SEMESTER 2 TEST 1

Surname Name

American Academy Larnaca

Year 6 IAS Physics

Semester 2 Test 1
Unit 2 Physics at Work
Topic 4 Electricity
Tuesday 28 February 2017 Time: 1 hour 30 min

You must have: Total Marks

Scientific calculator
Ruler

Instructions
Use black ink or ball-point pen
Write your name at the top of this page
Answer all questions in the spaces provided
there may be more space than you need

Information
The total mark for this paper is 80
The marks for each question are shown in square brackets
use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question
Questions labelled with an asterisk (*) are ones where the quality
of your written communication will be assessed
you should take particular care with your spelling, punctuation and grammar, as
well as the clarity of expression, on these questions
The list of data, formulae and relationships is printed at the end of this paper
Candidates may use a scientific calculator

Advice
Read each question carefully before you start to answer it
Keep an eye on the time
Try to answer every question
Check your answers if you have time at the end

YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 1 Turn over

SEMESTER 2 TEST 1

SECTION A

Answer all questions

For questions 110, in Section A, select one answer from A to D and put a cross in the box ( )
If you change your mind, put a line through the box ( ) and then mark your new answer with a cross
_______________________________________________________________________________________

1. Which of the following is a base unit?

A Ampere
B Coulomb
C Current
D Ohm

[Total for Question 1 = 1 mark]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

2. An equivalent unit for power is

A V A1
B Js
C A2 1
D V2 1

[Total for Question 2 = 1 mark]

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3. Which combination of resistors below has the smallest resistance?

10
10 20 30 10 20 10
20
20
30 30
30

A B C D

[Total for Question 3 = 1 mark]

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YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 2 Turn over

SEMESTER 2 TEST 1
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4. A long copper wire X with the dimensions shown is carrying a current of 2.1 A.
For copper n = 8.5 1028 electrons per m3.

A = 8.2 107 m2 X

L = 10 m

The drift velocity of the electrons is equal to

A 1.8 10-2 m s1
B 1.9 104 m s1
C 2 101 m s1
D 4.5 101 m s1

[Total for Question 4 = 1 mark]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

5. Wire X is connected to another copper wire Y of half the length and twice the cross sectional area.

X Y

The drift velocity in Y

A is larger than in X because the current in Y is larger

B is smaller than in X because Y is shorter than X
C is smaller than in X because Y is thicker than X
D is the same as in X because the two conductors are in series

[Total for Question 5 = 1 mark]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

6. A battery of Emf = 12 V provides a current of 1.3 A for 15 min.

The total energy given out by the battery is equal to

A 3.9 J
B 234 J
C 14 040 J
D 842 400 J

[Total for Question 6 = 1 mark]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 3 Turn over

SEMESTER 2 TEST 1
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7. Which graph shows the correct current-voltage characteristic of a filament lamp?

I I I I

V V V V

A B C D

[Total for Question 7 = 1 mark]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

8. A lightning delivers 15 C of charge in 500 s.

The current in a typical lightning strike is equal to

A 0.03 A
B 30 A
C 7500 A
D 30 kA

[Total for Question 8 = 1 mark]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

9. Under what condition will the circuit below deliver maximum power output?

E, r
P

R
V

A E=V
B R=r
C Efficiency = 100%
D I=0

[Total for Question 9 = 1 mark]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 4 Turn over

SEMESTER 2 TEST 1

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10. The following circuit is constructed with a resistor and an LDR.

When the light intensity on the LDR increases

A the current will decrease

B the reading of the voltmeter will increase
C the total resistance will increase
D the reading of the voltmeter will decrease

[Total for Question 10 = 1 mark]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

TOTAL FOR SECTION A = 10 MARKS

_______________________________________________________________________________________

YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 5 Turn over

SEMESTER 2 TEST 1

SECTION B

Answer all questions in the spaces provided

_______________________________________________________________________________________

11. The circuit below is constructed with the values of resistances shown.
It is connected to a source with Emf = E and negligible internal resistance.
The ammeter shows a value of 0.2 A.

0.20 A
40 A

20

60

(a) Calculate the total resistance of the external circuit.

[3 marks]

Total Resistance =

(b) Calculate the current in the 60 resistor.

[3 marks]

Current =

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SEMESTER 2 TEST 1

(c) Calculate the potential difference across the 20 resistor.

[3 marks]

Potential difference =

(d) Hence or otherwise calculate the Emf of the source.

How would this value be different if the internal resistance were not negligible?
Explain your answer.
[3 marks]

Emf =

[Total for Question 11 = 12 marks]

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YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 7 Turn over

SEMESTER 2 TEST 1
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12. The aircraft industry uses an instrument called strain gauge to determine the strain in propellers.
The strain gauge is based on the principle that the electrical resistance of a wire changes when it is
stretched.

(a) A stretched wire becomes longer and thinner.

Using an equation to justify your answer, explain what effect stretching a length of wire
would have on its resistance.
[3 marks]

(b) The diagram shows a typical resistance strain gauge. The wire in the gauge is arranged in
zigzag pattern.

2.5 cm
thin
plastic

strain gauge fine iron wire

Fig. 1

The length of the zigzag pattern is 2.5 cm.

The cross-sectional area of the iron wire is 9.0 108 m2.
The resistivity of iron is 9.9 108 m.
Show that the total resistance of the strain gauge is about 0.2 .
[2 marks]

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SEMESTER 2 TEST 1

(c) In practice, very small changes in length are to be determined and the gauge itself has to be
reasonably small. Consequently, the gauge is made of a length of very fine iron which is
arranged in zigzag pattern between two thin plastic sheets.

What is the benefit of the iron wire being in this pattern?

[2 marks]

(d) A gauge similar to the one shown in Fig. 1 is placed across a gap to monitor its size.

gauge

gap

It was found that, under certain conditions, the resistance of the gauge increased to 0.25 .
Calculate the increase in the gap between the two surfaces.
[3 marks]

Increase in the gap =

[Total for Question 12 = 10 marks]

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YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 9 Turn over

SEMESTER 2 TEST 1

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13. Heaters usually use heating elements made up of a long nichrome wire connected to a source.
In a house the source is typically the mains that provide a potential difference of 230 V.
The circuit for one such heater is shown below.

mains

heating element heating element

heater

(a) Each heating element is designed to have a maximum power output of 520 W.
Calculate the resistance of a heating element when it is connected to the mains.
[3 marks]

Resistance =

(b) Calculate the power output of the heater with the switch closed and with the switch open.
[3 marks]

Power output with switch closed =

Power output with switch open =

YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 10 Turn over

SEMESTER 2 TEST 1

*(c) A different company uses a different circuit to design its heaters.

The circuit is shown below.

mains

heating element

heating element

heater

State and explain the differences in how the two circuits operate.
[4 marks]

[Total for Question 13 = 10 marks]

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YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 11 Turn over

SEMESTER 2 TEST 1
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14. A spotlight has a working voltage of 200 V and a working temperature of 2300 C.
The graph shows how the resistance of the filament in the spotlight changes with temperature.
45
40
35
30
25
Resistance /
20
15
10
5
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Temperature / C

(a) Calculate the current through the filament when working normally.
[3 marks]

Current =

(b) Explain what happens to the current from the moment the spotlight is switched on until it
reaches a constant working temperature.
[2 marks]

The spotlight is connected in series with a thermistor.

power supply

YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 12 Turn over

SEMESTER 2 TEST 1

(c) The thermistor has a resistance of 2 when the spotlight is working normally.
Calculate the voltage of the power supply that is required for the spotlight to work normally.
[3 marks]

Voltage =

(d) In the space below sketch how the resistance of the thermistor depends on temperature.
Explain the shape of the graph based on the properties of semiconductors.
[3 marks]

Resistance

Temperature

(e) When the current is switched on there is a danger that the filament will melt from the initial
flow of current. The thermistor is added to prevent this.
Explain how the thermistor prevents the filament from burning.
[3 marks]

[Total for Question 14 = 14 marks]

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YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 13 Turn over

SEMESTER 2 TEST 1
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15. In an experiment to determine the internal resistance of a power source its terminals are
connected to a variable resistance and an ammeter with negligible resistance.

E, r

(a) Show how a voltmeter should be connected to the circuit to measure the terminal potential
difference.
[1 mark]

(b) With the switch open the Voltmeter reads 4.7 V.

Explain the significance of this value and also why this value drops when the switch is closed.
[2 marks]

(c) The following table shows the readings obtained in the experiment.

I/A V/V
0.25 4.58
0.50 4.51
0.80 4.39
1.10 4.27
1.25 4.20

YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 14 Turn over

SEMESTER 2 TEST 1

(i) Plot the V I graph in the space below.

[2 marks]
4.6

4.5

4.4

V / V 4.3

4.2

4.1

4
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4
I/A

(ii) Use the graph to calculate the internal resistance of the cell.
[3 marks]

Internal resistance =

(iii) When a different resistor is connected instead of the variable resistor the ammeter
shows a current of 2.1 A.
Calculate the voltage across the new resistor and its resistance.
[4 marks]

Voltage =

Resistance =

[Total for Question 15 = 12 marks]

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YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 15 Turn over

SEMESTER 2 TEST 1
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16. Diodes are used to rectify AC (change AC to DC).

(a) In the space below draw the V-I graph for a typical diode.
Is a diode an ohmic conductor? Explain your answer
[3 marks]
I

(b) A resistor and a diode are connected to an AC source as shown below.

V I
t t

The graph on the left above shows how the voltage V provided by the AC changes.
Show on the graph to the right how the current I through the resistor changes over the same
time period.
Explain why such a current is still called DC.
[4 marks]

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SEMESTER 2 TEST 1

(c) Diodes are usually used in combination like the one shown below.

A A

+
+
B B

Fig.1 Fig.2

V I
t t

Show how current flows through the resistor (between points A & B) in Fig.1 and Fig.2.
Draw on the graph above on the right how the current would vary through the resistor if it
was connected to an AC source.
Hence explain the advantages of using multiple diodes.
[5 marks]

[Total for Question 16 = 12 marks]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

TOTAL FOR SECTION B = 70 MARKS

_______________________________________________________________________________________

END

TOTAL FOR PAPER = 80 MARKS

YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 17
DATA & FORMULAE

List of data, formulae and relationships

Acceleration of free fall g = 9.81 m s2 (close to Earths surface)

Electron charge e = 1.60 1019 C
Electron mass me = 9.11 1031 kg
Electronvolt 1 eV = 1.60 1019 J
Gravitational field strength g = 9.81 N kg1 (close to Earths surface)
Planck constant h = 6.63 1034 J s
Speed of light in a vacuum c = 3.00 108m s1

Unit 1

Mechanics

Kinematic equations of motion v=u+at

s = u t + a t2
v2 = u2 + 2 a s
Forces F = m a
g=F/m
W=mg
Work and energy W = F s
Ek = m v2
Egrav = m g h

Materials

Stokes law F=6rv

Hookes law F = k x
Density =m/V
Pressure p=F/A
Young modulus E=/ where
Stress =F/A
Strain = x / x
Elastic strain energy Eel = F x

YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 18
DATA & FORMULAE

Unit 2

Waves

Wave speed v=f

Refractive index 12 = sin i / sin r = v1 / v2

Electricity

Potential difference V=W/Q

Resistance R=V/I
Electrical power P=VI
P = I2 R
P = V2 / R
Energy W=VIt
useful energy output
Efficiency % efficiency = 100
energy input
useful power output
% efficiency = 100
power input
Resistivity R=L/A
Current I = Q / t
I=nqvA
Resistors in series R = R1 + R 2 + R3
1 1 1 1
Resistors in parallel = + +
R R1 R2 R3

Quantum physics

Photon model E=hf

Einsteins photoelectric equation h f = m v2max +

YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 19
TEST 1 MARK SCHEME

MARK SCHEME

SECTION A

p. 2

1. A

2. D

3. B

p. 3

4. B

5. C

6. C

p. 4

7. A

8. D

9. B

p. 5

10. B

YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 1
TEST 1 MARK SCHEME

SECTION B

p. 6 & 7

11. (a) 1/Rp = 1/40 + 1/60 [1 mark]

=> Rp = 24 [1 mark]
RT = 24 + 20 = 44 [1 mark]

(b) V40 = 40 0.2 = 8 V [1 mark]

I = 8 / 60 [1 mark]
=> I = 0.13 A [1 mark]

(c) IT = 0.13 + 0.2 = 0.33 A [1 mark]

V = 20 0.33 [1 mark]
=> V = 6.6 V [1 mark]

(d) emf = 8 + 6.6 = 14.6 V [1 mark]

emf larger [1 mark]
bcs volts / energy / heat dissipated in the cell or similar [1 mark]

p. 8 & 9

12. (a) Identify R prop to L AND/OR inv prop to A OR use of R = L / A [1 mark]

L AND/OR A [1 mark]
=> R [1 mark]

(b) L = 2.5 8 = 20 cm = 0.2 m [1 mark]

R = 9.9 108 0.2 / 9.0 108 = 0.22 [1 mark]

(c) Long / Large length (or similar) [1 mark]

=> more sensitive / gives large effect with small changes (or similar) [1 mark]

(d) R = L / A => 0.25 = 9.9 108 L / 9.0 108 [1 mark]

L = 0.227 / 8 = 0.028 [1 mark]
L = 0.028 0.025 = 0.003 m [1 mark]

YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 2
TEST 1 MARK SCHEME

p. 10 & 11

13. (a) P = V2 / R => 520 = 2302 / R [1 mark]

R = 2302 / 520 [1 mark]
=> R = 101.7 [1 mark]

(b) Switch closed: P = 520 W [1 mark]

Switch open: P = 2302 / 202 =262 W [2 mark]

*(c) Any four from [4 marks]

Series & parallel connection
Voltage in parallel connection is 230 V for both, in series it is halved
Current in parallel from mains is larger than in series
Max power output in parallel greater than in series
When both heaters connected in series power output is less than if one connected
Resistance in series greater than in parallel (or any valid)

p. 12 & 13

14. (a) R = 40 [1 mark]

I = V / R = 200 / 40 [1 mark]
=> I = 5 A [1 mark]

(b) temperature AND/OR R [1 mark]

I [1 mark]

(c) V = I R = 5 2 = 10 V [1 mark]
VTOT = 200 + 10 [1 mark]
VTOT = 200 + 10 V (or any valid method) [1 mark]

(d)
any line going down [1 mark]
Resistance

Temperature
temperature => n [1 mark]
=> I [1 mark]

(e) Any three from [3 marks]

Initially low temperature
=> low lamp resistance => high current
but high resistance of thermistor
=> current kept low (or any valid)

YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 3
TEST 1 MARK SCHEME

p. 14 & 15

15. (a) Correctly connected in parallel [1 mark]

(b) 4.7 V = Emf [1 mark]

Switch closed => V Emf bcs of lost Volts / Energy in the cell etc / use of E = V + I r [1 mark]

(c) (i) 4.6

4.5

4.4

V/V 4.3

4.2

4.1

4
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4
I/A

most points correct [1 mark]

straight line of best fit [1 mark]

(ii) Use of gradient OR Use of E = V + I r (with point from line) [1 mark]

Correct gradient OR correct substitution [1 mark]
0.36 <= r <= 0.4 [1 mark]

(iii) E = V + I R => 4.7 = V + 2.1 0.38 [1 mark]

V = 3.9 V (or appropriate value with r from (ii)) [1 mark]
R = V / I = 3.9 / 2.1 [1 mark]
R = 1.86 [1 mark]

YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 4
TEST 1 MARK SCHEME

p. 16 & 17

13. (a) I

[1 mark]

non-ohmic [1 mark]
not a straight line (through the origin) / I not proportional to V etc. [1 mark]

(b)
I
similar pattern for +ve cycle [1 mark]
t 0 / none for -ve cycle [1 mark]

no negative current [1 mark]

=> current / e-s move only in one direction (or similar) [1 mark]

(c) Fig.1 current: from A to B [1 mark]

Fig.2 current: from A to B [1 mark]

I
[1 mark]
t

AND any two from [2 marks]

No 0 current cycle
More energy / power transferred
Easier to smooth (or any valid)

YEAR 6 AS PHYSICS 5