Resistance: past paper questions

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which expression is used to calculate electrical resistance?

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows three wires, P, Q and R. They are all made from the same metal. Which list gives the wires in order of resistance, from lowest to highest?

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• Question 28Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  What is the combined resistance of a $3.0\mathrm{\Omega }$ resistor and a $6.0\mathrm{\Omega }$ resistor connected in parallel?

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• Question 29Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Two $2.0\mathrm{\Omega }$ resistors are connected in parallel. What is the combined resistance of the resistors?

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a simple circuit. The ammeter reading is $2.0\text{ A}$ and the voltmeter reading is $6.0\text{ V}$. What is the resistance of the wire?

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• Question 30Oct/Nov 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  There is a current of $2.0\text{ A}$ in a resistor of resistance $8.0\mathrm{\Omega }$. What is the potential difference (p.d.) across the resistor?

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• Question 27Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which equation is correct for resistance $R$, potential difference (p.d.) $V$ and current $I$?

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• Question 27May/June 2026, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  What is the current–voltage (I–V) graph of a filament lamp?

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• Question 28Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows two resistors in series connected to a power supply. The reading on the voltmeter is $3.0\text{ V}$ when the switch is closed. What is the resistance of resistor R?

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• Question 27Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which diagram shows the current–voltage ($I$–$V$) graph for a filament lamp?

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Which substances both contain large concentrations of free electrons?

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• Question 29May/June 2026, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which combination has a resistance of $8.0\mathrm{\Omega }$?

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two wires, X and Y, are made from the same metal and have the same resistance.

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• Question 27Oct/Nov 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  What is the unit of resistance?

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• Question 8May/June 2026, paper 31Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Figure 8.1 shows a lamp and a thermistor connected in a series circuit. The lamp is glowing with normal brightness. A teacher uses a meter to measure the potential difference (p.d.) across the lamp.

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• Question 8Oct/Nov 2025, paper 31Structured13 marks

  A television uses many electrical components. The potential difference (voltage) across a component is $72\text{ V}$. The current in the component is $0.024\text{ A}$.

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• Question 8Oct/Nov 2024, paper 33Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  A student connects a circuit with two lamps and three switches, ${\text{S}}_1$, ${\text{S}}_2$ and ${\text{S}}_3$, as shown in Fig. 8.1. The student switches on one lamp. State which switches the student closes to switch on only one lamp.

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• Question 29Oct/Nov 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Resistors of resistance $2.0\mathrm{\Omega }$ and $3.0\mathrm{\Omega }$ are connected in two different circuits. What is the total resistance in each circuit?

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• Question 8May/June 2026, paper 32Structured10 marks

  A heater is connected to a $230\text{ V}$ mains supply. The current in the heater is $11.5\text{ A}$. Calculate the resistance of the heater.

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2025, paper 33Structured10 marks

  A student is making a torch. The torch needs a potential difference (p.d) of $6.0\text{ V}$. The electromotive force (e.m.f.) of each cell for the torch is $1.5\text{ V}$.

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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 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 28May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  This question is about the potential difference (p.d.) across, and the current in, a variable resistor. The resistance of the variable resistor is increased. Which statement is correct?

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• Question 27Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The graph shows the current–voltage characteristic for a filament lamp. Which statement describes how the resistance of the lamp changes as the voltage increases?

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2025, paper 43Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 6.1 shows a circuit which includes an LDR (light-dependent resistor). The LDR is in a brightly lit room. The voltmeter reads $1.8\text{ V}$.

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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 28May/June 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Wire X and wire Y are made from the same metal. The table gives information about the two wires. | | length / m | cross-sectional area / mm${}^2$ | resistance / $\mathrm{\Omega }$ | |---|---|---|---| | wire X | 1.0 | 0.40 | 2.0 | | wire Y | 1.3 | 0.30 | | What is the resistance of wire Y?

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2023, paper 33Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Two identical resistors, $R_1$ and $R_2$, are connected to a 24 V battery, as shown in Fig. 7.1. The value of each resistor is 50 $\mathrm{\Omega }$. Calculate the combined resistance of $R_1$ and $R_2$ when they are connected as shown in Fig. 7.1.

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• Question 8Oct/Nov 2023, paper 41Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  A cylinder is made of modelling clay. The modelling clay is an electrical conductor. Fig. 8.1 shows the cylinder.

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• Question 30May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  In which circuit does the ammeter read 2.0 A?

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