Resistance: past paper questions

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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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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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• 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 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 41Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates series and parallel combinations of resistors. The student is provided with two resistors, X and Y, connected in the circuit shown in Fig. 2.1. The resistors are not identical.

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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 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 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 42Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates the resistance of a light-emitting diode (LED) when different currents flow through it. The student sets up the circuit shown in Fig. 2.1.

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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 6May/June 2025, paper 21Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A student sets up a circuit to determine the resistance of a length of wire.

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• Question 29May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagrams show five electrical circuits.

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2023, paper 41Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates the resistance of a resistance wire. The circuit used is shown in Fig. 2.1. The crocodile clip attached to the flying lead is connected to different points along the length of the resistance wire.

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• Question 5May/June 2025, paper 22Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  A student sets up the circuit shown in Fig. 5.1 to measure the resistance of a length of wire. The circuit contains four identical cells. The student finds that both meters read zero when the switch is closed.

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• Question 6May/June 2024, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 6.1 shows a circuit diagram containing a battery, a light-dependent resistor (LDR) and a fixed resistor of resistance $240\mathrm{\Omega }$ connected in series. There is a lamp near the circuit. Light from the lamp is incident on the LDR when the lamp is switched on.

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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 1May/June 2025, paper 41Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates the resistance of a lamp. (a) Fig. 1.1 shows the circuit used. The student closes the switch.

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• Question 4May/June 2024, paper 41Essay6 marks

  Plan an experiment to investigate how the thickness of a metal wire affects its resistance.

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• Question 29May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A student has three $15\mathrm{\Omega }$ resistors. She connects the resistors together in different arrangements. What is the minimum resistance and what is the maximum resistance of the arrangements that the student can produce?

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• Question 2May/June 2025, paper 42Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates the resistance of a thermistor at different temperatures. The student constructs the circuit shown in Fig. 2.1. The thermistor shown in Fig. 2.1 is placed in an empty beaker and is at room temperature.

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• Question 1May/June 2024, paper 42Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates the resistance of a diode when different currents flow through it. The student sets up the circuit shown in Fig. 1.1. The student connects a voltmeter into the circuit to measure the potential difference (p.d.) across the diode.

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• Question 3May/June 2023, paper 21Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 3.1 shows a circuit containing three resistors, a 12 V power supply and an ammeter.

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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 42Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates the effective resistance of different combinations of resistors and lamps in circuits. The student sets up the circuit shown in Fig. 2.1.

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