Potential dividers: past paper questions

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• Question 35Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a circuit with a battery of electromotive force (e.m.f.) $60\text{ V}$ and negligible internal resistance, a $20\text{ k}\mathrm{\Omega }$ resistor, a thermistor and a voltmeter. The resistance of the thermistor is $20\text{ k}\mathrm{\Omega }$.

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• Question 32Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a circuit with a light-dependent resistor (LDR). The ammeter reads zero current. What is the resistance of the LDR?

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A potential divider consists of two resistors of resistances $R_1$ and $R_2$ connected in series across a source of potential difference (p.d.) $V_{\text{in}}$. The p.d. across $R_1$ is $V_{\text{out}}$.

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• Question 37May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a resistor connected in series with a light-dependent resistor (LDR) and a battery. The light intensity incident on the LDR increases. What is the effect of this change on the voltmeter and ammeter readings?

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A potentiometer circuit is used to determine the electromotive force (e.m.f.) $E_{\text{X}}$ of a cell.

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• Question 33Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A student sets up a circuit. The circuit diagram shows how the positive and negative terminals of a voltmeter are connected to the circuit. The voltmeter has an initial reading that is positive.

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• Question 35May/June 2026, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a thermistor and a variable resistor connected to a battery. The temperature of the thermistor decreases.

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  In the circuit shown, a battery of negligible internal resistance is connected in series with a pair of fixed resistors ${\text{R}}_1$ and ${\text{R}}_2$. The circuit is to be used to test whether the electromotive force (e.m.f.) of a particular cell is $1.5\text{ V}$.

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• Question 6May/June 2025, paper 22Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Define electric potential difference across a component.

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• Question 35Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows part of a circuit that uses a potentiometer wire to measure a potential difference (p.d.) in an external circuit. The potentiometer wire XZ has length $L_1$.

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• Question 7May/June 2025, paper 23Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  A nichrome resistance wire has length $150\text{ cm}$, cross-sectional area $2.45\times {10}^{-7}{\text{ m}}^2$ and resistivity $1.12\times {10}^{-6}\mathrm{\Omega }\text{ m}$. Calculate, to three significant figures, the resistance of the wire.

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• Question 33May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which circuit results in output voltage $V_{\text{out}}$ increasing with increasing temperature?

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  A battery is connected in a circuit with a light-dependent resistor (LDR), two fixed resistors and a voltmeter, as shown in Fig. 6.1. The battery has an electromotive force (e.m.f.) of $25\text{ V}$ and negligible internal resistance.

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• Question 37May/June 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a potentiometer circuit used to compare the electromotive forces (e.m.f.), $E_1$ and $E_2$, of two cells.

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Structured12 marksHas a diagram

  A metal wire has a resistance per unit length of $0.92\mathrm{\Omega }{\text{ m}}^{-1}$. The wire has a uniform cross-sectional area of $5.3\times {10}^{-7}{\text{ m}}^2$. Calculate the resistivity of the metal of the wire.

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• Question 5May/June 2024, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  State Kirchhoff’s second law.

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2023, paper 23Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  State Ohm’s law.

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• Question 36May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Four potential divider circuits each consist of a battery of electromotive force (e.m.f.) $9\text{ V}$ and negligible internal resistance connected to a combination of resistors. Each of the resistors in the circuits has a resistance of $X$ or $2X$.

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• Question 37May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A voltmeter is connected into a circuit with the polarity shown. The sliding contact is moved to end P of the potentiometer and then to end Q. What are the two readings of the voltmeter?

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• Question 37May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  In the potentiometer circuit shown, the reading on the ammeter is zero. The light-dependent resistor (LDR) is then covered and the ammeter gives a non-zero reading. Which change could return the ammeter reading to zero?

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• Question 7May/June 2023, paper 21Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  A battery of electromotive force (e.m.f.) $9.6\text{ V}$ and negligible internal resistance is connected in series with two fixed resistors and a thermistor, as shown in Fig. 7.1. The fixed resistors have resistances of $3400\mathrm{\Omega }$ and $5800\mathrm{\Omega }$.

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• Question 7May/June 2023, paper 22Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  A battery of electromotive force (e.m.f.) $9.0\text{ V}$ and negligible internal resistance is connected to a light-dependent resistor (LDR) and a fixed resistor, as shown in Fig. 7.1. The LDR and fixed resistor have resistances of $1800\mathrm{\Omega }$ and $1200\mathrm{\Omega }$ respectively.

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