IGCSE Physics Electricity Past Papers Exam Questions: 2023-24
We analysed the International GCSE past papers and grouped the questions by topic. Here, you will find questions relating to the topic – Electricity. Use these to familiarise, practice and prepare for your IGCSE Physics examination.
For other past years exam questions on electricity see below:
What you need to know
Use the list below as a quick recap for what you need to know before attempting the past year exam questions under this topic. This is based on Edexcel International GCSE in Physics (4PH1) specification with first teaching Sept 2017 and first examination June 2019.
Paper 1 and 2: (2) Electricity
Paper 1 covers the Electricity topics below except “Electric charge” while paper 2 covers all Electricity topics.
A. Units
- electrical units: ampere (A), coulomb (C), joule (J), ohm (Ω), second (s), volt (V) and watt (W).
B. Mains electricity
- use of insulation, earthing, fuses and circuit breakers.
- why current in a resistor results in transfer of energy and increase in temperature.
- power = current x voltage. P=I×V
- energy transferred = current x voltage x time. E=I×Vxt
- the difference between alternating (ac) and direct currents (dc).
- explain the use of parallel and series circuits
C. Energy and voltage in circuits
- how the current in a series circuit depends on the applied voltage and the nature of components in the circuit.
- describe and investigate how current varies with voltage in wires, resistors, filament lamps and diodes.
- describe the qualitative effect on current of changing the resistance in the circuit.
- describe the variation of light-dependent resistors with light intensity
- and thermistors with temperature.
- lamps and LEDs show the presence of a current in a circuit.
- voltage = current x resistance. V=I×R
- current is the rate of flow of charge
- current = current x time. Q=I×t
- electric current in solid metallic conductors is a flow of negatively charged electrons
- why current is conserved at a junction
- voltage across two components in parallel is the same
- calculate the currents, voltages and resistances of two resistive components connected in a series circuit
- voltage is the energy transferred per unit charge (joule per coulomb)
- energy transferred = charge x voltage. E=Q×V
D. Electric charge (paper 2 only)
- identify common materials that are insulators and conductors (metals and plastics)
- practical: how insulating materials can be charge by friction
- explain the charging of materials by the loss (+ve electrostatic charge) or gain of electrons (-ve electrostatic charge)
- that there are attractive forces between unlike charges and repulsive forces between like charges
- explain the potential dangers of electrostatic charges (fuelling aircraft and tankers)
- explain some uses of electrostatic charges (photocopiers and inkjet printers)
January 2023 Paper 1P Q7
7 A student uses the circuit shown in diagram 1 to investigate how the current changes with voltage for a filament lamp.
(a) (i) Give the name of component Y. (1)
(ii) Give a reason why component Y is included in the circuit. (1)
(b) The graph shows some of the student’s results.
(i) State the formula linking charge, current and time. (1)
(ii) Determine the current in the lamp when the voltage across the lamp is 10V. (1)
current = …………………………………………………….. A
(iii) Calculate the charge transferred through the lamp in 30 s when the voltage across the lamp is 10V.
Give the unit. (3)
charge = …………………………………………………….. unit ……………………………………………………..
(iv) Calculate the time for the lamp to transfer 250 J of energy when the voltage across the lamp is 10V. (3)
time = …………………………………………………….. s
(v) The student disconnects the cell and reconnects it with its terminals reversed.
Complete the graph to show how the current in the lamp varies with voltage across the lamp when the cell is connected with its terminals reversed. (2)
(c) The student replaces the filament lamp with a light emitting diode (LED) and replaces the cell with an alternating current (a.c.) power supply, as shown in diagram 2.
The student also removes the ammeter and voltmeter from the circuit.
Explain why the LED flashes on and off in this circuit. (2)
(Total for Question 7 = 14 marks)
January 2023 Paper 1PR Q4
4 A student investigates how the current in a filament lamp varies with the voltage across it.
The student has this equipment
- filament lamp
- cell
- variable resistor
- ammeter
- voltmeter
- connecting wires
(a) Draw a circuit diagram that the student could use for this investigation. (4)
(b) The table gives the student’s results.
| Voltage in V | Current in A |
| 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1.0 | 0.38 |
| 2.0 | 0.61 |
| 3.0 | 0.80 |
| 4.0 | 0.90 |
| 5.0 | 0.96 |
| 6.0 | 1.00 |
(i) Plot the results on the grid. (1)
(ii) Draw the curve of best fit. (1)
(c) The filament of the lamp is made of metal.
The student suggests that a straight line on the graph is more appropriate than a curve because current is directly proportional to voltage for a metal.
(i) Suggest how the student could improve their investigation to find out whether a straight line or curve is more appropriate. (1)
(ii) Explain why the student should not expect current to be proportional to voltage for this filament lamp. (2)
(Total for Question 4 = 9 marks)
January 2023 Paper 2PR Q4
Diagram 1 shows a circuit built by a student.
(a)(i) State the formula linking voltage, current and resistance. (1)
(ii) Calculate the voltage across the 17 Ω resistor. (3)
voltage = …………………………………………………….. V
(iii) State the voltage across the 6.2 Ω resistor. (1)
voltage = …………………………………………………….. V
(iv) Calculate the current in the battery. (2)
current = …………………………………………………….. mA
(b) Diagram 2 shows a second circuit built by the student using the same battery and resistors.
Explain how the current in the battery will change now the resistors are connected in series.
You do not need to do any calculations in your answer. (3)
(Total for Question 4 = 10 marks)
June 23 Paper 1P Q2
Topic: Investigating a filament lamp
2. A student investigates how the current in a filament lamp changes when the voltage across the lamp is varied.
(a) Draw a circuit diagram the student could use in their investigation. (4)
(b) The graph shows the student’s results.
(i) Describe the relationship between current and voltage shown on the graph. (2)
(ii) State the formula linking resistance, voltage and current. (1)
(iii) Use the graph to determine the resistance of the filament lamp when the voltage across the lamp is 7.2 V. (3)
resistance = …………………………………………………….. Ω
(Total for Question 2 = 10 marks)
June 23 Paper 1P Q7
7. The circuit diagram shows a motor, power supply, switch and variable resistor connected in series.
(a) The switch is open and the motor is not moving.
State how much energy is in the kinetic energy store of the motor. (1)
kinetic energy = …………………………………………………….. J
(b) The switch is closed.
The motor takes 0.42 seconds to reach its maximum speed of rotation.
The mean current in the motor is 3.9 A.
The voltage across the motor is 7.1 V.
Show that the work done on the motor during the 0.42 seconds is about 12 J. (2)
work done = …………………………………………………….. J
(c) Complete the Sankey diagram for the electric motor during the 0.42 seconds by giving the missing information. (3)
(d) Use the Sankey diagram to calculate the efficiency of the process of bringing the motor to its maximum speed of rotation. (3)
efficiency = …………………………………………………….. %
(Total for Question 7 = 9 marks)
June 23 Paper 1P Q11
11. Diagram 1 shows a light-emitting diode (LED) and a resistor in series with a cell and an ammeter.
(a) The voltage across the LED is 0.63V.
Calculate the current in the circuit.
Give your answer in milliamps. (4)
current = …………………………………………………….. mA
(b) Diagram 2 shows a second LED and an extra resistor connected in parallel with the cell.
The resistor and the LED are the same as the components used in diagram 1. The two resistors are identical and the two LEDs are identical.
Explain how the ammeter reading will change. (4)
(Total for Question 11 = 8 marks)
June 23 Paper 1PR Q6
Question 6
6 A student investigates how the current in a 60 Ω resistor varies with the voltage across the resistor.
(a) The student has access to this equipment
- 12 V battery
- ammeter and voltmeter
- 60 Ω resistor
- variable resistor
- switch
- connecting wires
Draw a circuit diagram to show how the student could connect this equipment to carry out the investigation. (4)
(b) Describe a suitable method the student could use for this investigation. (4)
(c) (i) Complete the current–voltage graph by drawing a line that shows the expected results of the investigation.
(ii) The student repeats their investigation with a 120 Ω resistor.
Explain how a current–voltage graph for a 120 Ω resistor compares with the current–voltage graph for the 60 Ω resistor. (3)
(Total for Question 6 = 14 marks)
June 23 Paper 2P Q6
6 The National Grid is used in the United Kingdom for the large-scale transmission of electricity. The photograph shows solar panels connected to the National Grid.
(a) Solar panels provide direct current to a device that outputs an alternating current so that the energy from the solar panels can be supplied to the National Grid.
(i) Explain why a step-up transformer is used to supply the National Grid. (2)
(ii) This is the label on the step-up transformer.
input voltage = 15 kV
output voltage = 340 kV
number of turns on primary coil = 1400
State the formula linking input voltage, output voltage and turns ratio for a transformer. (1)
(iii) Calculate the number of turns on the secondary coil of the step-up transformer. (3)
number of turns = …………………………………………………….
(b) Solar panels produce constant direct current (d.c.)
Explain why a transformer will not work when connected to constant direct current (3)
(Total for Question 6 = 9 marks)
June 23 Paper 2PR Q3
3 A cleaning product is applied to a car using a sponge pad.
The sponge pad is rubbed against the car to apply the cleaning product.
(a) Some parts of the car are made of metal and other parts are made of plastic.
The metal parts of the car are earthed.
Explain why the pad becomes charged when rubbing the plastic parts, but not when rubbing the metal parts. (3)
(b) The sponge pad is held near a metal post that is connected to the ground.
The sponge pad discharges with a small spark through the air to the metal post.
(i) The sponge pad stores 5.0 mJ of energy in its electrostatic store.
The voltage between the sponge pad and the metal post is 6000V.
Calculate the charge transferred by the spark. (3)
charge transferred = …………………………………………………….. C
(ii) The small spark between the sponge pad and the metal post demonstrates that the sponge pad is charged.
Describe a different experiment that could demonstrate that the sponge pad is charged.
You may draw a diagram to support your answer. (2)
(Total for Question 3 = 8 marks)
November 2023 Paper 1P Q2
2 The diagram shows four graphs, P, Q, R and S. Each graph shows a different relationship between current and time.
The table gives descriptions of the relationships between current and time shown by graphs P, Q, R and S.
Complete the table by giving the correct graph for each description.
| Description | Graph |
| current directly proportional to time | |
| current increasing at a decreasing rate | |
| current has a linear relationship to time but is not directly proportional | |
| current decreasing at a decreasing rate |
(Total for Question 2 = 4 marks)
November 2023 Paper 1P Q4
4 This question is about a filament lamp.
(a) Which of these is the correct circuit symbol for a filament lamp? (1)
(b) The filament lamp emits visible light.
The table gives some statements about visible light.
Place ticks (✓) in the boxes to show which statements are correct for visible light. (2)
| Statements | Correct (✓) |
| visible light is a longitudinal wave | |
| visible light transfers energy | |
| visible light transfers matter | |
| visible light has a longer wavelength than x-rays | |
| visible light travels faster in water than in air |
(c) The diagram shows a ray of light from the filament lamp incident on the reflective side of a curved mirror.
Complete the diagram by drawing
(i) the normal line where the ray is incident on the mirror. (1)
(ii) the reflected ray of light. (2)
(d) The filament lamp is connected in a circuit with a switch and a battery of three cells.
(i) When the switch is on, the filament lamp transfers 120 J of energy in a time of 3.0 minutes.
Each cell has a voltage of 1.5V.
Calculate the current in the filament lamp. (3)
current = …………………………………………………….. A
(ii) A small plotting compass is placed near the wires in the circuit.
When the switch is turned on, the compass needle moves to a new position. Give a reason why the compass needle moves. (1)
(Total for Question 4 = 10 marks)
November 2023 Paper 1P Q10
10 This question is about electrical resistors.
(a) Diagram 1 shows a 13 kΩ resistor connected to a 5.8 V battery.
(i) State the formula linking voltage, current and resistance. (1)
(ii) Calculate the current in the resistor. (3)
current = …………………………………………………….. A
(b) Diagram 2 shows a 200 Ω resistor connected in parallel with a 13 kΩ resistor.
(i) Complete the circuit diagram by adding a suitable meter to diagram 2 to measure the current in the 13 kΩ resistor. (1)
(ii) The switch in the circuit is closed. (5)
Explain what happens to the current in the 13 kΩ resistor and the current in the battery.
13 kΩ resistor:
Battery:
(Total for Question 10 = 10 marks)
June 2024 Paper 1P Q7
7 The diagram shows a domestic lighting circuit.
(a) Explain an advantage of using this circuit for domestic lighting. (2)
(b) When switch 1 is closed, the current in lamp 1 is 22 mA.
(i) Give the name of the charged particle that moves in an electric current. (1)
(ii) Show that lamp 1 has a power of about 5 W. (3)
(iii) Calculate the energy transferred by lamp 1 when it is on for 30 seconds. (3)
energy transferred = …………………………………………………….. J
(c) The circuit is connected to the mains supply. Mains voltage is 230 V.
(i) State what is meant by the term voltage. (1)
(ii) Switches 1 and 3 are closed, which turn on lamps 1 and 3.
Switch 2 is open.
Calculate the current in the mains supply.(2)
current = …………………………………………………….. mA
(Total for Question 7 = 12 marks)
June 2024 Paper 1P Q11
11 The photograph shows a power bank used to recharge the battery in an electronic device.
(a) The power bank stores charge.
The charge stored can be measured in amp-hours (Ah). 1 Ah is the amount of charge transferred by a current of 1 A in a time of 1 hour.
Calculate the charge stored in coulombs when the charge stored is 1 Ah.(2)
Use the formula
charge stored = current × time taken
charge stored = …………………………………………………….. C
(b) An electronic device is connected to the power bank.
Whilst recharging, the electronic device receives a constant current of 2.4 A and 3.8 × 103C of charge is transferred.
(i) Calculate the time taken to recharge the electronic device.
Give your answer in minutes. (3)
time = …………………………………………………….. minutes
(ii)The electronic device is connected to the power bank using a long cable.
Suggest how using a long cable affects the time taken to recharge the electronic device when compared with a short cable. (2)
(c) A student owns three electronic devices. Each electronic device stores a different amount of charge.
The table gives some information about the charge stored by the electronic devices and how often they need to be recharged.
| Electronic device | Charge stored in Ah | Frequency of recharging |
| A | 2.4 | once every day |
| B | 4.2 | once during the week |
| C | 6.8 | once during the week |
The power bank stores a maximum charge of 26.8 Ah.
The student needs to take these three electronic devices on a school trip for one week.
Determine whether the maximum charge of the power bank is enough to recharge the batteries of the three electronic devices during the school trip. (4)
(Total for Question 11 = 11 marks)
June 2024 Paper 2P Q4
4 This question is about electrostatics.
(a) A polythene rod is rubbed with a cloth, which causes both the rod and the cloth to become charged.
(i) Which of these is the force that causes the rod and the cloth to become charged? (1)
A friction
B gravitational
C magnetic
D tension
(ii) The polythene rod becomes negatively charged. Which of these statements explains how the rod has become negatively charged?(1)
A the rod gains electrons
B the rod loses electrons
C the rod gains protons
D the rod loses protons
(b) A student has rods made from different materials.
The student rubs each rod the same way with a cloth.
The student measures the charge gained by each rod three times.
The table shows the results.
| Material | Charge in nanocoulombs (nC) | |||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | Mean | |
| glass | +35 | +38 | +36 | +36 |
| ebonite | –168 | –170 | –171 | –170 |
| polythene | –61 | –80 | –59 | |
| acetate | –20 | –20 | –18 | –19 |
(i) One of the readings for the polythene rod is anomalous.
Circle the anomalous result in the results table. (1)
(ii) State how the student should deal with the anomalous result. (1)
(iii) Calculate the mean charge for the polythene rod. (2)
mean charge = …………………………………………………….. nC
(iv) Describe how the student could use the rods to demonstrate that there are two different types of electric charge. (3)
(Total for Question 4 = 9 marks)
June 2024 Paper 2P Q8
8 The photograph shows a water bath that a technician uses to heat some water.
(a) The water bath is filled with water at an initial temperature of 15°C.
Calculate the initial temperature of the water in kelvin. (1)
initial temperature = …………………………………………………….. K
(b) The technician heats the water to a final temperature of 60°C.
(i) Describe how the energy of the water molecules changes as the temperature of the water increases. (2)
(ii) The table shows some information about the heating element in the water bath and the heating process.
| Initial temperature of water | 15°C |
| Final temperature of water | 60°C |
| Voltage of heating element | 230 V |
| Current in heating element | 1.5 A |
| Time taken to heat water | 45 minutes |
Calculate the energy transferred by the heating element in the water bath during the heating process. (3)
energy transferred = …………………………………………………….. J
(iii) Calculate the mass of water being heated.
Assume that all the energy is transferred to the thermal store of the water. (3)
[for water, specific heat capacity = 4200 J / kg°C]
mass of water = …………………………………………………….. kg
(c) Some water evaporates as a gas from the water bath.
(i) Describe the arrangement of particles in a gas. (2)
(ii) Describe two differences between evaporation and boiling. (2)
(Total for Question 8 = 13 marks)
June 2024 Paper 1PR Q2
2 The photograph shows an electric heater connected to the mains electricity supply.
The circuit the heater is connected to is fitted with a circuit breaker, which breaks the circuit if the current gets too high.
(a) Give an advantage of using a circuit breaker instead of using a fuse. (1)
(b) The voltage of the mains electricity supply is 230 V.
(i) State the formula linking power, current and voltage. (1)
(ii) The normal operating current of the heater is 11 A.
Calculate the input power to the heater for this current.
Give your answer in kW. (3)
power = …………………………………………………….. kW
(c) The circuit breaker has a rating of 16 A.
Suggest a reason why the heater may switch off before it reaches its normal operating current. (1)
(Total for Question 2 = 6 marks)
June 2024 Paper 1PR Q7
7 A student investigates the voltage-current characteristics of an unknown component, X.
(a) The student is given this equipment to investigate component X.
· battery
· variable resistor
· ammeter
· voltmeter
· connecting wires
The diagram shows an incomplete circuit containing the battery and component X.
Complete the diagram by drawing a circuit the student could use for their investigation.
(b) The graph shows the results of the investigation.
(i) Draw a line of best fit on the graph. (1)
(ii) Calculate the resistance of component X when the voltage is 4.2 V.
Give the unit. (5)
resistance = …………………………………………………….. unit …………………………………………………….
(iii) Which of these is equivalent to 4.2 V? (1)
A 4.2 coulombs per second (C / s)
B 4.2 seconds per joule (s / J)
C 4.2 joules per second (J / s)
D 4.2 joules per coulomb (J / C)
(iv) The student concludes that component X is a filament lamp.
Comment on the student’s conclusion. (2)
(Total for Question 7 = 13 marks)
June 2024 Paper 2PR Q4
4 The photograph shows transmission cables used for long-distance transmission of electricity.
(a) The diagram shows a power station and a school.
Add to the diagram by drawing the structures needed to efficiently transfer energy from the power station to the school using electricity. (3)
(b) Explain how the amount of current in the transmission cables increases the efficiency of the transmission of electricity. (3)
(Total for Question 4 = 6 marks)
June 2024 Paper 2PR Q8
8 The diagram shows a machine that can be used to measure the speed of fast‑moving protons.
(a) At the start, the proton is attracted towards a negatively charged plate.
(i) Give a reason why the proton is attracted to the negatively charged plate. (1)
(ii) The proton accelerates at 1.90 × 1011m / s2 from rest to a speed of 1.38 × 105 m / s.
Show that the time taken for this acceleration is about 7 × 10-7s. (3)
(b) The proton passes through a hole in the negatively charged plate and enters an area where there is a magnetic field.
The magnetic field exerts a force on the proton, as shown in the diagram.
This force causes the proton to follow a circular path without changing speed.
(i) Give the direction of the magnetic field. (1)
(ii) Suggest how increasing the strength of the magnetic field will affect the proton when it is moving in the magnetic field. (2)
(Total for Question 8 = 7 marks)
November 2024 Paper 1P Q3
3 (a) Photograph 1 shows a power supply for some electrical equipment. The electrical equipment is connected to the mains supply.
Explain why the power supply is completely covered in plastic. (2)
(b) The electrical equipment is connected to the mains power supply of 230 V.
(i) State the formula linking power, current and voltage. (1)
(ii) The electrical equipment has a power of 350 W.
Calculate the current in the equipment when it is being used. (2)
current = …………………………………………………….. A
(c) Photograph 2 shows a circuit breaker.
Explain the advantages of using a circuit breaker rather than a fuse. (2)
(Total for Question 3 = 7 marks)
November 2024 Paper 1P Q9
9 A student investigates different electrical components.
(a) The student first investigates how the voltage of a diode affects the current in the diode.
They use this equipment.
· diode
· cell
· variable resistor
· wires
· voltmeter
· ammeter
Draw a circuit diagram to represent a circuit the student could use.
The diode has been drawn for you. (4)
(b) In the second investigation, the student uses a circuit with two different resistors, A and B, and a battery with a voltage of 2.9 V.
Diagram 1 shows the circuit, and the current in each resistor.
(i) Calculate the current in the battery. (1)
current = …………………………………………………….. A
(ii) State the formula linking voltage, current and resistance. (1)
(iii) Calculate the resistance of resistor A. (2)
resistance = …………………………………………………….. Ω
(iv) Diagram 2 shows the same three components connected in a different circuit.
Resistor B has a resistance of 13 ohms.
Comment on the difference between the current in the battery in Diagram 2 and the current in the battery in Diagram 1.
Use calculations to support your answer. (4)
(Total for Question 9 = 12 marks)
November 2024 Paper 2P Q2
2 The diagram shows a rod and a cloth.
When the rod is rubbed with the cloth, the cloth becomes positively charged and the rod becomes negatively charged.
(a) Explain how the cloth has become positively charged. (2)
(b) The negatively charged rod makes contact with a metal object connected to the ground.
There is an ammeter in series with the object and the ground.
(i) Explain why the ammeter shows a current for a short time and then shows no current. (2)
(ii) State the formula linking charge transferred, current and time. (1)
(iii) The mean current displayed on the ammeter is 6.8 × 10-6 A.
The current lasts for 3.7 ms.
Calculate the charge transferred. (3)
charge = …………………………………………………….. C
(Total for Question 2 = 8 marks)
