Electromotive force and potential difference: past paper questions

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• Question 29May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which apparatus is needed to measure the electromotive force (e.m.f.) of a cell?

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• Question 27Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows part of an electric circuit. The reading on the voltmeter is $16\text{ V}$. The current in the resistor is $8.0\text{ A}$.

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about a voltmeter is correct?

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• Question 7May/June 2026, paper 41Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Figure 7.1 shows a battery of e.m.f. $6.5\text{ V}$ connected in series with a motor, a fixed resistor and a switch. Complete the equation that defines e.m.f.

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• Question 29Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Potential difference (p.d.) is the ............ work done by a unit charge passing through a component. Which word completes the sentence?

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  Which two physical quantities have the unit $\text{J}\mathrm{/}\text{C}$?

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which unit is used to measure electromotive force (e.m.f.)?

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• Question 28Oct/Nov 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Electromotive force (e.m.f.) is defined in terms of the energy supplied in driving which physical quantity around a complete circuit?

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  In the circuit shown, the voltmeter reads $2.0\text{ V}$.

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  What is the definition of electromotive force?

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2024, paper 41Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  A potential divider is made by connecting a light-dependent resistor (LDR) and a thermistor in series. Fig. 6.1 shows the potential divider, a voltmeter and a direct current (d.c.) power supply connected into a circuit.

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• Question 27May/June 2023, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A battery is connected to a circuit. It is switched on for $1.0\text{ minute}$. During that time, there is a current of $0.40\text{ A}$ in the circuit and the battery supplies a total of $48\text{ J}$ of energy.

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• Question 25Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  In a circuit, two identical lamps are in parallel. The parallel pair of lamps is in series with a resistor and a battery. The battery does $120\text{ J}$ of work moving $50\text{ C}$ of charge around the circuit in time $t$.

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2024, paper 42Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  A washing machine has an electric motor and an electric heater. Fig. 7.1 shows a simplified circuit diagram for the washing machine. The heater has a resistance of $25\mathrm{\Omega }$ and the power supply has an electromotive force (e.m.f.) of $230\text{ V}$.

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• Question 27Oct/Nov 2025, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  Which electrical quantity is defined in terms of the energy supplied by a source in driving charge round a complete circuit?

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• Question 27May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which unit is used for the potential difference (p.d.) between two points in an electrical circuit?

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2025, paper 41Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 7.1 shows a circuit containing a $6.0\text{ V}$ battery of cells and three identical resistors. ${\text{S}}_1$ is closed and ${\text{S}}_2$ is open. The current in the ammeter is $0.080\text{ A}$.

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• Question 26May/June 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which graph of voltage against time shows an a.c. voltage?

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• Question 31May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A teacher makes a circuit using three $1.5\text{ V}$ cells and two $20\mathrm{\Omega }$ resistors connected in series. Which row gives the combined electromotive force (e.m.f.) of the cells and the combined resistance of the resistors?

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• Question 27May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which two electrical quantities have the same unit?

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• Question 27May/June 2025, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows three $20\mathrm{\Omega }$ resistors, ${\text{R}}_1$, ${\text{R}}_2$ and ${\text{R}}_3$, and a switch S connected to a d.c. power supply. Switch S is open.

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• Question 7May/June 2024, paper 41Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  The electromotive force (e.m.f.) of a battery is $7.5\text{ V}$. Define the term electromotive force.

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• Question 27May/June 2025, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  What is the electromotive force (e.m.f.) of a cell?

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• Question 7May/June 2024, paper 43Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 7.1 shows two charged metal plates. X marks the position of the centre of the space between the plates. On Fig. 7.1, draw at least four field lines to show the pattern and the direction of the electric field between the two charged plates.

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• Question 8May/June 2025, paper 43Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  State what is meant by an electric field.

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