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Topic 10 Practice Paper: Electricity and circuits — question paper

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QQ/IGCSE-PHYS/T10

IGCSE · Cambridge IGCSE Physics (Extended (Core + Supplement))

Topic 10 Practice Paper

Electricity and circuits

Duration: 40 minutes
Total: 30 marks
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READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

  • Answer all questions.
  • Section A contains ten multiple-choice questions. Choose one answer, A, B, C or D, for each.
  • Section B contains structured questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.
  • The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
  • The total mark for this paper is 30.

Original practice material written against the Cambridge IGCSE Physics syllabus. It is not an official Cambridge examination paper. Topic 10: Electricity and circuits (charge, current, resistance, series/parallel, power, mains safety).

For Examiner’s Use
Section A/ 10
Section B/ 20
Total/ 30

Section A: Multiple-choice questions[10 marks]

Choose one answer for each question. Each question is worth 1 mark.

  1. 1

    Which row describes the forces between charged objects?

    Two positivesA positive and a negative
    Aattractrepel
    Brepelattract
    Crepelrepel
    Dattractattract
    1. 2

      A charge of 24 C passes a point in a circuit in 8.0 s. The current is

      1. A0.33 A
      2. B32 A
      3. C3.0 A
      4. D192 A
      ( )
    2. 3

      In a metal wire, the charge is carried by

      1. Amoving free electrons
      2. Bflowing protons
      3. Cvibrating neutrons
      4. Dions jumping between atoms
      ( )
    3. 4

      A resistor carries a current of 0.25 A when the p.d. across it is 6.0 V. Its resistance is

      1. A1.5 Ω
      2. B24 Ω
      3. C6.3 Ω
      4. D0.042 Ω
      ( )
    4. 5

      Three cells, each of e.m.f. 1.5 V, are connected in series, all the same way round. The combined e.m.f. is

      1. A1.5 V
      2. B0.5 V
      3. C3.0 V
      4. D4.5 V
      ( )
    5. 6

      Resistors of 5.0 Ω and 20 Ω are placed in parallel with each other. Their combined resistance is

      1. A25 Ω
      2. B100 Ω
      3. C4.0 Ω
      4. D15 Ω
      ( )
    6. 7

      In a parallel circuit, the current from the source compared with the current in one branch is

      1. Alarger
      2. Bthe same
      3. Csmaller
      4. Dzero
      ( )
    7. 8

      A 12 V supply pushes a current of 2.0 A through a heater. The electrical power is

      1. A6.0 W
      2. B0.17 W
      3. C14 W
      4. D24 W
      ( )
    8. 9

      The switch controlling a mains lamp must be in the live wire so that

      1. Athe lamp glows brighter
      2. Bswitching off disconnects the lamp from the high potential, making it safe to touch
      3. Cthe neutral wire carries no current ever
      4. Dthe earth wire can carry the household current
      ( )
    9. 10

      An appliance with a plastic (double-insulated) casing

      1. Aneeds an earth wire to carry its full working current
      2. Bmust not contain a fuse
      3. Cneeds no earth wire, because its casing cannot become live
      4. Dworks only on direct current
      ( )

    Section B: Structured questions[20 marks]

    Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

    1. 11

      A student builds a circuit with a 6.0 V battery, an ammeter, a switch and a coil of thin wire, all in series. The ammeter reads 0.30 A.

      1. (a)

        Calculate the resistance of the coil.

        [2]
      2. (b)

        The student doubles the length of the wire in the coil by unwinding it and re-winding with a double length of the same wire. State and explain what happens to the resistance.

        [2]
      3. (c)

        Calculate the new ammeter reading with the doubled coil.

        [2]
    2. 12

      A lamp marked 12 V, 36 W is connected to a 12 V battery.

      1. (a)

        Calculate the current through the lamp.

        [2]
      2. (b)

        Calculate the energy the lamp transfers in 20 s.

        [2]
      3. (c)

        State where the 720 J of energy ends up.

        [1]
    3. 13

      A mains plug contains a fuse, and the cable has live, neutral and earth wires. A metal kettle rated at 230 V, 2.3 kW is plugged in.

      1. (a)

        Calculate the normal current of the kettle.

        [2]
      2. (b)

        Choose the correct fuse rating from 3 A, 13 A and 30 A, and justify it.

        [2]
      3. (c)

        Explain why damp hands are dangerous when plugging in any mains appliance.

        [1]
    4. 14

      A circuit contains a 9.0 V battery, a fixed resistor R₁ of 10 Ω in series with a variable resistor R₂. The variable resistor is set so that the p.d. across R₁ is 6.0 V.

      1. (a)

        State the p.d. across R₂.

        [1]
      2. (b)

        Calculate the total current drawn from the supply.

        [2]
      3. (c)

        Calculate the resistance of R₂ at this setting.

        [1]

    — End of paper —