Q1.

(a) Sketch, on Figure 1, the current−voltage (IV) characteristic for a filament lamp for
currents up to its working power.

Figure 1

(2)

(b) (i) State what happens to the resistance of the filament lamp as the current
increases.

...............................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) State and explain whether a filament lamp is an ohmic or non−ohmic

conductor up to its working power.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(1)

(c) Three identical filament lamps, P, Q and R are connected in the circuit shown in
Figure 2.

Figure 2.

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 The filament in lamp Q melts so that it no longer conducts. Explain why lamp P
becomes brighter and lamp R becomes dimmer.
........................................................................................................................

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........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)

(d) A filament lamp, X, is rated at 60 W 230 V. Another type of lamp, Y, described as

'energy saving' has the same light intensity output but is rated at 11 W 230 V.

(i) Calculate the electrical energy converted by each lamp if both are on for 4
hours a day for a period of 30 days.

electrical energy converted by X = ................................................... J

electrical energy converted by Y = ................................................... J
(2)

(ii) Suggest why the two lamps can have different power ratings but have the
same light intensity output.

...............................................................................................................

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 ...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 10 marks)

Q2.A ‘potato cell’ is formed by inserting a copper plate and a zinc plate into a potato. The circuit
shown in Figure 1 is used in an investigation to determine the electromotive force and
internal resistance of the potato cell.

Figure 1

(a) State what is meant by electromotive force.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

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 (2)

(b) The plotted points on Figure 2 show the data for current and voltage that were
obtained in the investigation.

Figure 2

(i) Suggest what was done to obtain the data for the plotted points.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

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 (1)

(ii) The electromotive force (emf) of the potato cell is 0.89 V. Explain why the
voltages plotted on Figure 2 are always less than this and why the difference
between the emf and the plotted voltage becomes larger with increasing
current.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(3)

(iii) Use Figure 2 to determine the internal resistance of the potato cell.

internal resistance = ................................................. Ω

(3)

(c) A student decides to use two potato cells in series as a power supply for a light
emitting diode (LED). In order for the LED to work as required, it needs a voltage of
at least 1.6 V and a current of 20 mA.

Explain whether the LED will work as required.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

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 ........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 11 marks)

Q3.The graph shows the current−voltage characteristic of the output from a solar cell when light
of intensity 450 W m−2 is incident on it.

(a) (i) Using data from the graph above estimate the maximum power output from
the solar cell.

maximum power ................................................. W

(2)

(ii) Sketch, on the axes below, a graph to show how the power output varies with
voltage for this solar cell for the same incident light intensity.

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 (2)

(iii) When the light intensity is 450 W m−2 the cell has an efficiency of 0.15 at the
maximum power.

Calculate the area of the solar cell.

area ................................................ m2
(3)

(b) A manufacturer has a supply of solar cells that each have an electromotive force
(emf) of 0.70 V and an internal resistance of 0.78 Ω when delivering maximum
power.

(i) Explain what is meant by an emf of 0.70 V.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) The manufacturer uses a number of these solar cells in an array to make a
power supply that has an emf of 14 V and an internal resistance of 3.9 Ω when
delivering maximum power.

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 Describe and explain the arrangement of cells the manufacturer has to use in
this array. Go on to calculate the number of cells the manufacturer needs to
make the power supply.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

number of cells .....................................................

(4)

(c) Communications satellites use solar cells to generate electrical power.

Discuss why solar cells are appropriate for this task.

Your answer should refer to:

• any additional features that would be needed to ensure that the satellite’s
electrical systems operate continuously
• whether solar cell arrays are appropriate for space probes that travel to the
edge of the solar system.

The quality of your written communication will be assessed in your answer.

(6)
(Total 18 marks)

Q4.The graph shows the current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of a filament lamp.

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 V/V

What is the resistance of the filament when the potential difference (pd) across it is 4.0 V?

A 500 Ω

B 1700 Ω

C 2000 Ω

D 6000 Ω

(Total 1 mark)

Q5. (a) Define resistance.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) (i) Sketch onto the axes below a graph of the variation of current with potential
difference for a filament lamp.

(1)

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 (ii) State and explain, in terms of electron flow, how the resistance of the filament
lamp changes as the current in the lamp increases.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 5 marks)

Q6. (a) A semiconducting diode is an example of a non-ohmic component. State what

is meant by a non-ohmic component.

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) A filament lamp is also an example of a non-ohmic component.

(i) Sketch on the axes below the current-voltage characteristic for a filament
lamp.

(2)

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 (ii) State, with reference to the current-voltage characteristic you have drawn,
how the resistance of the lamp changes as the pd across its terminals
changes.

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................
(1)

(c) A filament lamp has a power rating of 36 W when there is a pd across its terminals
of 12V.

(i) Calculate the resistance of the filament when the pd across its terminals is
12V.

answer = ..................................... Ω
(2)

(ii) A student predicts that if the pd across the bulb is reduced to 6.0 V the power
rating of the bulb would be 9.0 W. State and explain how in practice the power
rating will be slightly different from this value.

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 9 marks)

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