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(a) A sample of conducting putty is rolled into a cylinder which is 6.0 102 m long and
2
has a radius of 1.2 10 m.
resistivity of the putty = 4.0 103 m.

(a)

(i) Calculate the resistance between the ends of the cylinder of conducting putty.
Your answer should be given to an appropriate number of significant figures.

answer = ......................................
(4 marks)
5

(a)

(ii) The putty is now reshaped into a cylinder with half the radius and a length which
is four times as great. Determine how many times greater the resistance now is.
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(2 marks)

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(b) Given the original cylinder of the conducting putty described in part (a), describe how
you would use a voltmeter, ammeter and other standard laboratory equipment to
determine a value for the resistivity of the putty.
Your description should include

a labelled circuit diagram,

details of the measurements you would make,
an account of how you would use your measurements to determine the result,
details of how to improve the precision of your measurements.

The quality of your written communication will be assessed in this question.

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(8 marks)

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6 The circuit in Figure 2 contains four identical new cells, A, B, C and D, each of emf 1.5 V
and negligible internal resistance.
Figure 2
A
C

(a) The resistance of each resistor is 4.0 .

(a)

(i) Calculate the total resistance of the circuit.

answer = ......................................
(1 mark)
6

(a)

(ii) Calculate the total emf of the combination of cells.

answer = ....................................... V
(1 mark)

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6

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(a) (iii) Calculate the current passing through cell A.

answer = ....................................... A
(2 marks)
6

(a) (iv) Calculate the charge passing through cell A in five minutes, stating an
appropriate unit.

answer = ......................................
(2 marks)
6

(b) Each of the cells can provide the same amount of electrical energy before going flat.
State and explain which two cells in this circuit you would expect to go flat first.
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(3 marks)

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5 (a)

A student wishes to investigate how the resistance of a thermistor changes with

temperature.

5 (a) (i) Draw a labelled diagram of a suitable circuit that would enable the student to measure
the resistance of the thermistor.

(2 marks)
5 (a) (ii) Describe the procedure the student would follow in order to obtain accurate and reliable
measurements of the resistance of the thermistor at different temperatures.
The quality of your written communication will be assessed in this question.
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(6 marks)
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5 (b)

Figure 1 shows a thermistor connected in series with a resistor, R, and battery of emf
6.0 V and negligible internal resistance.
Figure 1

6.0 V
R

When the temperature is 50 C the resistance of the thermistor is 1.2 k. The voltmeter
connected across R reads 1.6 V.
5 (b) (i) Calculate the pd across the thermistor.

answer = ...................................... V
(1 mark)
5 (b) (ii) Calculate the current in the circuit.

answer = ...................................... A
(1 mark)

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5 (b) (iii) Calculate the resistance of R quoting your answer to an appropriate number of
significant figures.

answer = .....................................
(2 marks)
5 (c)

State and explain the effect on the voltmeter reading if the internal resistance of the
battery in the circuit in part (b) was not negligible.
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(2 marks)
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6 (a)

A semiconducting diode is an example of a non-ohmic component. State what is meant

by a non-ohmic component.
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
(1 mark)

6 (b)

A filament lamp is also an example of a non-ohmic component.

6 (b) (i) Sketch on the axes below the current-voltage characteristic for a filament lamp.
current

pd

(2 marks)
6 (b) (ii) State, with reference to the current-voltage characteristic you have drawn, how the
resistance of the lamp changes as the pd across its terminals changes.
..............................................................................................................................................
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(1 mark)
6 (c)

A filament lamp has a power rating of 36 W when there is a pd across its terminals
of 12 V.

6 (c) (i) Calculate the resistance of the filament when the pd across its terminals is 12 V.

answer = .....................................
(2 marks)

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6 (c) (ii) A student predicts that if the pd across the bulb is reduced to 6.0 V the power rating of
the bulb would be 9.0 W. State and explain how in practice the power rating will be
slightly different from this value.
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(3 marks)
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A battery is connected to a 10 resistor as shown in Figure 2. The emf

(electromotive force) of the battery is 6.0 V.
Figure 2

6.0 V

10

7 (a) (i) Define the emf of a battery.

..............................................................................................................................................
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(1 mark)
7 (a) (ii) When the switch is open the voltmeter reads 6.0 V and when it is closed it reads 5.8 V.
Explain why the readings are different.
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(2 marks)

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7 (b)

Calculate the internal resistance of the battery.

answer = .....................................
(3 marks)
7 (c)

State and explain why it is important for car batteries to have a very low internal
resistance.
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(2 marks)
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END OF QUESTIONS

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10

When a filament lamp is switched on it takes 0.50 seconds for the filament to reach its
normal operating temperature. The way in which the current changes during the first
second after switching on is shown on the graph in Figure 2.
Figure 2
current / A
0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0

6 (a)

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0
time / s

Use the graph to determine the maximum current through the lamp.

answer = ...................................... A
(1 mark)

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6 (b)

Assuming that the lamp is connected to a 12 V dc supply of a negligible internal

resistance,

6 (b) (i) Calculate the resistance of the lamp when it has reached its normal operating
temperature,

answer = .....................................
(1 mark)
6 (b) (ii) Calculate the power of the lamp when it has reached its normal operating temperature.

answer = ..................................... W
(1 mark)
6 (c)

Explain why the current through the lamp decreases between 0.05 s and 0.50 s.
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(2 marks)

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6 (d)

State and explain the change, if any, to the final current through the lamp if it is
connected to the same supply with another similar lamp

6 (d) (i) in series,

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(2 marks)
6 (d) (ii) in parallel.
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(2 marks)
6 (e)

State and explain why a filament lamp is most likely to fail as it is switched on.
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(2 marks)
11

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13

The circuit shown in Figure 3 shows a thermistor connected in a circuit with two
resistors, an ammeter and a battery of emf 15 V and negligible internal resistance.
Figure 3
15 V

540
1200

7 (a)

When the thermistor is at a certain temperature the current through the ammeter is
10.0 mA.

7 (a) (i) Calculate the pd across the 540 resistor.

answer = ..................................... V
(1 mark)
7 (a) (ii) Calculate the pd across the 1200 resistor.

answer = ..................................... V
(1 mark)

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7 (a) (iii) Calculate the resistance of the parallel combination of the resistor and the thermistor.

answer = .....................................
(2 marks)
7 (a) (iv) Calculate the resistance of the thermistor.

answer = .....................................
(2 marks)
7 (b)

The temperature of the thermistor is increased so that its resistance decreases.

State and explain what happens to the pd across the 1200 resistor.
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(3 marks)
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END OF QUESTIONS

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12

5 (b) (iii) Calculate the root mean square voltage of the supply.

answer = ..................................... V
(2 marks)
7

A cell of emf, , and internal resistance, r, is connected to a variable resistor R. The

current through the cell and the terminal pd of the cell are measured as R is decreased.
The circuit is shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5

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13

The graph below shows the results from the experiment.

1.60
terminal pd / V 1.40
1.20
1.00
0.80
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50
current / A

6 (a)

Explain why the terminal pd decreases as the current increases.

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(2 marks)

6 (b) (i) Use the graph to find the emf, , of the cell.

answer = ..................................... V
(1 mark)

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6 (b) (ii) Use the graph, on page 13, to find the internal resistance, r, of the cell.

answer = .....................................
(3 marks)
6 (c)

Draw a line on the graph, on page 13, that shows the results obtained from a cell with

6 (c) (i) the same emf but double the internal resistance of the first cell labelling your graph A
(2 marks)
6 (c) (ii) the same emf but negligible internal resistance labelling your graph B.
(1 mark)
6 (d)

In the original circuit shown in Figure 5, on page 12, the variable resistor is set at a
value such that the current through the cell is 0.89 A.

6 (d) (i) Calculate the charge flowing through the cell in 15 s, stating an appropriate unit.

answer = ......................................
(2 marks)

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6 (d) (ii) Calculate the energy dissipated in the internal resistance of the cell per second.

answer = ..................................... W
(2 marks)
13
7

The circuit shown in Figure 6 shows an arrangement of resistors, W, X, Y, Z,

connected to a battery of negligible internal resistance.
Figure 6

A
W

X
Z
Y

The emf of the battery is 10 V and the reading on the ammeter is 2.0 A.
7 (a) (i) Calculate the total resistance of the circuit.

answer = .....................................
(1 mark)
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7 (a) (ii) The resistors W, X, Y, and Z all have the same resistance. Show that your answer to
part (a) (i) is consistent with the resistance of each resistor being 3.0 .

answer = .....................................
(3 marks)
7 (b) (i) Calculate the current through resistor Y.

answer = ...................................... A
(2 marks)
7 (b) (ii) Calculate the pd across resistor W.

answer = ..................................... V
(2 marks)
END OF QUESTIONS

8
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4 (c)

The ionisation energy of hydrogen is 13.6 eV. Calculate the minimum frequency
necessary for a photon to cause the ionisation of a hydrogen atom. Give your answer to
an appropriate number of significant figures.

answer ..........................................Hz
(4 marks)
12

5 (a)

A student is given a piece of metal wire and asked to investigate how the resistance of
the wire changes between a temperature of 0 o C and 100 o C.

5 (a) (i) Draw a labelled diagram of a suitable arrangement that would enable the student to
carry out the experiment.

(3 marks)

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5 (a) (ii) Describe the procedure the student would follow in order to obtain accurate and reliable
measurements of the resistance of the wire at different temperatures between
0 o C and 100 o C.
The quality of written communication will be assessed in your answer.
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(6 marks)
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5 (b)

A certain metal has a critical temperature of 268 o C (5 K). Explain what is meant by
critical temperature.
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(2 marks)
11

X and Y are two lamps. X is rated at 12 V 36 W and Y at 4.5 V 2.0 W.

6 (a)

Calculate the current in each lamp when it is operated at its correct working voltage.

X .................................................. A
Y .................................................. A
(2 marks)
6 (b)

The two lamps are connected in the circuit shown in Figure 1. The battery has an emf
of 24 V and negligible internal resistance. The resistors, R1 and R2 are chosen so that
the lamps are operating at their correct working voltage.
Figure 1

24 V

R2
R1
X
V

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6 (b) (i) Calculate the pd across R1 .

answer ......................................... V
(1 mark)
6 (b) (ii) Calculate the current in R1 .

answer ......................................... A
(1 mark)
6 (b) (iii) Calculate the resistance of R1 .

answer .........................................
(1 mark)
6 (b) (iv) Calculate the pd across R2 .

answer ......................................... V
(1 mark)
6 (b) (v) Calculate the resistance of R2 .

answer .........................................
(1 mark)

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6 (c)

The filament of the lamp in X breaks and the lamp no longer conducts. It is observed
that the voltmeter reading decreases and lamp Y glows more brightly.

6 (c) (i) Explain without calculation why the voltmeter reading decreases.
..............................................................................................................................................
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(2 marks)
6 (c) (ii) Explain without calculation why the lamp Y glows more brightly.
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(2 marks)
11

A battery of emf 9.0 V and internal resistance, r, is connected in the circuit shown in
Figure 2.
Figure 2

9.0 V
r

2.0
A

6.0

2.0

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7 (a)

The current in the battery is 1.0 A.

7 (a) (i) Calculate the pd between points A and B in the circuit.

answer = ..................................... V
(2 marks)
7 (a) (ii) Calculate the internal resistance, r.

answer = .....................................
(2 marks)
7 (a) (iii) Calculate the total energy transformed by the battery in 5.0 minutes.

answer = ....................................... J
(2 marks)
7 (a) (iv) Calculate the percentage of the energy calculated in part (iii) that is dissipated in the
battery in 5.0 minutes.

answer......................................... %
(2 marks)

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7 (b)

State and explain one reason why it is an advantage for a rechargeable battery to have a
low internal resistance.
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(2 marks)
10

END OF QUESTIONS

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