Name: ________________________

Capacitance
Class: ________________________

Date: ________________________

Time: 445 min.

Marks: 326 marks

Comments:

Page 1 of 40
Q1.
(a) State what is meant by a capacitance of 370 μF

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(b) The charging of a 370 μF capacitor is investigated using the circuit shown in
Figure 1.
Both meters in the circuit are ideal.

Figure 1

The power supply of emf 9.8V has a negligible internal resistance. The capacitor is
initially uncharged. When the switch is closed at time t = 0 charge begins to flow
through resistor R. The time constant of the charging circuit is 1.0 s

Calculate the resistance of R.

resistance of R = ____________________ Ω
(1)

(c) Identify, with the symbol X on Figure 2, the potential difference (pd) across the
capacitor when the switch has been closed for 2.0 s
Sketch the graph that shows how the pd varies from t = 0 to t = 2.0 s

Figure 2

Page 2 of 40
 (2)

(d) Calculate the time taken for the charging current to fall to half its initial value.

time = ____________________ s
(1)

(e) Calculate the time taken for the charge on the capacitor to reach 3.0 mC

time = ____________________ s
(3)
(Total 9 marks)

Q2.
An air-filled parallel-plate capacitor is charged from a source of emf. The electric field has
a strength E between the plates. The capacitor is disconnected from the source of emf
and the separation between the isolated plates is doubled.

What is the final electric field between the plates?

A 2E

B E

Page 3 of 40
 C

(Total 1 mark)

Q3.
A parallel-plate capacitor has square plates of length l separated by distance d and is
filled with a dielectric.

A second capacitor has square plates of length 2l separated by distance 2d and has air
as its dielectric.

Both capacitors have the same capacitance.

What is the relative permittivity of the dielectric in the first capacitor?

B 1

C 2

D 8

(Total 1 mark)

Q4.
The graph shows the variation of potential difference (pd) with charge for a capacitor while
it is charging.

Which statement can be deduced from the graph?

A The charging current is constant.

Page 4 of 40
 B The energy stored in the capacitor increases uniformly
with time.
C The capacitance of the capacitor is constant.

D The power supply used to charge the capacitor had a

constant terminal pd.
(Total 1 mark)

Q5.
A parallel-plate capacitor is fully charged and then disconnected from the power supply.
A dielectric is then inserted between the plates.

Which row correctly identifies the charge on the plates and the electric field strength
between the plates?

Charge Electric field strength

A Stays the same Increases

B Increases Decreases

C Increases Increases

D Stays the same Decreases

(Total 1 mark)

Q6.
A capacitor of capacitance C has a charge of Q stored on the plates. The potential
difference between the plates is doubled.

What is the change in the energy stored by the capacitor?

(Total 1 mark)

Q7.
A capacitor consists of two parallel square plates of side l separated by distance d.
The capacitance of the arrangement is C.

Page 5 of 40
 What is the capacitance of a capacitor with square plates of side 2 l separated by a

distance ?

A C

B 2C

C 4C

D 8C
(Total 1 mark)

Q8.
A capacitor of capacitance 120 μF is charged and then discharged through a 20 kΩ
resistor.

What fraction of the original charge remains on the capacitor 4.8 s after the discharge
begins?

A 0.14

B 0.37

C 0.63

D 0.86
(Total 1 mark)

Q9.
A signal generator is connected to an oscilloscope, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

The Y-voltage gain and time-base settings of the oscilloscope are shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2

Page 6 of 40
When switch S is open (off) the oscilloscope displays the waveform shown in Figure 3.

When S is closed (on) the oscilloscope displays the waveform shown in Figure 4.

(a) Determine the peak-to-peak voltage V of the waveform shown in Figure 4.

V = ____________________ V
(1)

(b) Determine the frequency f of the waveform shown in Figure 4.

f = ____________________ Hz
(2)

Figure 3

Page 7 of 40
 Figure 4

(c) Figure 5 shows the signal generator connected in series with a resistor R and a
capacitor C.

Figure 5

Page 8 of 40
The oscilloscope is connected across the capacitor.
The Y-voltage gain and time-base settings are still the same as shown in Figure 2.

When S is closed (on) the oscilloscope displays the waveform shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6

Determine the time constant of the circuit in Figure 5.

time constant = ____________________ s

(2)

Page 9 of 40
(d) A student suggests that setting the time-base to 0.2 ms division–1 might reduce
uncertainty in the determination of the time constant.

State and explain any possible advantage or disadvantage in making this suggested
adjustment.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(e) The student connects an identical resistor in parallel with R and uses the
oscilloscope to display the waveform across C.

Draw on Figure 7 the waveform you expect the student to see.

The waveform of Figure 6 is shown as a dashed line to help you show how the
waveform changes.

Figure 7

Explain the change in the waveform.

___________________________________________________________________

Page 10 of 40
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(f) Figure 8a is a graph of voltage against time showing the output of the signal
generator. Figure 8b shows the voltage across C during the same time interval.

The student interchanges the positions of R and C and connects the oscilloscope
across R.

Complete Figure 8c to draw the voltage across R during the time interval.

Figure 8a

Figure 8b

Figure 8c

Page 11 of 40
 (2)

(g) State and explain what changes, if any, the student needs to make to the settings of
the oscilloscope so the waveform across R is fully displayed.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 14 marks)

Q10.
(a) Explain what is meant by a capacitance of 120 µF.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) Figure 1 shows a plan view of the apparatus used by a student to measure the
speed of a steel ball immediately after it has been struck from rest.

Figure 1

Page 12 of 40
When the ball is touching the copper contacts, the 120 µF capacitor charges to a
potential difference of 9.6 V. Once the ball has left the contacts, the capacitor
discharges through the 1.3 kΩ resistor. When the ball has travelled a distance of
0.12 m, it breaks the aluminium foil so that the capacitor stops discharging.

Figure 2 shows the variation of potential difference V recorded by the data logger.

The ball is struck at time t1.

Figure 2

Calculate the charge that passes through the resistor as the capacitor discharges.

charge = ________________ C

Page 13 of 40
 (1)

(c) Calculate the maximum current in the resistor during the experiment shown in
Figure 2

maximum current = ________________ A

(1)

(d) Calculate the energy that is transferred as the capacitor discharges through the 1.3
kΩ resistor.

energy = ________________ J
(3)

(e) Sketch a graph on the axes of Figure 3 that shows the variation of the magnitude of
the current in the resistor during the time interval shown in Figure 2.

A scale is required on the current axis but not on the time axis.

Figure 3

(3)

(f) Calculate the time for which the capacitor is discharging and hence determine the
mean speed of the ball.

Page 14 of 40
 speed = ________________m s−1
(4)

(g) Discuss two reasons why your answer to part (f) is likely to be lower than the speed
of the ball immediately after it is struck.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 15 marks)

Q11.
Initially a capacitor stores 600 µC of charge. When it loses half of this charge, the potential
difference (pd) across it decreases by 50 V.

What is the capacitance of the capacitor?

A 1.5 µF

B 3.0 µF

C 6.0 µF

D 12 µF
(Total 1 mark)

Q12.
The separation of the plates of an isolated charged parallel−plate capacitor is increased.

What also increases?

A the capacitance of the capacitor

B the charge on the plates

the strength of the electric field between the

C
plates

D the pd between the plates

(Total 1 mark)

Q13.
The initial charge stored by a capacitor of capacitance 0.50 µF is 2.0 µC. The capacitor is
then discharged through a resistor.

How much energy is stored by the capacitor after a time equal to one time constant?

Page 15 of 40
 A 0.06 µJ

B 0.54 µJ

C 1.0 µJ

D 4.0 µJ
(Total 1 mark)

Q14.
A 500 µF capacitor is charged to a pd of 10.0 V. It is then discharged through a 100 k Ω
resistor.

What is the time taken for the pd to fall from 10.0 V to 5.0 V?

A 35 s

B 50 s

C 72 s

D 100 s
(Total 1 mark)

Q19.
A variable capacitor has a capacitance which can be varied from 6.0 × 10 –12 F to 3.0 ×
10–12 F. The capacitor is set to its maximum capacitance and fully charged using a 48 V
supply. The capacitor is then disconnected from the supply and isolated. Finally the
capacitance is reduced to its minimum value without any charge being lost by the
capacitor.

Which line, A to D, in the table correctly shows the potential difference (pd) across the
capacitor and the charge it stores after the capacitance has been reduced?

pd / V Charge / C
A 48 2.9 × 10–10
B 24 2.9 × 10–10
C 96 2.9 × 10–10
D 96 1.4 × 10–10
(Total 1 mark)

Q20.
The capacitor in the circuit is initially uncharged. The switch S is closed at time t = 0.

Which pair of graphs, A to D, correctly shows how the pd across the capacitor and the
current in the circuit change with time?

Page 16 of 40
 (Total 1 mark)

Q21.
The graph shows how the charge Q stored by a capacitor varies with the potential
difference (pd) V across it as V is increased from 9.0 V to 12.0 V.

(a) (i) Use the graph to determine an accurate value for the capacitance of the

Page 17 of 40
 capacitor.

capacitance = ____________________ μF
(2)

(ii) Calculate the additional energy stored by the capacitor when V is increased
from 9.0 V to 12.0 V.

additional energy = ____________________ J

(3)

(b) When a 470 μF capacitor is discharged through a fixed resistor R, the pd across it
decreases by 80% in 45 s.

(i) Calculate the time constant of the capacitor–resistor circuit.

time constant = ____________________ s

(3)

(ii) Determine the resistance of R.

resistance = ____________________ Ω
(2)

(iii) At which point during the discharging process is the capacitor losing charge at
the smallest rate? Tick (✔) the correct answer.

✔ if correct

when the charge on the capacitor is

greatest

Page 18 of 40
 when energy is dissipated at the greatest
rate

when the current in the resistor is greatest

when the pd across R is least

(1)
(Total 11 marks)

Q22.
An uncharged 4.7 nF capacitor is connected to a 1.5 V supply and becomes fully charged.

How many electrons are transferred to the negative plate of the capacitor during this
charging process?

A 2.2 × 1010

B 3.3 × 1010

C 4.4 × 1010

D 8.8 × 1010
(Total 1 mark)

Q23.
When fully charged the 2.0 mF capacitor used as a backup for a memory unit has a
potential difference of 5.0 V across it. The capacitor is required to supply a constant
current of 1.0 μA and can be used until the potential difference across it falls by 10%. For
how long can the capacitor be used before it must be recharged?

A 10 s

B 100 s

C 200 s

D 1000 s
(Total 1 mark)

Q24.
A capacitor of capacitance 10 μF is charged through a resistor R to a potential difference
(pd) of 20 V using the circuit shown.

Page 19 of 40
 When the capacitor is fully charged which one of the following statements is incorrect?

A The energy stored by the capacitor is 2 mJ.

B The total energy taken from the battery during the charging process is 2 mJ.

C The pd across the capacitor is 20 V.

D The pd across the resistor is 0 V.

(Total 1 mark)

Q25.
(a) The graph shows how the current varies with time as a capacitor is discharged
through a 150 Ω resistor.

(i) Explain how the initial charge on the capacitor could be determined from a
graph of current against time.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii) The same capacitor is charged to the same initial potential difference (pd) and
then discharged through a 300 kΩ resistor. Sketch a second graph on the
same axes above to show how the current varies with time in this case.
(3)

(b) In an experiment to show that a capacitor stores energy, a student charges a

capacitor from a battery and then discharges it through a small electric motor. The
motor is used to lift a mass vertically.

Page 20 of 40
 (i) The capacitance of the capacitor is 0.12 F and it is charged to a pd of 9.0 V.
The weight of the mass raised is 3.5 N.
Calculate the maximum height to which the mass could be raised.
Give your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures.

maximum height ____________________ m

(4)

(ii) Give two reasons why the value you have calculated in part (i) would not be
achieved in practice.

1. ____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 10 marks)

Q26.
The specification for a pacemaker requires a suitable charge to be delivered in 1.4 ms. A
designer uses a circuit with a capacitor of capacitance 3.0 μF and a 2.5 V power supply to
deliver the charge. The designer calculates that a suitable charge will be delivered to the
heart as the capacitor discharges from a potential difference (pd) of 2.5 V to a pd of 1.2 V
in 1.4 ms.

(a) (i) Calculate the charge on the capacitor when it is charged to a pd of 2.5 V.

Page 21 of 40
 charge ____________________ C
(1)

(ii) Draw a graph showing how the charge, Q, on the capacitor varies with the pd,
V, as it discharges through the heart.
Include an appropriate scale on the charge axis.

(3)

(b) Calculate the energy delivered to the heart in a single pulse from the pacemaker
when the capacitor discharges to 1.2 V from 2.5 V.

energy ____________________ J
(3)

Page 22 of 40
(c) (i) Calculate the resistance of the heart that has been assumed in the design.

resistance ____________________ Ω
(3)

(ii) Explain why the rate of change of pd between the capacitor plates decreases
as the capacitor discharges.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 12 marks)

Page 23 of 40
Mark schemes

Q1.
(a) (Refers to a capacitor that) stores/holds/changes by 370 μC of charge ✔

For every (1) volt/volt change (of pd across its plates) ✔

OR

Reference to charge to pd OR charge to voltage ratio ✔ includes units C or coulomb

and V or volt ✔
“Unit of pd” is no substitute for using volt and “unit of charge”
is no substitute for coulomb.
However the alternative marking could give a single mark for
370 × 10–6 units of charge per unit of pd.
An equation may contribute towards the first mark but only if
the symbols are identified. A second mark can be given if the
units are identified.
Ignore poor phrasing like ‘per unit volt passing through’.
2

(b) (Using time constant = R C)

(R = 1.0 / 370 × 10–6)

R = 2.7 × 103 (Ω) ✔

Check that the unit on answer line has not been altered.
1

(c) First mark for marking a cross at 2 s and 8.5 V (by eye) ✔

Second mark for graph starting at the origin and having a decreasing gradient ie not
reaching horizontal ✔

Cross must be in the bottom half but not on the 8.0 V major
grid line or exactly half way up (9.0 V).
If a series of plotting crosses are given only consider the one
placed at 2 s for the first mark.
2

(d) (Using T½ = 0.69 RC = 0.69 × 1.0)

T½ = 0.69 (s) ✔
1 sig fig is not acceptable
1

Page 24 of 40
 (e) (Use of Q = Qo(1 − )= CVo (1 − ))

Mark for max charge = CVo which may come from substitution or seeing 3.6(2) ×
10–3 C ✔

3.0 × 10–3 = 370 × 10–6 × 9.8 (1 – e–t) ✔

Mark for substitution (0.8274 = (1 – e–t) so et = 1/0.173 = 5.79)

t = 1.7 s or 1.8 s ✔

OR

Voltage V = Q/C = 3 × 10–3 / 370 × 10–6

= 8.1(1) V ✔

(Substitute into V = Vo(1 − ))

8.1 = 9.8 (1 – e–t) ✔

t = 1.7 s or 1.8 s ✔
Alternative mark scheme uses the voltage as proportional to
the charge.
Do not allow use of the graph for 2nd mark and 3rd mark.
An answer only gains only the last mark.
Evidence of working must be shown which shows
substitution into a (1 – e–t) form of the equation.
3
[9]

Q2.
B
[1]

Q3.
C
[1]

Q4.
C
[1]

Q5.
D
[1]

Q6.
C

Page 25 of 40
 [1]

Q7.
D
[1]

Q8.
A
[1]

Q9.
(a) peak (to peak) voltage = 6.3(0) (V) ✔
accept any answer that rounds to 6.3 V
do not allow power of ten errors, eg 0.0063 V
1

(b) period = 8 divisions

(= 8 × 0.5 × 10–3 (s))

= 4 ms 1 ✔

= 250 (Hz) 2 ✔
award both marks if 250 Hz seen
accept 4.0(0) ms for 1 ✔ but reject 4.05, 3.95 etc
ecf2 ✔ for wrong period
2

(c) any valid approach leading to RC in range

2.1 ×10–4 to 3.4 ×10–4 or 3 ×10–4 (s)

OR

their T in 02.2 × 0.069 ± 10 % 12 ✔✔

1 mark can be awarded for use of any valid

approach in which RC is seen with
substitutions or with rearranged equations, eg

Page 26 of 40
 OR

1.75 × 10–4 = RC × ln 2

OR

valid approaches;
reads off t when C starts to discharge and t at a lower value
of V:

rearranges to calculate RC
for ecf 2 ✔ ∆t used must correspond to interpretation of time
base used in determining the frequency in (b); there is no ecf
for misinterpretation of the voltage scale
OR
reads off t when C starts to charge and t at a higher value of
V:

rearranges to calculate RC etc

OR

determines half-life t0.5 and finds RC from

for ecf 2 ✔ t0.5 used must correspond to etc
OR
uses idea that during discharge V falls to 0.37V 0 in one time
constant: determines suitable V and reads off RC directly
for ecf 2 ✔ time interval used must correspond to etc
OR
uses idea that during charging V rises to 0.63V 0 in one time
constant: determines suitable V and reads off RC directly
reject idea that V falls to zero in 5RC
2

(d) qualitative comment

idea that the waveform will stretch horizontally 1 ✔

quantitative comment

by a factor of ✔

OR

Page 27 of 40
 half a cycle now covers 10 (horizontal) divisions on the
screen 2 ✔ (and also earns 1 ✔ )

(so the) resolution of the time axis has increased 3 ✔ (and

also earns 1 ✔ )

measuring larger distance / across more divisions from the

screen reduces (percentage) uncertainty in reading the time
(constant / interval / half life) 4 ✔
for 1 ✔ look for reference to time axis or direction waveform
is re-scaled
accept ‘graph is longer/stretched’ or ‘will not see whole cycle’
or ‘fewer cycles shown’ or ‘period takes more space’ or
‘distance being measured is larger’ or ‘time per division is
less’ or ‘larger in x direction’ or ‘time is stretched’
reject ‘waveform becomes larger’ or ‘may not see whole
cycle’ or ‘measuring larger time’
for 2 ✔ there needs to be valid quantitative detail
award 12 ✔ ✔ for ‘half a cycle now fills the screen’ or ‘half a
cycle is displayed’ as these clearly recognise the stretching
is along the time axis and ‘half’ is quantitative
accept ‘new distance (on screen corresponding to half life or
time constant) is 2.5 × answer shown in working for (c)’
the candidate who realises that half a wave now covers the
complete width of the screen cannot claim this is a
disadvantage; they would still be able to bring either half
cycle into view by using the X-shift and find RC for 3 ✔ uses
technical language correctly
ignore (but do not penalise) ‘times are more precise’ or ‘more
accurate’
reject ‘smaller resolution’ or ‘lower resolution’
for 4 ✔ there needs to be a qualifying explanation for the
comment about uncertainty
reject ‘advantage because the (time) scale is easier to read’
3 MAX

(e) valid sketch on Figure 7 showing discharge time to 0 V reduced and charging time
to peak voltage reduced (see below) 1 ✔

connecting resistor in parallel with R halves [reduces by

50%] circuit [total] resistance [time constant] 2 ✔

Page 28 of 40
 do not insist on seeing second discharge although if shown
this must look correct
2

(f) amendment to Figure 8 showing waveform across R with approximately the correct
shape, amplitude ± V and the correct phase

correct waveform shown while signal generator output is low

(0 V): only the complete negative half cycle needs to be
shown but if second negative half cycle is included it must be
correct 1 ✔

correct waveform shown while voltage across signal

generator output is high; condone no signal or signal = 0 V
before going to –V for the first time 2 ✔

don’t insist on seeing vertical lines

2

(g) reduce the (sensitivity of) (Y-voltage)) gain 1 ✔

(change) to 2 V division–1 2 ✔ (and earns 1 ✔ )

adjust the Y (vertical) shift 3 ✔

‘make (Y-) gain smaller’ or ‘increase the volts per division’ or

Page 29 of 40
 ‘reduce the Y-resolution’ are acceptable substitutes for
‘reduce the (Y-)gain’
increase the (Y-) gain to 2 V division–1 2 ✔ not 1 ✔
reduce the (Y-) gain to 0.5 V division–1 1 ✔ not 2 ✔
ignore any comment about time base or ‘X-gain’
if all positive waveform is given for (f) allow sensible
comment about triggering/stability control, eg
waveform may not be stable 1 ✔ ; adjust triggering 2 ✔
2 MAX
[14]

Q10.
(a) the capacitor stores 120 µC of charge for each one volt of pd between the plates ✔
1

(b) Q = C ΔV = 120 × 10−6 × 4.2 = 5.0 × 10−4 C ✔

1

(c) I= so maximum current = = 7.4 ± 0.2 × 10−3 (A)✔

Allow ecf for incorrect read off in 01.2
1

(d) use of E = CV2 using V = 9.6V, 5.4V or 4.2V✔

Correct value of E at 9.6V or 5.4V ( 5.5 (3) × 10−3 J or 1.7(5) × 10−3 J✔

Both correct and subtraction 3.7(8) × 10 −3 J ✔

Condone incorrect powers of 10
Allow 3.7 × 10−3J
3

(e) Graph same shape up to point where capacitor stops discharging✔

current falls to zero at time when capacitor stops discharging✔

Scale on current axis with Initial and final currents correct

7.4 mA and 4.2 mA at the instant when foil breaks

(Allow ±0.1 mA) ✔

must show curvature during discharge time
3

(f) use of V = V0 e−t/RC Allow substitution of manipulation to (discharge time) t = RC

ln(V0/V)✔

t = 0.156(0.16 ) × ln (9.6/5.4) ✔

= 0.090 or 0.092 s ✔

Page 30 of 40
 v = s/t = 0.12/their time ( 1.3 m s−1)✔
correct substitutions for V, condone incorrect powers of 10 in
substitution
Allow ecf for incorrect readoff for V in in Question (b)
4

(g) There are resistive forces on the ball / the ball will decelerate ✔

The foil is unlikely to break at the instant the ball reaches it✔
2
[15]

Q11.

C
[1]

Q12.

D
[1]

Q13.

B
[1]

Q14.

A
[1]

Q19.
C
[1]

Q20.
A
[1]

Q21.

(a) (i) capacitance ✓

= 8.1 (μF) ✓ (± 0.2 μF)

1 mark only if correct value of C is found from a single point.

Page 31 of 40
 2 marks if correct value of C is found from at least 2 points
and a mean value, or from gradient. (Check graph.)
Accept 8 (μF) if from correct working.
2

(ii) additional energy = area between line and Q or V axis ✓

= {½ × (98.2 − 73.9) × 3.0} + {(98.2 − 73.9) × 9.0} ✓
= {36.5 + 218.7) = 255 J or 2.6 10 −4 (J) ✓

[or, using ½ QV:

additional energy = ½ Q2V2 − ½ Q1V1 ✓
= ½ {(98.2 × 12) − (73.9 × 9)} ✓
= 257 μJ or 2.6 × 10−4 (J) ✓ ]

[or, using ½ CV2:

additional energy = ½ CV22 – ½ CV12 ✓
= ½ 8.1 × (122 – 92) ✓
= 255 μJ or 2.6 × 10−4 (J) ✓ ]

[or, using ½ Q2/C:

additional energy = ½ Q22/C – ½ Q12/C ✓
= (98.22 – 73.92) ÷ (2 × 8.1) ✓
= 258 μJ or 2.6 × 10−4 (J) ✓ ]
First scheme: alternative for 2nd mark
= {½ × (98.2 − 73.9) × 3.0} + {73.9 × 3.0} ✓
All schemes:
second mark subsumes the first mark.
In all methods, allow tolerance of ± 10 μJ in final answer to
allow for variation in graph measurements.
Allow ECF for incorrect C value from (a)(i).
3

(b) (i) (V = V0e–t/RC gives) 0.2V0 = V0e–t/RC

and 0.2 = e–45/RC ✓
Condone use of 0.8 for 0.2 in first mark only.

In 0.2 – or In 5 = ✓

time constant RC = or In 5 = = 28.(0) (s) ✓

3

(ii) resistance of R = ✓
= 5.96 × 104 (Ω) or 60 kΩ ✓
Allow ECF for incorrect RC value from (b)(i).
2

(ii) tick in 4th box only

1
[11]

Page 32 of 40
Q22.
C
[1]

Q23.
D
[1]

Q24.
B
[1]

Q25.
(a) (i) determine area under the graph
[or determine area between line and time axis] ✓
1

(ii) as seen
line starts at very low current (within bottom half of first square) ✓
either line continuing as (almost) horizontal straight line to end ✓✓
or very slight exponential decay curve ✓
which does not meet time axis ✓

OR suitable verbal comment that shows appreciation of difficulty of

representing this line on the scales involved ✓✓✓
Use this scheme for answers which treat the information in
the question literally.
3

as intended
line starts at half of original initial current ✓
slower discharging exponential (ie. smaller initial gradient)
than the original curve ✓
correct line that intersects the original curve
(or meets it at the end) ✓

Use this scheme for answers which assume that both

resistance values should be in Ω or kΩ.
½ initial current to be marked within ±2mm of expected
value.
3

(b) (i) energy stored (= ½ CV2) = ½ × 0.12 × 9.02 ✓ ( = 4.86 (J) )

4.86 = 3.5 Δh ✓
gives Δh = (1.39) = 1.4 (m) ✓
to 2SF only ✓
SF mark is independent.
Students who make a PE in the 1st mark may still be
awarded the remaining marks: treat as ECF.

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 4

(ii) energy is lost through heating of wires or heating the motor

(as capacitor discharges) ✓

Allow heating of circuit or I2 R heating.

energy is lost in overcoming frictional forces in the motor

(or in other rotating parts) ✓

Location of energy loss (wires, or motor, etc) should be

indicated in each correct answer.

[or any other well-expressed sensible reason that is valid

e.g. capacitor will not drive motor when voltage becomes low ✓ ]
Don’t allow losses due to sound, air resistance or resistance
(rather than heating of) wires.
max 2
[10]

Q26.
(a) (i) 7.5 × 10−6 (C) or 7.5 µ(C)

B1
1
(ii) Suitable scale and charge from (i) correctly plotted at 2.5 V
Large square = 1 or 2 µC or
With false origin then large square = 0.5 µC

B1

Only a Straight line drawn through or toward origin

C1

Line must be straight, toward origin and only drawn

between 2.5 V and 1.2 V (± 1 / 2 square on plotted
points)

A1
3

(b) Attempted use of E= ½ CV2 Or attempted use of E=½ QV

C1

9.38 (µJ) − 2.16 (µJ) seen

or E = ½ × 3 × 10−6 × 2.52 ‒ ½ × 3 × 10−6 × 1.22 seen
or E = ½ × 3 × 10−6 × (2.52 ‒ 1.22) seen
or E =½ × 7.5 × 10−6 × 2.5 ‒ ½ × 3.6 × 10−6 × 1.2 seen

C1

7.2 × 10−6 (J) c.a.o

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 A1
3

(c) (i) Use of V = V0

or equivalent with

Q = Q0

C1

R=− or R = − or R =

C1

636 or 640 (Ω)

A1
3

(ii) Current decreases (I = V / R) / describes rate of flow of

electrons decreasing / rate of flow of charge decreases

M1

Charge lost more slowly so pd falls more slowly

because V∝Q or Q=CV where C is constant

A1
MAX 2
[12]

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Examiner reports

Q1.
(a) A majority of students knew that capacitance relates to charge and pd. Marks were
missed simply because of missed detail such as using appropriate units. Also, some
scripts lacked a sense of explanation. ‘Charge per volt’, leaves off the essential fact
that the charge is stored. 79% of students scored at least one mark here.

(b) This was an easy question for most students; nearly 90% wrote the correct answer.

(c) This question discriminated well, with a majority of students knowing what the
growth graph should look like. Some showed a lack of care in reading the vertical
scale and placed the X above 9V. Others drew the curve with a flattened top or
showing a slight peak. Some of the weaker students elected to draw an exponential
decay type graph.

(d) This was another straightforward calculation which a majority of students (55.4%)
could do well. However, a significant minority did not know the simple equation for
the half-life.

(e) This was quite a difficult exponential calculation so it was encouraging to see well
over half of the students scoring at least one mark. Most students can clearly deal
with this type of exponential equation and cope with the re-arrangements and
calculation. The common error made by others was to try to use an exponential
decay equation rather than an exponential charging equation. These students were
able to score marks by evaluating the maximum charge. Overall, it was more
common for students to use the charge equation rather than the voltage equation.
Nearly 8% of students made no attempt at this question.

Q2.
13.3% correct

Q3.
52.4% correct

Q4.
54.0% correct

Q9.
This question addressed the ideas behind assessed practical activity 9. Students who had
seen the second set of specimen questions should have been well prepared for the parts
relating to the use of the oscilloscope. It was clear from the descriptive parts of this
question, however, that many students had not had direct experience of using an
oscilloscope, as shown by the lack of much, if any, use of correct terminology to describe
the controls.

Even if some students thought the waveform shown in Figure 1 showed an ac signal, the
instruction to determine the peak to peak voltage should have made question (a)
straightforward. However, a disappointing number of students found a variety of ways to
get this wrong and were similarly unsuccessful with question (b).

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 Those students who obtained 6.3 V and 250 Hz were well-placed to score in question (c)

and a popular and successful approach was to use ; a transparent, viable

attempt along these lines could earn a mark, even if the final answer fell outside the
required range. Others read off the time interval for V to fall to 37% when the capacitor
was discharging, but poor communication often made it harder to give any credit, if the
final result obtained by this method was unsuccessful. Those using the idea that the
capacitor would completely discharge in five time constants were almost invariably
unsuccessful due to difficulty in accurately pinpointing the time for 5RC from Figure 5.

In question (d), most students knew what would happen to the waveform displayed in the
oscilloscope when the time-base was adjusted, but often struggled to give a convincing
explanation. Stating that the ‘waveform would not fit’ left examiners looking for further
evidence to decide whether the student was referring to vertical or horizontal direction.
Some students referred to the ‘wavelength increasing’, or equivocated by suggested that
the waveform ‘might not fit’. While better answers suggesting that either the charging or
discharging parts (but not both) would now be displayed, very few students took a
quantitative approach, e.g. that the discharge curve would now be 2.5 times wider. Here
and elsewhere in the paper, some students explained that uncertainty would be reduced,
but without supporting reasoning this gained no credit.

Question (e) discriminated well, with better students stating that the resistance, and hence
the time constant, is halved, and spotted the opportunity to give the quantitative detail
suggested by the information in the question. The sketches on Figure 7 showed that some
students thought that adding the extra resistor would change the amplitude or the period
of the waveform; relatively few students supplied the sketch examiners were looking for.

In the sketch for question (f), examiners wanted to see a complete half cycle while the
signal generator output was V, and a complete half cycle when the output was zero.
Students were generally more successful with the latter, but often failed to consider how
Figures 8a and 8b could be used in combination to deduce the other part of the waveform.

In question (g), “reduce Y-gain”, or “increase volt per division” could score but an
equivocal “change the Y-gain” could not. Once again, extra credit was available for
quantitative detail such as “set the gain to 2 V per division”. Some students clearly failed
to appreciate that Figure 8c showed a graph and was not the way the waveform would
appear on the oscilloscope; these students stated that the waveform was already fully
visible, so no changes were necessary.

Q19.
When the capacitance of the charged, isolated variable capacitor in this question has its
capacitance reduced, the pd across it must increase so that the charge (= C V) remains
unchanged. 69% of the students appreciated this, giving C as their answer. The remaining
responses were fairly evenly distributed amongst the other three distractors.

Q20.
This question required the selection of the best pair of graphs of pd and current against
time for a capacitor as it charged through a resistor. The facility of this question was 74%,
an advance from 60% when the same question had appeared in an earlier test. Only one
of the graph pairings showed pd increasing and current decreasing, which has to be
correct.

Q21.

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 The majority of answers to part (a)(i) showed that most students realised that an accurate
value for the capacitance could not be obtained from the graph by using one point alone.
Those who thought otherwise were limited to one mark only. In part (a)(ii) the additional
energy stored by the capacitor when the pd is raised from 9.0 V to 12.0 V could be found
either by an area calculation or by the application of an appropriate formula. The correct
area is that enclosed by the line between 9.0 V and 12.0 V and either of the axes. This
can be calculated in several ways, typically (area of rectangle + triangle) or (area of
trapezium). When attempting this, many students did not take account of the fact that the
figure did not include the origin of the axes, often ending up with (area of triangle) only.
The more popular approaches were undoubtedly by formula. Here, again, a large
proportion of responses were incorrect because they relied upon ½ C (V2 – V1)2 or its
equivalent rather than on ½ C (V22 – V12).

The principal error in part (b)(i) was to misunderstand the data by using 0.8 V 0 instead of
0.2 V0 as the pd after 45 s; those who did this could be awarded one compensation mark
only. Otherwise, many very competent answers with fully correct exponential solutions
were seen. R = T / C was usually then applied correctly in part (b)(i) to find the resistance,
although a few students wrongly substituted 8.1 μF, from part (a), instead of the given 470
μF.

Over 60% of the responses to part (b)(iii) were correct.

Q22.
This question involved a calculation of the number of electrons transferred when a
capacitor becomes fully charged. This needed the application of Q = CV followed by Q =
ne. Almost four-fifths of the students could do this satisfactorily.

Q23.
This question was similar but a little more demanding, because its facility was 67%. The
15% of students who gave distractor B may have had difficulty in combining mF with μA,
because they arrived at an answer of 100 s instead of 1000 s.

Q24.
This question looked at various factors − energy stored, energy supplied, voltages across
C and R − for a capacitor that had been fully charged from a battery through a resistor. An
incorrect statement had to be identified. The facility of the question was 61%. 21% of the
students chose distractor D; evidently they did not understand that there is no current
once C has been fully charged.

Q25.
AQA apologises for the unfortunate typographical error which crept in to the resistor
values in part (a) of this question. Both values ought to have been given in kΩ. The
majority of students actually answered the question as it had been intended to appear,
and so the mark scheme that would have applied to the intended question in part (ii) was
used when marking their work. The students who answered the question as it appeared in
the paper were not disadvantaged, because an alternative mark scheme which gave full
credit for completely correct responses was adopted for them. The main weaknesses in
either approach were a lack of appreciation of the effect of the resistor value on the initial
current, and doubt as to whether increasing resistance would speed up the decay or slow
it down. In the case of the question as it had been intended, the curve crosses the original
curve within the time scale of the graph; this was rarely spotted and so the award of all
three marks was quite unusual. The determination of the initial charge on the capacitor

Page 38 of 40
 from the area under the curve was not as well known as expected. There were many
references to the intercept on the current axis, to the initial gradient, and some to “the
initial area under the curve”.

Most students wrote correct and complete answers in part (b)(i). A small number of
students mixed up mass and weight, leading to the unnecessary introduction of g into the
calculation. The more able ones who had done this then realised that g was
self-cancelling. It was pleasing to see that an appropriate number of significant figures
was generally quoted in the final answers. The reasons looked for in the answers to part
(b)(ii) were those which cause the greatest energy loss as the weight is raised by an
electric motor: losses caused by heating of the connecting wires or the motor and energy
lost in overcoming frictional forces as the motor rotates. By comparison, the energy lost in
overcoming air resistance (for example) is trivial and was therefore discounted. Examiners
expected to see that the locations of the energy losses (wires, motor, circuit, etc) were
identified in acceptable answers.

Q26.
(a) (i) This calculation was very well done with over 90% of candidates able to
complete it successfully. Mistakes seen were mostly power of ten errors on the
value of the capacitor (3 × 10 −3 often quoted).

(ii) The majority of candidates were able to achieve at least 2 marks. Of course,
many candidates attempted to draw discharge curves instead of the required
straight line. Candidates should treat these graphs with caution and be aware
of the Q∝ V is always directly proportional irrespective of charging and
discharging.

(b) There were lots of mistakes in this calculation. The most common error was the use

of E = CV2 where candidates substituted ΔV = 1.3 V into this formula, effectively

calculating

1.32 instead of calculating 2.52 × 1.22. Another common mistake seen was treating Q

as a constant in the equation E= QV , that is E = × 7.2 × 10−6×ΔV

(c) (i) A common mistake seen here was the use of the wrong formula, a significant
number of candidates chose to use = 0.69 RC even though the fall in
voltage was not quite 50%. Other candidates selected the correct formula but
then had difficulty in their rearranging of the formula; many made the mistake

of misplacing C in the rearrangement of the equation: R = instead

of R =

(ii) Candidates found this explanation difficult, with only the best candidates able
to deliver a detailed, coherent response. Most answers were limited to less
charge less potential difference arguments rather than dealing with the rate

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aspect of the question.

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