Physics Unit 2

Electricity
May 2019 :
Q12: What is meant by drift velocity?

Ans: The average velocity of the free electrons (charge carriers)

Q15: Resistors are included in circuits that are used as potential dividers.

a) Derive an equation for the combined resistance RT for two resistors,

R1 and R2, in series.

Ans: VT = V1 + V2 1) Current remains the same in series

IRT = IR1 + IR2 2) Voltage gets shared among the
IRT = I(R1 + R2) components (e.g., resistors) in series
RT = R1 + R2

c) ii) As the intensity incident upon the LDR decreases, the power dissipated
in the fixed resistor decreases.
Explain why the power in the fixed resistor decreases. Your answer should
include reference to the electrons in the LDR.

Ans: As the power in the fixed resistor decreases, the potential difference
across the fixed resistor also decreases according to VP = V2/R , there is
greater resistance for the LDR.

May 2021:
Q11: a) State the purpose of the resistors in this circuit.

Ans: To limit the flow of current in the circuit.

a) After switch Y had been closed for a few minutes, the power
dissipated by the resistor decreased. Explain why.

Ans: The temperature of the resistor increases.

The resistance of the resistor increases with the temperature.
As the resistance increases, the power dissipated by the resistor
decreases according to P = V2/R , where P is inversely related to the
resistance.
May 2019:
Q19: c) In a separate experiment, two resistors, with equal resistances R, are
connected to a battery (with internal resistance r) with the two
resistors firstly in a series arrangement and then in a parallel
arrangement.

R R R

Explain which, if either, of the two arrangements would lead to a greater value
for the terminal potential difference.

Ans: SERIES: PARALLEL:

RT = R + R 1/RT = 1/R + 1/R
RT = 2R 1/RT = 2/R
RT = R/2

(Combined) Resistance in series is 2R whereas (combined) resistance in

parallel is R/2, so there is a greater current in parallel as the resistance
is smaller in parallel. (V=IR).
Therefore, more volts is loss in parallel as the voltage remains the same
as the emf across the components.
So the terminal potential difference is greater in the series arrangement.

January 2020:
Q17: a) State what is meant by emf?

Ans: Energy (Work done) supplied per unit charge.

b) ii)The student adjusted the variable resistors several times and recorded
corresponding values from the ammeter and voltmeter. Describe how the
values can be used to determine the internal resistance of the battery
using a graphical method.

Ans: Plot a graph of U against I .

Determine the gradient of the graph (gradient = V/I).
The gradient of the graph gives the internal resistance which is a negative
slope (Gradient = -r).
May/October 2020:
Q18: Four identical resistors, A, B, C, and D are placed in a circuit as shown.
10V
c) Determine the power dissipated in each of the
resistors.
B C Resistance of each resistor = 2.0 Ω
a
A
A
D

Ans: STEP 1: STEP 6:

1/RP = 1/R + 1/2R Voltage in Parallel = 10-6
1/RP = 1/2 + 1/2(2) = 4V
1/RP = 1/2 + 1/4
1/RP = (2+1)/R STEP 7:
1/RP = 3/4 Voltage across B and C = 4V
RP = 4/3 Voltage across B = 2V
Voltage across C = 2V (as they are in
STEP 2 series, so voltage is shared)
Total resistance for B and C Voltage across D = 4V
= R + R - 2R
STEP 8:
STEP 3:
Total resistance in circuit = RP + R P (in A) = I2R
= (4/3)+2 = (3) 2 x 2
= (4+6)/3 = 18Ω
= (10/3)Ω P (in B) = V2/R
= 22/2
STEP 4: = 2Ω
Current in the circuit = V/R P (in C) = V2/R
= 10/(10/3) =22/2
= 3A = 2Ω
P (in C) = V2/R
STEP 5: =42/2
Voltage across A = IR = 8Ω
= 3x2
= 6V
d) Explain, without further calculation, what would happen to the power
dissipated by A if resistor D were disconnected from the circuit.

Ans: The total current in the circuit decreases if resistor D is removed. The
p.d across A decreases. As the current decreases, the power in A would
be less according to, P = I2R.

e) If the resistors in the circuit used in (a) were replaced with filament lamps,
the resistance of each lamp would be different depending on the potential
difference across it.

f) Explain, in terms of particles, why the resistance of a filament lamp

increases as the potential difference across the filament increases.

Ans: As the p.d across filament lamp increases, the lattice ions vibrate more
vigorously. The free electrons collide more frequently. Current produces
a heating effect and temperature increases. The resistance increases
with temperature for filament lamp, and therefore, the current increases
as well.

January 2021:
Q16: The graphs show how current I varies with potential difference V for a
filament bulb and for a negative temperature coefficient thermistor.
I I
Explain the shape of each graph.
Your answer should include the
movement of conduction electrons
in each component.
V V

Ans: For filament bulb, as the temperature is increased, the vibration of the
lattice ions also increases.
The electrons collide with the lattice atoms more frequently.
So, the resistance increases as current produces a heating effect and
therefore, the current decreases.
A thermistor, as the temperature is increased, the vibration of the
lattice ions increases and the free electrons collide with the lattice ions
more frequently resulting in the release of more free electrons (charge
carriers). The resistance decreases and, according to I = nAve , the
current increases.
October 2019:
Q14: The circuit shown includes a fixed resistor and a negative temperature
coefficient thermistor.
A potential divider circuit can be created by making
connections to a secondary circuit across the
resistor (XY) or across the thermistor (YZ). As
the temperature changes, the p.d across XY and
YZ both change a circuit can be used to operate
an air conditioning unit in a hot classroom in order
to keep the classroom cool. The air conditioning unit
X Y Z starts operating when the p.d across in the
secondary circuit exceeds a certain value.

g) Explain how the circuit should be set up to keep the classroom cool. Your
answer should include details of how a negative temperature coefficient
thermistor works, in terms of particles.

Ans: As the temperature increases, the kinetic energy of the particles

increases and there is a greater collision of the free electrons with the
lattice ions.
As a result, this releases more free electrons (charge carriers).
This lowers the resistance in thermistor (YZ). And so, the current
thermistor increases.
As the current increases in thermistor (YZ), the potential difference (p.d)
across YZ decreases and XY increases (due to P = V²/R).
Therefore, the secondary circuit should be across XY for the air
conditioning application.

May 2022:
Q13: a) Complete the sketch graph to show how current varies with potential
difference for a filament lamp.

Ans: I

V
Q19: A student carried out an experiment to determine the resistivity of
nichrome wire. Her circuit included an ammeter, a voltmeter, and a
variable resistor.

a) Complete the circuit diagram for this experiment.

Ans:
A
v
nichrome wire

V
v

October 2021:
Q13: b) A student has two filament lamps. Lamp A is marked 12V 60W and lamp
B is marked 12V 30W. The student sets up the circuit as shown.
24v
The student states that both lamps will
operate normally. Evaluate whether the
A B student's statement is correct.

Ans: A has a lower resistance than B.

So the potential difference will not be shared equally between them.
Therefore, A will have less than 12V so will operate normal and hence, the
student is incorrect.

January 2022:
Q17: b) Another resistor, Y, is added to the circuit as shown.
12V
The student wrote the following statement:
"When resistor Y is added, the resistance of the
3.0Ω Y parallel section increases, the resistance of the
4.0Ω
A whole circuit increases, and so by P=I2R, the power
6.0Ω
dissipated by the whole circuit also increases."

Evaluate the student's statement.

Ans: The student is correct that resistance in parallel is greater.

This lowers the current.
V being the same, due to P = VI, as the current decreases. The power in
the whole circuit would be less and so, the student is incorrect.
Q 11: c) A student suggests that the drift velocity will double if the length of
wire used in the circuit is halved. Comment on this suggestion.

Ans: According to the equation R = PL/A, halving the length halves the
resistance as well.
This doubles the current. According to I = nAqv, as the current doubles,
the drift velocity also doubles.

October 2023:
Q12. Two resistors are connected in a circuit, as shown.
V
An expression for the combined resistance of
the two resistors is R1R2
R1+R2
Derive this expression.
Ans: IT = IR1 + IR2
V V V
= +
RT R1 R2 V = IR
V 1 1 V
=V + IT =
RT R1 R2 RT
1 1 1 ● Current gets divided
= +
RT R1 R2 in the junctions
1 R2+R1
=
RT R1R2
RT(R2+R1) = R1R2
R1R2
RT =
R1+R2

October 2022:
Q12: A student carries out an experiment to determine the emf E and internal
resistance r of an electrical cell, using a circuit containing an ammeter
and a voltmeter.
a) Draw a diagram of a circuit that can be used for this experiment.

V
V
b) The student plotted a graph of the terminal potential difference V of the
cell against the current I in the cell, as shown.

V Explain how E and r for the cell can be

determined from this graph.
Ans: Emf = Voltage across component + voltage
across internal resistance of the cell.
I Emf is the y-intercept of the graph.
E = IR + Ir
E = V + Ir Internal resistance is the negative of the
V = - rI + E gradient.

May 2023:
Q14: The circuit shown contains a fixed resistor and a light dependent resistor
(LDR).
cExplain why the power dissipated by the whole
circuit changes as the intensity of the light
incident on the LDR increases.
You should refer to why the resistance of an
LDR changes as light intensity increases.

Ans: The resistance of LDR decreases, as the number of electrons increases,

The current in circuit also increases, and the resistance of the circuit
decreases.The e.m.f. of the circuit is the same.
The power dissipated by the circuit increases, due to P = I2R.

January 2023:
Q13: Equal lengths of two copper wires, W and Z, are connected in parallel in a
circuit as shown.

Wire Z has twice the diameter of wire W.

W a) Explain why the drift velocity of the charge
carriers is the same value in wires W and Z.
Z

Ans: Z has greater cross-sectional area than W.

So Z has smaller resistance than W.
Therefore, Z has greater current than W
Since I = nAve, with both n and A 4 times greater in Z, the drift velocity
is the same.
Q14: b) The student decreases the temperature of the thermistor. Explain the
effect of decreasing the temperature of the thermistor on the
ammeter and voltmeter readings.

Ans: As the temperature decreases, the resistance of the thermistor

increases.
The current also decreases, and so the ammeter reading decreases.
The p.d. (potential difference) across the thermistor increases as V = IR.
Therefore, the reading on the voltmeter decreases.

January 2024:
Q18: The resistance of a particular thermistor varies with temperature as
shown.

a) A student connected the thermistor in series with a battery and a resistor,

as shown. The resistor was made from a long length of wire.

At a temperature of 45 °C, the resistance of the thermistor was four times

the resistance of the resistor. The power P dissipated in the resistor was
0.38W.
i) Derive the equation P = V2/R.

Ans: V = IR
P = VI
P = V2/R
Q14: A student investigated the e.m.f and internal resistance of a battery.

c) The student connected to a high resistance voltmeter across the battery.

The battery was not connected to any other components.

Ans: There was no current in the battery.

So, there was no potential difference across the internal resistance.

d) The student investigated how the potential difference V across the

battery varied with the current I in the battery. Draw a circuit
diagram for this investigation.

Ans:

A
v

V
v

May 2022:
Q15: The diagram shows a circuit containing three identical resistors, A, B, and
The cell has negligible internal resistance.

a) Explain how the measurements of current and

C potential difference could be used to demonstrate
A that charge and energy are both conserved in this
circuit. Your answer should refer to resistors A, B,
B
and C.

Ans: Current is the rate of flow of charge.

Current is the same at all points in a series circuit i.e., current in
C = current in cell.
Also, total current going into the junction = total current out of junction
i. e., current in C = current in A + current in B.
Potential difference (p.d.) is energy transferred per unit charge.
p.d. is shared among components in series, i.e.,
p.d. across C + p.d. across A = e.m.f. of cell.
p.d. across C + p.d. across B = e.m.f. of cell.
Also, p.d. is the same across components in parallel, i.e.,
p.d. across A = p.d. across B.
 b) ii) The resistors are connected to a different cell, with emf E2 as shown.
The cell has an internal resistance.
ε
Describe how a single ammeter reading can be
C
used to determine the internal resistance of the
A
cell. You should add to the diagram to show the
B position of this ammeter.

Ans: Terminal p.d should be calculated using IR. Then it should be subtracted
from E and divided by ammeter reading to get the internal resistance.

.
May 2024:
Q14: a) A student uses a sample of the conducting material to determine its
resistivity.
i) State what is meant by resistivity of a material.

Ans: The resistance of a sample of the material of unit cross-sectional area

and unit length; i.e. ρ = RA/l where ρ is the resistivity, R is the resistance,
A is the cross-sectional area, and l is the length.

ii) Describe how the student could determine a value for the resistivity of the
conducting material. You do not need to draw a circuit diagram.

Answer: Measure the length using a meter rule.

Measure the thickness of the material using a micrometer screw gauge.
Measure the resistance of the sample using an ohmmeter.
Use the equation ρ = RA/l to calculate the resistivity of the material.

Q16: A security lamp automatically switches on when the intensity of light

incident on an LDR decreases. Part of the electrical circuit in the security
lamp is shown. The cell has negligible internal resistance.
a ) The light intensity incident on the LDR decreases.
Explain what happens to the potential difference
across the fixed resistor.
Answer: The resistance of the LDR increases, so the
LDR has a greater p.d.
Therefore, the p.d. across the fixed resistor decreases.
October 2024:
Q12: Copper wires are used to connect a length of nichrome wire to a cell, as
shown.
The copper wires and the
copper copper nichrome wire have the
same diameter. Copper has
a greater number of
nichrome conduction electrons per meter
cubed than nichrome.

Explain how the average velocity of electrons in the copper wires compares
with the average velocity of electrons in the nichrome wire.

Ans: According to the transport equation, I = nAve, copper has a greater

number of conduction electrons, n, and as n is inversely related to the
average velocity v, the average velocity of electrons in the copper wires
decreases. Moreover, the current through both the wires and the cross
sectional area of the wires are the same.

Q14: A student investigated the electrical properties of a light-emitting diode

(LED).
He varied the potential difference
(p.d.) across the LED and recorded
corresponding values of the
current in the LED. The graph
shows the results.

a) Draw a circuit diagram the student could use for this investigation.

Ans:

V
 WAVES
January 2024:
Q11: a) State what is meant by coherent.

Ans: There is a constant phase relationship

Q17: a) Describe how Huygen's construction can be used to predict the shape
of diffracted wavefronts.

Ans: Each point on a wavefront is treated as a source of secondary wavelets

These further waves superpose and the resulting waves predict the shape
*b) The wavefronts in the sea arrive parallel to the harbour wall. The
wavelength of the waves varies as the weather varies.

There are identical boats at two positions,

A and B, in the harbour, as shown.
B
As the wavelength of the waves varies:
the boat at position A always oscillates
A
with a large amplitude
the boat at position B sometimes
oscillates with a large amplitude and
sometimes oscillates with a very small
amplitude.

Explain why the boats oscillate as

described:

Ans: The waves superpose.

At position A, there is no phase difference.
So there is a constructive interference resulting to a large amplitude
oscillation.
At position B, the phase difference varies with wavelength.
If the waves are in antiphase, destructive interference takes place which
results to small oscillations.
If the waves are in phase, constructive interference takes place which
results to large oscillations.
May 2023:
Q18: a) Explain how a stationary wave forms on the string.

Ans: When two or more waves travelling in opposite directions of equal

frequency, they reflect at either or both ends, and thus, superposition
takes place. Nodes and antinodes are formed. Nodes are points of zero
amplitude and are related to destructive superposition. Antinodes are
points of maximum amplitude and are related to constructive interference.

e) Describe the similarities & differences between the stationary wave on the
string and the sound waves transmitted through the air.

Ans: Both the stationary & sound waves have the same frequency.
They have different speeds and wavelengths.
Sound waves transfer energy whereas stationary wave does not transfer
energy.
Sound waves are longitudinal whereas stationary waves are transverse.
Sound waves have the same amplitude for all points but stationary waves
does not.

Q13: b) i) Explain the difference between unpolarised and plane polarised light.

Ans: Unpolarised light has vibrations in many directions.

Plane polarised light has vibrations in one direction only.
Directions are perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.

October 2024:
Q11: A beam of electrons passes through a thin layer of graphite. The
electrons are then incident on a fluorescent screen, causing a series of
rings to form, as shown.

beam of electrons rings

thin layer of graphite fluorescent screen

Explain what the rings show about the nature of electrons.

Ans: The rings are formed on screen due to diffraction.

The rings show the wave nature of electron.
Q13: a) Light is a transverse wave.
State what is meant by a transverse wave.

Ans: Transverse waves have oscillations perpendicular to the direction of wave

motion.

b) Light arrives at the photographic film from the two paths.

Explain how this could cause constructive interference.

Ans: Lights have travelled at different distance and so, they have a path
difference. As they have a path difference of nλ where n is an integer, the
waves are in phase which results in constructive interference.

Q17: b) Explain the paths of rays A, B, and C after each ray changes direction
at the surface of the water.

Ans: The speed of light is less in water than in air because water is optically
denser.
Ray A refracts towards the normal as it passes from air into the water,
which reaches the swimmer's eyes.
The angle of incidence of Ray B at the water surface is greater than the
critical angle, resulting in total internal reflection of Ray B at the water
surface, reflecting back into the water reaching the swimmer's eyes.
Therefore, the angle of incidence of Ray C is less than the critical angle.
Most of the light from Ray C is refracted into the air. So a small amount
of light remains in the water, which is why most of Ray C does not reach
the swimmer's eyes.

October 2023:
Q16: a) Explain why some wavelengths of the incident white light will be
missing from the final reflected beam.

Ans: Superposition takes place. Destructive inference occurs when the

reflected waves meet in antiphase and so, those wavelengths are missing
The path difference is equal to (n+1/2)λ (odd number of half wavelengths)
 Nature of Light
May2023:
Q17: A photon interacts with this electron.
Explain why this interaction causes the emission of another photon.

Ans: Electrons moves to a higher energy level.

Then it drops back releasing a photon.

c) ii) Explain why the photoelectric effect demonstrate light behaving as a

particle, rather than a wave.

Ans: There is a minimum (threshold) frequency for electron release.

Changing the intensity of light does not affect the speed or kinetic
energy of an electron.
Each photon only interacts with one electron.
The energy of a photon depends on the frequency.
Photon energy has to be greater than work function

The End

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