Electromotive force and potential difference: past paper questions

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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 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 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 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 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 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 3Oct/Nov 2023, paper 42Structured14 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates how the potential difference $V$ across the terminals of a power supply changes as the current $I$ in a circuit changes. The student assembles the circuit shown in Fig. 3.1. The student closes the switch and observes the reading $V_0$ on the voltmeter.

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

  How can one volt also be expressed?

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• Question 29May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a battery of three $1.5\text{ V}$ cells. What is an advantage of this arrangement of cells?

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• Question 28May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Three identical cells are connected in parallel to a resistor. What is the advantage of using three cells in parallel rather than using a single cell?

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• Question 28May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which equation is correct for potential difference (p.d.)?

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• Question 6May/June 2023, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 6.1 shows an electric circuit containing a filament lamp, a resistor R, a $12\text{ V}$ battery and five meters. The reading on ammeter ${\text{A}}_1$ is $0.25\text{ A}$. The reading on voltmeter ${\text{V}}_1$ is $3.0\text{ V}$.

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• Question 2May/June 2023, paper 41Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates a thermistor using the circuit in Fig. 2.1. Draw a circuit diagram of the circuit.

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• Question 4May/June 2023, paper 41Essay6 marksHas a diagram

  A student attaches a propeller to an electric motor driven by a 0 to $12\text{ V}\text{d.c.}$ power supply as shown in Fig. 4.1. Moving air from the propeller exerts a force on the balance.

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