Practical electricity: past paper questions

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• Question 7May/June 2026, paper 21Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Figure 7.1 shows a bathroom heater connected to a $240\text{ V}$ a.c. supply. A relay is used to turn on the heater.

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• Question 35Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The current in a home computer varies between $0.40\text{ A}$ and $1.2\text{ A}$ when the computer is connected to the mains supply. What is the rating of the most suitable fuse to use to protect the computer?

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• Question 28Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Three students make comments about appliances with double insulation. student P: Appliances with double insulation do not need an earth wire. student Q: Double insulation protects the user of the appliance from an electric shock.

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  An electric kettle has an outer casing made of metal. Fig. 7.1 shows the kettle. The heater in the electric kettle is connected to a $230\text{ V}$ mains power supply and has a power rating of $2300\text{ W}$.

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• Question 32Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  How is energy transferred within a kettle that is powered by the mains supply?

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• Question 31May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The power consumption of a microwave oven is $1500\text{ W}$. The cost of $1.0\text{ kWh}$ of electrical energy is $24\text{ cents}$. What is the cost of using the microwave oven for $10\text{ minutes}$?

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• Question 8May/June 2023, paper 21Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  A filament lamp is arranged above a shiny metal surface, as shown in Fig. 8.1. A student reads in a textbook that a light-emitting diode (LED) is more efficient than a filament lamp. State what is meant by 'efficiency'.

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• Question 31May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  There is an electric current of $1.5\text{ A}$ in a $4.0\mathrm{\Omega }$ resistor. How much energy is transferred electrically to thermal energy in $1.0\text{ minute}$?

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• Question 30May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which electrical appliance uses the heating effect of electricity?

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• Question 6May/June 2025, paper 22Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 6.1 shows part of a mains circuit that includes three lamps and a heater. The mains voltage is $230\text{ V}$, and the power of the heater is $2000\text{ W}$. There is a $5\text{ A}$ fuse in the lighting circuit.

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• Question 31May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  How many kilowatt-hours of energy are used by a $1000\text{ W}$ heater connected to a $230\text{ V}$ supply for 30 minutes?

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• Question 32May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which safety precautions must be taken when wiring an electrical kettle that has a stainless-steel outer casing?

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• Question 33May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  What is the purpose of the earth wire in a plug connected to an appliance?

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