charge is in coulombs if current is in amps and time is in
seconds [1].
d) Charge = current × time, so Q = 0.05 A × 1800 s [1 for unit conversions]  90 C. [1]

1
 7. a) One volt across a resistor means that one joule of energy is transferred to the resistor per
coulomb of charge passed through it. [2]
b) i) 0.5 A × 100 s [1]  50 C [1]
ii) 12 V means 12 J/C [1] therefore total energy transferred in 100 s =12 J/C × 50 C [1] 
600 J [1].

8. (a) A2 and A3 both read 5 mA. [2] (b) V2 reads 3.25 V [1]. (c) A2 reads 27 mA [1]. and A4 reads
45 mA [1]. (d) V1 reads 9 V [1]. and V2 reads 6 V [1].

9. a) Voltage across the resistor = current through the resistor × the resistance of the resistor [1]
(or V = IR).
b) X is a thermistor. [1]
c) V = (2 × 10−3 A) × 3 000 Ω [1]  6 V [1]
d) 6 V. [1]
e) R = V/I so R = 6 V/0.002 A [1]  3 000 Ω [1]
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f) It will cause the thermistor temperature to rise [1] causing its resistance to fall [1].
So (i) the current in the circuit will increase [1] and (ii) the voltage across the thermistor will
decrease [1].

10. a) i) A light emitting diode. [1]

ii)

b) LEDs have a typical working voltage of 2 V [1]. Applying 6 V across them results in an
excessive current [1] which destroys them [1]. The current through an LED must be limited [1]
by connecting a resistor of suitable resistance [1] in series with the LED [1].