Name: ________________________

Topic Test: OxfordAQA

International AS level Physics Class: ________________________
Electricity
Date: ________________________

Time: 56 minutes

Marks: 37 marks

Comments:

Oxford International AQA Examinations Page 1 of 17

 During a lightning strike, 9.4 × 1018 electrons move from a cloud to the ground in a time of 18 µ s.
1
(a)  Calculate the current in the lightning strike due to the transfer of electrons.

current = ________________________ A
(2)

(b)  State the direction of the conventional current during this lightning strike.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 3 marks)

(a) Define resistance.

2
___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) (i) Sketch onto the axes below a graph of the variation of current with potential
difference for a filament lamp.

(1)
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 (ii) State and explain, in terms of electron flow, how the resistance of the filament lamp
changes as the current in the lamp increases.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 5 marks)

The diagram shows three identical resistors, each with a resistance R, in a circuit connected to a
3 cell with emf 1.5 V
The cell has negligible internal resistance.

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(a) When switch S is closed the reading of ammeter A1 is 1.2 A and the reading of ammeter A2
is 0.40 A

State the value of the current I1 when switch S is closed.

I1 = ____________________ A
(1)

(b) Calculate R.

R = ____________________ Ω
(1)

(c) Switch S is returned to the open position.

State and explain the effect this has on the readings of A1 and A2.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 5 marks)

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 Figure 1 shows a circuit used to determine the emf and internal resistance of a cell.
4
Figure 1

Figure 2 shows the variation of the voltmeter reading with current in the circuit as the variable
resistor is adjusted.

Figure 2

(a) The circuit contains an ideal voltmeter and an ideal ammeter.

State the resistance of an ideal voltmeter.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

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 (b) Show that the internal resistance of the cell is approximately 0.8 Ω.

(1)

(c) The variable resistor is adjusted until the current in the circuit is 2.10 A.

Calculate the resistance of the variable resistor.

resistance = ____________________ Ω
(3)
(Total 5 marks)

A fuse wire is a short piece of wire in series with a component in a circuit. The fuse wire is
5 designed to melt and act as a circuit breaker when the current exceeds a safe level. A lighting
technician needs to choose a fuse wire for a spotlight that normally operates at 11 A. He can
choose from two types of fuse wire, A and B, shown in the table below. Each fuse wire is 1.2 cm
long.

Resistivity /
Fuse Cross-sectional Power required to melt
Metal
wire area / m2 fuse wire / W
..............

A Zinc 5.5 × 10−8 1.8 × 10−8 2.4

B Silver 1.6 × 10−8 9.5 × 10−9 2.7

(a)  Complete the table above with the SI unit of resistivity.

(1)

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 (b)  Determine which fuse wire should be used for the spotlight.

fuse wire = ________________________

(4)

(c)  Suggest one other factor that might influence the technician’s choice.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 6 marks)

Figure 1 shows a thermistor T used in an alarm circuit for a refrigerator. The alarm is designed to
6 sound a buzzer B when the temperature exceeds a threshold value. B has a constant resistance
of 123 Ω.

The battery has a negligible internal resistance.

Figure 1

The buzzer sounds when the potential difference across it is greater than 1.8 V.

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(a)  Explain why the potential difference across the buzzer increases when the temperature
increases.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(b)  Show that, when the potential difference across the buzzer is 1.8 V, the resistance of the
thermistor is about 80 Ω.

(2)

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Figure 2 shows how the resistance of the thermistor varies with temperature over a small range
of temperatures.

Figure 2

(c)  Calculate the gradient of the graph.

gradient = ________________________ Ω K−1

(2)

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 (d)  Determine the temperature at which the buzzer will start to sound.
Assume that the gradient of the graph remains constant when the temperature rises above
2.4 °C.

temperature = ________________________ °C
(1)
(Total 8 marks)

What is a unit for potential difference?

7
A A Ω–1

B C J–1

C J A–1 s–1

D WA

(Total 1 mark)

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 Which network of resistors has the largest total resistance?
8

(Total 1 mark)

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 The 12 V battery in the circuit shown has negligible internal resistance. The diodes have 'ideal'
9 characteristics.

The current through the battery is approximately

A 0A

B 0.10 A

C 0.20 A

D 0.40 A

(Total 1 mark)

Three identical resistors X, Y and Z are connected across a battery as shown.

10

The ratio is

C 1

D 2

(Total 1 mark)

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 The diagram shows a 12 V battery connected to a resistor of resistance R.
11
The voltmeter reads 10 V when the switch is closed.

What is the internal resistance r of the battery?

C 5R

D 6R

(Total 1 marks)

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Mark schemes
(a)  I = Q/t = 9.4 × 1018 × 1.6 × 10−19 / 18 × 10−6 ✓
1
= 84 000 A (83 556 A) ✓
2

(b)  Up/upwards/from ground to cloud ✓

1
[3]

(a) ratio of voltage (across component) to current (through

2 component) or R = V/I with terms defined and R as subject

B1
1

(b) (i) correct curve

B1
1

(ii) resistance increases / increase in resistivity

B1

energy transfer increases lattice vibration/ temperature rise

increases lattice vibration / electron collisions increases
lattice vibration

B1

more frequent collisions/ ions now a larger target for electrons

B1
3
[5]

(a)  I1 = 0.80 A
3
Accept 1 sig. fig. in this case
1

(b)  R = 1.9 Ω
1

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 (c)  effect : Reading of A1 decreases
1

reason: because the total circuit resistance has increased

(reason marks are dependent on effect marks)
1

effect: Reading of A2 remains constant

1

reason: The p.d. and resistance for this branch are constant.
Accept lower part of circuit is unaffected by the switch
1
Max 3

Alternative:

A1 = A2
1

Total circuit resistance = 2R

1

Current = 0.40 A
1

So A1 decreases (A2 stays the same)

1
Max 3
[6]

(a)  infinite ✓
4
Condone “very large”
1

(b)  Evidence of using graph to get gradient

OR

use of intercept (2 V) and a data point e.g (1, 1.2) ✓

Must be a correct pair of coordinates.
1

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 (c)  E = 2.00 (V) ✓

Substitution into E = I(R + r) (e.g candidate’s E = 2.1(R + 0.8) ) ✓

0.15(2) (Ω) ✓

OR

Total R = 2.00/2.1 = 0.95 ✓

R = 0.95 − 0.8 ✓

0.15(2) (Ω) ✓
Alternative method:
Deduce pd correctly (0.32 V) and substitute into R = V/I
= 0.32/2.1
Allow reasonable range for data extraction
Allow 1 max for any extrapolation done by extending the
grid and line but reward a “mathematical” extrapolation
such as using similar triangles.
3
[5]

(a)  Ωm
5 1

(b)  Use of R = ρl/A seen

Allow reverse argument i.e. calculating power needed to
melt fuses starting from 11 A

Correct value for at least 1 resistance (zinc 0.037 Ω, silver 0.020 Ω) ✓

Use of P = I2R with a correct substitution of their R ✓

Correct value for both currents (8.1 A for zinc 11.6 A for silver) or powers and
statement justifying the use of silver ✓
4

(c)  Any sensible factor eg corrosion, cost, availability

1
[6]

(a)  As temperature increases, the resistance of the thermistor decreases ✓

6
As more charge carriers become available for conduction/ are raised to the
conduction band ✓

A larger share/proportion of the battery pd across the buzzer (or reference to a

potential divider) ✓
3

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 (b)  Use of or I = 0.0146 (A) ✓

Must see 82 not just 80. Answers based on checking

can only score both marks if unrounded values are
seen.

R = 82 (Ω) ✓
2

(c)  Attempt to find gradient as Δy/Δx with correct values read from graph

Gradient = −5 (Ω K−1)
Must have negative sign for second mark.
2

(d)  T = 3.0 (°C)

1
[8]

C
7
[1]

C
8
[1]

C
9
[1]

A
10
[1]

B
11
[1]

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