Electricity: past paper questions

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• Question 31May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  What is the definition of the potential difference (p.d.) across a component?

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• Question 31Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  There is a potential difference $V$ across a resistor of resistance $R$. The current in the resistor is $I$. Which equation gives the power $P$ dissipated by the resistor?

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• Question 30Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The current $I$ in a conductor is given by the equation shown. $$I=Anvq$$ What does the letter $n$ represent in this equation?

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• Question 32May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Several wires of the same fixed length are made of metal of constant resistivity. The wires have different cross-sectional areas. Which graph represents the variation of the resistance $R$ of the wires with their cross-sectional area $A$?

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• Question 32Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  What is a possible charge on a particle?

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• Question 35Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The circuit shown contains a cell with negligible internal resistance. The energy transferred per unit charge in driving charge around the complete circuit is $E$.

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• Question 31Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  In the circuit shown, the battery has an electromotive force (e.m.f.) of $6.0\text{ V}$ and negligible internal resistance. The three resistors each have resistance $R$. The total power dissipated in the resistor network is $24\text{ W}$.

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• Question 33May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a circuit. Which resistor dissipates the least power?

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• Question 33Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The graphs show possible current–voltage ($I$–$V$) characteristics for a filament lamp and for a semiconductor diode.

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• Question 32Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  There is a current in a resistor for a short time interval. Which statement about the total charge that passes through the resistor is correct?

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• Question 32Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which graph could show how the resistance $R$ of a filament lamp varies with the applied potential difference (p.d.) $V$, as $V$ is increased to the normal operating p.d.?

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• Question 34May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  There is an electric current of $10\text{ mA}$ in a conductor. What is the charge that passes a fixed point in the conductor in a time of $50\text{ s}$?

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two identical wires X and Y, each of length $L$ and radius $r$, are connected in parallel as shown. The total resistance of this combination is $R_1$. Wire X is replaced with a wire of the same material with length $L$ and radius $2r$.

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• Question 33Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The potential difference $V$ across a filament lamp is slowly raised from zero to its normal operating value. Which graph represents the variation with $V$ of the current $I$ in the lamp?

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• Question 32Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The current in a resistor of constant resistance is $8.0\text{ mA}$. The power dissipated by the resistor is $P$. The current in the resistor is increased to $12.0\text{ mA}$.

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• Question 34Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  An electric current of $12\text{ A}$ is in a wire of length $0.35\text{ m}$. The average drift speed of the free electrons (charge carriers) in the wire is $5.0\times {10}^{-4}{\text{ m s}}^{-1}$. How many free electrons are in the wire?

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• Question 34Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about the electromotive force (e.m.f.) of a cell is always correct?

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• Question 30May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  There is a current in a resistor for an unknown time. Which two quantities can be used to calculate the energy dissipated by the resistor?

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• Question 35Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Three resistors are connected to a cell of negligible internal resistance. Which circuit has a combined resistance of $100\mathrm{\Omega }$?

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• Question 31May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a metal block. The block has sides of length $a$, $b$ and $c$ as shown, and its volume is $V$. Each charge carrier has a charge $-q$ and the number density of the charge carriers in the metal is $n$.

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• Question 31Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  What is an electric current?

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• Question 31Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  In the circuit shown, a fixed resistor X is connected in series with a battery and a variable resistor. The power dissipated in resistor X is $7.2\text{ W}$ when a current of $3.0\text{ A}$ passes through it.

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• Question 32May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An electrical component is connected into a circuit. Which component and which change causes an increase in the resistance of the component?

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• Question 32Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The potential difference across a metal wire is kept constant. The length $l$ and the diameter $d$ of the wire are both varied. The type of metal is kept the same.

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• Question 30Oct/Nov 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  What could not be used to create an electric current?

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  A wire has length $L$ and cross-sectional area $A$. The wire is made from a metal that has Young modulus $E$ and resistivity $\rho$. Define the Young modulus of a material.

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• Question 34Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  The potential difference (p.d.) across a fixed resistor is $V$. The power dissipated in the resistor is 5.0 W. The p.d. across the resistor then changes to a new value.

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  State Kirchhoff’s first law.

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a circuit. Which statement about the circuit is not correct?

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• Question 32Oct/Nov 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  The resistance of a filament lamp increases as the current in it increases. What is the reason for this?

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