AQA-style topic test · Electricity · Foundation tier
Time allowed: 40 minutes
Total: Separate Physics 35 marks · Combined Science 30 marks (skip Question 05)
You need: a calculator, a ruler and the equation sheet.
Instructions: Answer all questions on paper. Show your working in calculations – you can get marks for working even if your final answer is wrong. Open the mark schemes only when you have finished the whole test.
Question 01
01.1 Which component has a resistance that decreases when the light intensity increases?
Tick (✓) one box.
☐ diode ☐ fixed resistor ☐ LDR ☐ thermistor [1 mark]
Mark scheme
LDR (1)
A 4.0 Ω resistor and an 8.0 Ω resistor are connected in series to a 6.0 V battery.
01.2 Calculate the total resistance of the circuit. [1 mark]
Mark scheme
4.0 + 8.0 = 12 Ω (1)
01.3 Calculate the current in the circuit.
Use the equation: V = I R [2 marks]
Mark scheme
6.0 = I × 12 (1)
I = 0.50 A (1)
allow error carried forward from 01.2
01.4 Calculate the potential difference across the 8.0 Ω resistor. [2 marks]
Mark scheme
V = 0.50 × 8.0 (1)
V = 4.0 V (1)
allow error carried forward from 01.3
Question 01 total: 6 marks
Question 02
A mobile phone charger gives a current of 0.50 A for 30 minutes.
02.1 Calculate the charge that flows.
Use the equation: Q = I t [3 marks]
Mark scheme
30 minutes = 1800 s (1)
Q = 0.50 × 1800 (1)
Q = 900 C (1)
02.2 The potential difference of the charger is 5.0 V.
Calculate the energy transferred.
Use the equation: E = Q V [2 marks]
Mark scheme
E = 900 × 5.0 (1)
E = 4500 J (1)
allow error carried forward from 02.1
Question 02 total: 5 marks
Question 03
A student investigates the I–V characteristic of a filament lamp. She uses a battery, a variable resistor, an ammeter, a voltmeter and the lamp.
03.1 How should the voltmeter be connected to the lamp? [1 mark]
Mark scheme
in parallel (1)
03.2 What is the variable resistor used for? [1 mark]
Mark scheme
to change the current / the potential difference across the lamp (1)
03.3 Describe the shape of the I–V graph for a filament lamp and explain why it has this shape. [3 marks]
Mark scheme
a curve (through the origin) that gets less steep (1)
as the current increases the filament gets hotter (1)
so its resistance increases (1)
03.4 When the potential difference across the lamp is 3.0 V, the current is 0.20 A.
Calculate the resistance of the lamp. [2 marks]
Mark scheme
3.0 = 0.20 × R (1)
R = 15 Ω (1)
Question 03 total: 7 marks
Question 04
This question is about mains electricity in the UK.
04.1 State the frequency and the potential difference of the UK mains supply. [2 marks]
Mark scheme
50 Hz (1)
230 V (1)
04.2 What colour is the live wire? [1 mark]
Mark scheme
brown (1)
04.3 Explain why touching the live wire is dangerous. [2 marks]
Mark scheme
there is a large potential difference between the live wire (230 V) and your body (at 0 V / earth) (1)
so a current flows through your body / you get an electric shock (1)
04.4 A kettle is connected to the 230 V mains. The current is 10 A.
Calculate the power of the kettle.
Use the equation: P = V I [2 marks]
Mark scheme
P = 230 × 10 (1)
P = 2300 W (1)
Question 04 total: 7 marks
🔷 SEPARATE PHYSICS ONLY – Combined Science students skip Question 05
(Static electricity and electric fields are only in Separate Physics.)
Question 05
A student rubs a balloon on a woollen jumper. The balloon becomes negatively charged.
05.1 Explain how the balloon becomes negatively charged. [2 marks]
Mark scheme
electrons are transferred (by friction) (1)
from the jumper to the balloon (1)
do not accept: positive charges / protons move
05.2 Two negatively charged balloons are hung on threads close to each other.
Describe what happens and give a reason. [2 marks]
Mark scheme
they move apart / repel (1)
like charges repel (1)
05.3 What is an electric field? [1 mark]
Mark scheme
the region around a charged object where another charged object experiences a force (1)
Question 05 total: 5 marks
Question 06
06.1 A 1500 W hairdryer is used for 10 minutes.
Calculate the energy transferred.
Use the equation: E = P t [2 marks]
Mark scheme
E = 1500 × 600 (1) – time must be in seconds
E = 900 000 J (1)
06.2 A lamp has a power of 60 W.
Which transfers more energy every second, the hairdryer or the lamp? Give a reason. [1 mark]
Mark scheme
the hairdryer, because it has a higher power (1)
Two identical lamps are connected in parallel to a 12 V battery. The current in each lamp is 0.50 A.
06.3 What is the potential difference across each lamp? [1 mark]
Mark scheme
12 V (1)
06.4 What is the current from the battery? [1 mark]
Mark scheme
1.0 A (1) – the branch currents add up
Question 06 total: 5 marks
END OF TEST. Total: Separate Physics 35 marks · Combined Science 30 marks.
Next: Electricity – Higher test · Electricity topic page · All topic tests
