Electrical quantities: past paper questions

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• Question 30May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  An uncharged plastic rod is rubbed with a cloth. The plastic rod gains a negative charge. Which statement is correct?

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• Question 27Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which material is an electrical conductor at room temperature?

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• Question 23Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  An aircraft flying through the air becomes electrically charged. What causes this to happen?

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

  What is a possible unit for electric current?

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• Question 31Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two parallel, conducting plates are charged. The charge on the upper plate is positive. The charge on the lower plate is equal in size but negative.

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• Question 24Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Two metal spheres are brought close to each other. The two spheres repel each other. Which statement explains this?

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

  The resistance of a metal wire depends on its length and on its cross-sectional area. What are the relationships for the resistance of the wire?

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• Question 30Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a lightning strike. Charge flows between the cloud and objects on the ground. During the lightning strike, there is a current of $2.8\times {10}^4\text{ A}$ between the cloud and the house for 52 ms.

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• Question 32Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which quantity is defined as the electrical work done by a source in moving a unit charge around a complete circuit?

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Circuits P and Q each contain two identical resistors, each of resistance $R$.

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• Question 31May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Why are metals good electrical conductors?

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• Question 33Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Four $1.5\text{V}$ cells are connected in a circuit as shown. The switch is closed. What is the reading on the voltmeter?

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• Question 27Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The current in an electric motor is $2.0\text{ A}$. It transfers $20\text{ J}$ of energy in $5.0\text{ s}$. What is the potential difference (p.d.) across the motor?

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• Question 33May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which quantities are multiplied together to determine the power input to an electrical appliance?

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A circuit consists of a battery of e.m.f. $9.0\text{ V}$, a switch, a resistor P, an ammeter, a $4.0\mathrm{\Omega }$ resistor and a voltmeter. Fig. 6.1 is the circuit diagram of the circuit.

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  An insulating rod is made of plastic and is initially uncharged. The rod is rubbed with a cloth and becomes negatively charged. Describe, in terms of particles, what happens as the rod becomes negatively charged.

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• Question 28Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Four resistors, each of resistance R, are connected in series with a cell of e.m.f. E. From left to right, what is the current in each of the resistors?

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

  Which graph shows how the current changes when the voltage across a resistor of constant resistance is varied?

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• Question 6May/June 2026, paper 21Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Figure 6.1 shows two identical car headlamps connected in parallel to the $12\text{ V}$ battery of a car. The lamps are filament lamps. Figure 6.1 The switch is closed, and both lamps operate at normal brightness.

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  An electric car is driven by a direct current (d.c.) motor that is powered by a direct current power supply. Describe how a direct current differs from an alternating current (a.c.).

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• Question 29Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  How can one volt also be expressed?

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• Question 34Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Two identical resistors are connected first in series and then in parallel. The two resistors in series are connected to a power supply and the current is $I_s$. The parallel combination is connected to the same power supply and the current supplied is $I_p$.

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• Question 6May/June 2026, paper 22Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Figure 6.1 shows a light-dependent resistor (LDR) connected in series with a fixed resistor of resistance $200\mathrm{\Omega }$ and a battery. The electromotive force (e.m.f.) of the battery is $6.0\text{ V}$. The potential difference (p.d.) across the LDR is $2.4\text{ V}$.

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 42Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates a light dependent resistor (LDR). The student constructs a series circuit consisting of a power supply, the LDR, a $560\mathrm{\Omega }$ resistor and a switch. Draw a diagram of the circuit arrangement, using the correct symbols for the components in the circuit.

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• Question 30Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  X is a piece of wire with length l, area a and resistance R. Wire Y is made from the same material and is connected to wire X to produce a component with a total resistance of $\frac{R}{2}$. What are the dimensions of Y and how is it connected to X? length | area | connection

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 6.1 shows a circuit that contains two identical cells, each of e.m.f. $1.5\text{ V}$, that are connected in parallel. The circuit also contains two ammeters, a thermistor T and two resistors R and S. The reading on ammeter 1 is $0.20\text{ A}$.

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• Question 2May/June 2026, paper 41Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates the resistance of a thermistor. Some of the apparatus used is shown in Figure 2.1. Draw a diagram of the circuit shown in Figure 2.1, using standard electrical symbols.

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A filament lamp connected to a $12\text{ V}$ power supply transfers $24\text{ W}$ of power. Calculate: the current in the lamp current = ......................................................

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  An electric circuit contains a battery, a fixed resistor R, a voltmeter and a thermistor. Fig. 7.1 is an incomplete circuit diagram of the arrangement. The thermistor is connected between terminals ${\text{T}}_1$ and ${\text{T}}_2$.

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 6.1 shows the circuit symbol for a relay and two labelled terminals. By referring to Fig. 6.1, explain the effect of a current passing from A to B.

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