A student investigated the efficiency of a motor using the equipment in Figure 1.

1
Figure 1

He used the motor to lift a weight of 2.5 N a height of 2.0 m.

He measured the speed at which the weight was lifted and calculated the efficiency of the energy
transfer.

He repeated the experiment to gain two sets of data.

(a) Give one variable that the student controlled in his investigation.

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

(b) Give two reasons for taking repeat readings in an investigation.

1 ..........................................................................................................................

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

2 ..........................................................................................................................

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

Page 1 of 35
(c) Figure 2 shows a graph of the student’s results.

Figure 2

Give two conclusions that could be made from the data in Figure 2.

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

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

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

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

(d) Give the main way that the motor is likely to waste energy.

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

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

(e) When the total power input to the motor was 5 W the motor could not lift the 2.5 N weight.

State the efficiency of the motor.

Efficiency = ............................................. %
(1)
(Total 7 marks)

Page 2 of 35
 A student finds some information about energy-saving light bulbs.
2
(a) A 30W light bulb uses 600J of electrical energy in a certain period of time. In that time, it
produces 450 J of light energy. The rest of the energy is wasted.

(i) Calculate the energy wasted by the light bulb in this period of time.

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

Wasted energy = ................................. J

(1)

(ii) What happens to the energy wasted by the light bulb?

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

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

(iii) Calculate the efficiency of this light bulb.

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

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

Efficiency = ............................................................
(2)

(iv) Calculate the period of time, in seconds, during which the 600 J is provided to the
30 W light bulb.

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

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

Time = ......................... s
(2)

(b) A company that makes light bulbs provides information about some of their products.

The table shows some of this information.

Power in watts Lifetime in hours Cost of bulb in £

Filament bulb 60 1250 2.00

LED bulb 12 50 000 16.00

(i) Suggest why it is important to confirm this information independently.

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

Page 3 of 35
(ii) A homeowner is thinking about replacing his filament bulbs with LED bulbs.

A 12 W LED bulb gives the same light output as a 60 W filament bulb.

Suggest reasons why the homeowner is likely to choose LED bulbs.

Use the information given in the table.

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

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

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

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

(iii) State one factor, other than efficiency, that is important when considering the choice
of a bulb for lighting in the home.

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

................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 10 marks)

Page 4 of 35
 (a) A student used the apparatus drawn below to investigate the heating effect of an electric
3 heater.

(i) Before starting the experiment, the student drew Graph A.

Graph A shows how the student expected the temperature of the metal block to
change after the heater was switched on.

Describe the pattern shown in Graph A.

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

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

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

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

Page 5 of 35
(ii) The student measured the room temperature. He then switched the heater on and
measured the temperature of the metal block every 50 seconds.

The student calculated the increase in temperature of the metal block and plotted
Graph B.

After 300 seconds, Graph B shows the increase in temperature of the metal block is
lower than the increase in temperature expected from Graph A.

Suggest one reason why.

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

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

(iii) The power of the electric heater is 50 watts.

Calculate the energy transferred to the heater from the electricity supply in
300 seconds.

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

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

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

Energy transferred = ........................................... J

(2)

Page 6 of 35
(b) The student uses the same heater to heat blocks of different metals. Each time the heater
is switched on for 300 seconds.

Each block of metal has the same mass but a different specific heat capacity.

Metal Specific heat capacity in J/kg°C

Aluminium 900

Iron 450

Lead 130

Which one of the metals will heat up the most?

Draw a ring around the correct answer.

aluminium iron lead

Give, in terms of the amount of energy needed to heat the metal blocks, a reason for your
answer.

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

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

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

........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

Page 7 of 35
 The picture shows a temporary road traffic information board.
4

The batteries power the LEDs used in the information board.

The solar cells keep the batteries charged.

(a) Use words from the box to complete each of the following sentences.

chemical electrical light sound

The solar cells transfer light energy to ............................................................. energy.

The batteries transfer ............................................................. energy to electrical energy.

The LEDs transfer electrical energy to ............................................................. energy.

(3)

(b) When the total energy input to the solar cells is 200 joules, the useful energy output from
the solar cells to the batteries is 50 joules.

Calculate the efficiency of the solar cells.

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

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

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

Efficiency = ......................................................
(2)

Page 8 of 35
 (c) Which one of the following statements gives the reason for using solar cells to charge the
batteries?

Tick ( ) one box.

Solar cells will charge the batteries day and night.

The information board can be used anywhere it is needed.

A small number of solar cells produce a lot of electricity.

(1)
(Total 6 marks)

(a) Solar energy is a renewable energy source used to generate electricity.

5
(i) What is meant by an energy source being renewable?

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

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

(ii) Name two other renewable energy sources used to generate electricity.

1 ...............................................................................................................

2 ...............................................................................................................
(1)

Page 9 of 35
(b) A householder uses panels of solar cells to generate electricity for his home.
The solar cells are tilted to receive the maximum energy input from the Sun.

The data in the table gives the average energy input each second (in J/s), to a 1 m2 area of
solar cells for different angles of tilt and different months of the year.

Angle of tilt
Month
20° 30° 40° 50°

February 460 500 480 440

April 600 620 610 600

June 710 720 680 640

August 640 660 640 580

October 480 520 500 460

December 400 440 420 410

(i) Use the data in the table to describe how the average energy input to the solar cells
depends on the angle of tilt.

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

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

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

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

Page 10 of 35
 (ii) The total area of the solar cell panels used by the householder is 5 m2.

The efficiency of the solar cells is 0.18.

Calculate the average maximum electrical energy available from the solar cell
panels each second in June.

Show clearly how you work out your answer.

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

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

Maximum energy = ............................................... joules/second

(3)

(c) The diagram shows part of the National Grid.

(i) Even though the householder uses solar cells to generate electricity for his home, the
home stays connected to the National Grid.

Give one reason why the householder should stay connected to the National Grid.

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

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

(ii) The step-up transformer increases the efficiency of the National Grid.

Explain how.

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

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

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

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

Page 11 of 35
 The table gives data about two types of low energy bulb.
6
Type of bulb Power input Efficiency Lifetime Cost of
in watts in hours one bulb

Compact Fluorescent
8 20% 10 000 £3.10
Lamp (CFL)

Light Emitting Diode

5 50 000 £29.85
(LED)

(a) Both types of bulb produce the same useful power output.

(i) Calculate the useful power output of the CFL.

Show clearly how you work out your answer.

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

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

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

Useful power output = ................................................. W

(2)

(ii) Calculate the efficiency of the LED bulb.

Show clearly how you work out your answer.

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

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

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

Efficiency = ......................................................
(1)

(b) LED bulbs are expensive. This is because of the large number of individual electronic
LED chips needed to produce sufficient light from each bulb.

(i) Use the data in the table to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of an LED bulb compared
to a CFL.

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

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

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

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

Page 12 of 35
(ii) Scientists are developing brighter and more efficient LED chips than those currently
used in LED bulbs.

Suggest one benefit of developing brighter and more efficient LED chips.

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

...................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 6 marks)

Page 13 of 35
 A wood burning stove is used to heat a room.
7

Photograph supplied by iStockphoto/Thinkstock

The fire in the stove uses wood as a fuel. The fire heats the matt black metal case of the stove.

(a) The air next to the stove is warmed by infrared radiation.

How does the design of the stove help to improve the rate of energy transfer by infrared
radiation?

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

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

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

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

Page 14 of 35
(b) Burning 1 kg of wood transfers 15 MJ of energy to the stove. The stove then transfers 13.5
MJ of energy to the room.

Calculate the efficiency of the stove.

Show clearly how you work out your answer.

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

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

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

Efficiency = .................................................
(2)

(c) Some of the energy from the burning wood is wasted as the hot gases leave the chimney
and warm the air outside the house.

Name one other way energy is wasted by the stove.

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

(d) Some people heat their homes using electric heaters. Other people heat their homes using
a wood burning stove.

Give two environmental advantages of using a wood burning stove to heat a home rather
than heaters that use electricity generated from fossil fuels.

1 .....................................................................................................................

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

2 .....................................................................................................................

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

Page 15 of 35
(e) The metal case of the stove gets hot when the fire is lit.

Here is some information about the stove.

Mass of metal case 100 kg

Starting temperature of metal case 20 °C

Final temperature of metal case 70 °C

Specific heat capacity of metal case 510 J/kg °C

Calculate the energy required to raise the temperature of the metal case to 70 °C.

Show clearly how you work out your answer and give the unit.

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

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

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

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

Energy required = ..............................................................

(3)
(Total 10 marks)

Page 16 of 35
 A person uses a stairlift to go upstairs. The stairlift is powered by an electric motor.
8

The Sankey diagram shows the energy transfers for the electric motor.

(a) Complete the following sentence.

The electric motor wastes energy as .............................................. energy.

(1)

Page 17 of 35
 (b) Use the equation in the box to calculate the efficiency of the electric motor.

Show clearly how you work out your answer.

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

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

Efficiency = .............................................
(2)
(Total 3 marks)

(a) The diagram shows a solar powered device being used to recharge a mobile phone.
9

On average, the solar cells produce 0.6 joules of electrical energy each second.
The solar cells have an efficiency of 0.15.

(i) Calculate the average energy input each second to the device.

Show clearly how you work out your answer.

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

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

Average energy input each second = .................................... J/s

(2)

Page 18 of 35
 (ii) Draw a labelled Sankey diagram for the solar cells.
The diagram does not need to be drawn to scale.

(1)

(b) Scientists have developed a new type of solar cell with an efficiency of over 40 %.
The efficiency of the solar cell was confirmed independently by other scientists.

Suggest why it was important to confirm the efficiency independently.

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

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

(c) The electricity used in homes in the UK is normally generated in a fossil fuel power station.

Outline some of the advantages of using solar cells to generate this electricity.

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

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

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

........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

Page 19 of 35
 The farmers in a village in India use solar powered water pumps to irrigate the fields.
10

On average, a one square metre panel of solar cells receives 5 kWh of energy from the Sun each
day.
The solar cells have an efficiency of 0.15

(a) (i) Calculate the electrical energy available from a one square metre panel of solar cells.

Show clearly how you work out your answer.

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

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

Electrical energy = ................................................... kWh

(2)

(ii) On average, each solar water pump uses 1.5 kWh of energy each day.

Calculate the area of solar cells required by one solar water pump.

Area = ......................................................... square metres

(1)

(b) Give one reason why the area of solar cells needed will probably be greater than the
answer to part (a)(ii).

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

........................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 4 marks)

Page 20 of 35
 The picture shows a solar-powered aircraft. The aircraft has no pilot.
11

Photo by NASA.

(a) On a summer day, 175 000 joules of energy are supplied to the aircraft’s solar cells every
second. The useful energy transferred by the solar cells is 35 000 joules every second.

(i) Use the equation in the box to calculate the efficiency of the solar cells.

Show clearly how you work out your answer.

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

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

Efficiency = ..............................................................
(2)

(ii) What happens to the energy that is not usefully transferred by the solar cells?

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

(b) The aircraft propellers are driven by electric motors. As well as the solar cells, there are
fuel cells that provide additional power to the electric motors.

(i) Suggest one advantage of the aircraft having fuel cells as well as the solar cells.

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

Page 21 of 35
 (ii) Give one environmental advantage of using electric motors to drive the aircraft
propellers rather than motors that burn a fuel.

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

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

(iii) Eventually, the designers want to produce an unmanned aircraft that can fly at twice
the height of a passenger jet for up to six months.

Suggest one possible use for an aircraft such as this.

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

...................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 6 marks)

(a) In Britain most power stations burn fuel to produce heat. The diagram shows the stages by
12 which the heat is transferred into electrical energy.
Complete the diagram by filling in the missing word.

Turbine turns a
Water heated to Steam turns Electricity is
→ → coil in a →
produce steam a turbine produced
..........................
(1)

(b) A fuel burning power station uses 2000 joules of fuel energy to generate 600 joules of
electrical energy. The rest of the fuel energy is wasted as heat.

(i) For every 600 joules of electrical energy generated, how much fuel energy is wasted
as heat?

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

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

(ii) Calculate the efficiency of the power station.

Show clearly how you work out your answer.

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

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

efficiency = ......................................................................
(2)

Page 22 of 35
(c) List A gives three energy resources used to generate electricity. List B gives environmental
problems that may be caused by using different energy resources. Draw a straight line from
each energy resource in List A to the environmental problem it may cause in List B. Draw
three lines only.

(3)

(d) A small wind generator is used to charge a battery. The graph shows the power output of
the generator at different wind speeds.

(i) What is the maximum power produced by the generator?

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

(ii) The generator is designed to stop if the wind speed is too high.

At what wind speed does the generator stop working?

............................................................................................................. m/s
(1)

Page 23 of 35
(iii) Give one disadvantage of using a wind generator to charge a battery.

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

...................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 10 marks)

Page 24 of 35
Mark schemes
(a) weight (lifted)
1
or

height (lifted)
1

(b) any two from:

• calculate a mean
• spot anomalies
• reduce the effect of random errors
2

(c) as speed increases, the efficiency increases

1

(but) graph tends towards a constant value

or

appears to reach a limit

accept efficiency cannot be greater than 100%
1

(d) heating the surroundings

1

(e) 0 (%)
1
[7]

(a) (i) 150

2 1

(ii) transferred to the surroundings by heating

reference to sound negates mark
1

(iii) 0.75
450 / 600 gains 1 mark
accept 75% for 2 marks
maximum of 1 mark awarded if a unit is given
2

(iv) 20 (s)
correct answer with or without working gains 2 marks
correct substitution of 600 / 30 gains 1 mark
2

(b) (i) to avoid bias

1

Page 25 of 35
 (ii) use less power and last longer
1

1 LED costs £16, 40 filament bulbs cost £80

or

filament costs (5 times) more in energy consumption

1

(iii) any one from:

• availability of bulbs
• colour output
• temperature of bulb surface
1
[10]

(a) (i) temperature (increase) and time switched on are directly proportional
3
accept the idea of equal increases in time giving equal increases in
temperature
answers such as:
• as time increases, temperature increases
• positive correlation
• linear relationship
• temperature and time are proportional
score 1 mark
2

(ii) any one from:

“it” refers to the metal block

• energy transfer (from the block) to the surroundings

accept lost for transfer
accept air for surroundings

• (some) energy used to warm the heater / thermometer (itself)

accept takes time for heater to warm up

• (metal) block is not insulated

1

(iii) 15 000
allow 1 mark for correct substitution, ie 50 × 300 provided no
subsequent step shown
2

(b) lead
reason only scores if lead is chosen
1

Page 26 of 35
 needs least energy to raise temperature by 1°C
accept needs less energy to heat it (by the same amount)
lowest specific heat capacity is insufficient
1
[7]

(a) electrical
4 1

chemical
1

light
1

(b) 25% or 0.25

allow 1 mark for correct substitution, ie 50 ÷ 200 provided no
subsequent step shown
or
answers of 25 with a unit or 0.25 with a unit gain 1 mark
answers of 25 without a unit or 0.25% gain 1 mark
2

(c) the information board can be used anywhere it is needed

1
[6]

(a) (i) replaced faster than it is used

5
accept replaced as quick as it is used
accept it will never run out
do not accept can be used again
1

(ii) any two from:

two sources required for the mark

• wind

• waves

• tides
• fall of water
do not accept water / oceans
accept hydroelectric

• biofuel
accept a named biofuel eg wood

• geothermal
1

Page 27 of 35
 (b) (i) any two from:

• increases from 20° to 30°

• reaches maximum value at 30°

• then decreases from 30°

• same pattern for each month

accept peaks at 30° for both marks
accept goes up then down for 1 mark
ignore it’s always the lowest at 50°
2

(ii) 648
an answer of 129.6 gains 2 marks
allow 1 mark for using 720 value only from table
allow 2 marks for answers 639, 612, 576, 618(.75)
allow 1 mark for answers 127.8, 122.4, 115.2, 123.75
3

(c) (i) (sometimes) electricity demand may be greater than supply (of electricity from
the system)
accept cloudy weather, night time affects supply

or

can sell (excess) electricity (to the National Grid)

1

(ii) decreases the current

accept increases the voltage
1

reducing energy loss (along cables)

accept less heat / thermal energy lost / produced
1
[10]

6 (a) (i)

1.6 (W)

allow 1 mark for correct substitution ie

2

Page 28 of 35
 (ii)

32 (%) / 0.32
or
their (a)(i) ÷ 5 correctly calculated
ignore any units
1

(b) (i) any two from:

• comparison over same period of time of relative numbers of bulbs

required eg over 50 000 hours 5 CFL’s required to 1 LED
accept an LED lasts 5 times longer

• link number of bulbs to cost eg 5 CFL’s cheaper than 1 LED

an answer in terms of over a period of 50 000 hours CFLs cost
£15.50 (to buy), LED costs £29.85 (to buy) so CFLs are cheaper
scores both marks
an answer in terms of the cost per hour (of lifetime) being cheaper
for CFL scores 1 mark if then correctly calculated scores both
marks

• over the same period of time LEDs cost less to operate (than CFLs)
2

(ii) any one from:

• price of LED bulbs will drop

do not accept they become cheaper

• less electricity needs to be generated

accept we will use less electricity

• less CO 2 produced

• fewer chips needed (for each LED bulb)

• fewer bulbs required (for same brightness / light)

• less energy wasted

do not accept electricity for energy
1
[6]

Page 29 of 35
 (a) any two from:
7
• black is a good emitter of (infrared radiation)
accept heat for radiation
ignore reference to absorbing radiation

• large surface (area)

• matt surfaces are better emitters (than shiny surfaces)

accept matt surfaces are good emitters
ignore reference to good conductor
2
(b) 90% or 0.9(0)

allow 1 mark for correct substitution, ie

provided no subsequent step shown

an answer of 90 scores 1 mark
an answer of 90 / 0.90 with a unit scores 1 mark
2

(c) (producing) light

allow (producing) sound
1

(d) any two from:

• wood is renewable
accept wood grows again / quickly
accept wood can be replanted

• (using wood) conserves fossil fuels

accept doesn’t use fossil fuels

• wood is carbon neutral

accept a description
cheaper / saves money is insufficient
2

Page 30 of 35
 (e) E=m×c×θ

2 550 000
allow 1 mark for correct substitution
ie 100 × 510 × 50
provided no subsequent step shown
answers of 1 020 000, 3 570 000 gain 1 mark
2

joules /J
accept kJ / MJ
do not accept j
for full credit the unit and numerical answer must be consistent
1
[10]

(a) heat / thermal

8 or / and
sound
do not accept noise
other forms of energy eg light negates answer
1

(b) 0.4
or
40 %

allow 1 mark for

or
equivalent fraction
an answer 0.4 % gains 1 mark
answers 0.4 or 40 given with any unit gains 1 mark
40 without % gains 1 mark
2
[3]

(a) (i) 4
9
allow 1 mark for correct transformation and substitution

ie

substitution only scores if no subsequent steps are shown

2

Page 31 of 35
 (ii) diagram showing two output arrows with one arrow wider
than the other with the narrower arrow labelled
electrical / electricity / useful
1

(b) any one from:

• to check reliability / validity / accuracy

• to avoid bias
1

(c) any two from:

• produce no / less (air) pollution

accept named pollutant
accept produces no waste (gases)

• energy is free
accept it is a free resource
do not accept it is free

• (energy) is renewable

• conserves fossil fuel stocks

• can be used in remote areas

• do not need to connect to the National Grid

2
[6]

(a) (i) 0.75

10
allow 1 mark for correct transformation and substitution
ie 0.15 = 5
2

(ii) 2
accept 1.5 ÷ their (a)(i) correctly calculated
1

Page 32 of 35
 (b) any one from:

• seasonal changes
accept specific changes in conditions
eg shorter hours of daylight in winter

• cloud cover
accept idea of change
must be stated or unambiguously implied
eg demand for water will not (always) match supply of solar energy
do not accept figures are average on its own
do not accept solar panels are in the shade
1
[4]

(a) (i) 0.2 or 1/5

11
accept 20% for both marks
allow 1 mark for correct substitution answer of 0.2%
or 20 gains 1 mark
ignore units
2

(ii) wasted
accept transformed to heat / other forms
accept transferred to the air / surroundings sound = neutral
1

(b) (i) any one from:

• can fly at night

accept can fly when it is cloudy
accept as a back-up

• can stay in the air for longer

• can fly in the winter

• can fly faster

increases power is neutral
1

Page 33 of 35
 (ii) any one from:

• produces no (pollutant) gases

or no greenhouse gases
accept named gas
accept no air pollution
do not accept no pollution
accept less global warming
accept harmful for pollutant
accept produces no carbon
do not accept environmentally friendly

• produces no / less noise

• less demand for fuels

accept any other sensible environmental advantage
1

(iii) accept any sensible suggestion eg, map the Earth’s surface / weather forecasting /
spying / monitoring changes to the Earth’s atmosphere, etc
do not accept ideas in terms of transporting
accept use as a satellite
1
[6]

(a) generator
12
accept dynamo
accept alternator
1

(b) (i) 1400

ignore units
1

(ii) 0.3 or 30%

any incorrect unit penalise 1 mark
allow 1 mark for the correct use of 600
or 0.3% or 30
2

Page 34 of 35
(c) 1 mark for each correct link

if more than 3 lines are drawn, mark only

3 lines starting with those that are incorrect
3

(d) (i) 110

no tolerance
1

(ii) 12
no tolerance
1

(iii) wind speed may be too low to operate the generator

accept wind may not always blow
accept power depends on wind speed
accept does not generate if wind speed is too high
accept does not generate if wind speed is above 12 (m/s)
accept does not generate if wind speed is below 1.6 (m/s)
accept it is unreliable
do not accept answers referring to cost only
1
[10]

Page 35 of 35