IB Physics Topics 5.2 & 5.

3: Mark Scheme 1

1. (a) (i) the work done per unit charge in moving a quantity of charge
completely around a circuit / the power delivered per unit
current / work done per unit charge made available by a source; 1

(ii) the ratio of the voltage (across) to the current in the conductor; 1

(b) (i) emf × current; 1

(ii) total power is V1I + V2I;

equating with EI to get result;
or
total energy delivered by battery is EQ;
equate with energy in each resistor V1Q + V2Q; 2

(c) graph X: horizontal straight line;

graph Y: starts lower than graph X;
rises (as straight line or curve) and intersects at 4.0 V; 3

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Do not pay attention to numbers on the vertical axis.

(d) (i) realization that the voltage must be 4.0 V across each resistor;
and so emf is 8.0 V; 2

(ii) power in each resistor = 3.2 W;

and so total power is 6.4 W;
or
current is 0.80 A;
so total power is 8.0×0.80 = 6.4 W; 2
[12]

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2. A
[1]
3. D
[1]
4. D
[1]
5. A
[1]
RA
6. (a) use of l = ; (allow if correct substitution seen – watch for use

of circumference in place of area)
 1.5  π  [1.8] 2 10 8 
=    9.0m 2
 1.7 10 8 

(b) (i) the resistance of a conductor/copper/metal increases with

increasing temperature;
increased power (dissipation) leads to higher temperature
in the resistor/ resistor heating up; 2

 P  1.0
(ii) I=   ;
 R  1.5
 
(= 0.82 A) 1
Allow working using 0.82 A to show that power is 1.0086 W,

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(iii)
in this case final answer must be to 2 sig fig or better.

total resistance = [R + 3.3];

6.0 = 0.82[R + 3.3];
to give R = 4.0 Ω; (allow use of 1.65 Ω leading to 3.9 Ω) 3
or
6 .0
total resistance in circuit = = (7.3 Ω);
0.82
internal resistance + fixed resistance = 3.3 Ω;
to give R = 4.0 Ω;
[8]
7. D
[1]
8. A
[1]
9. C
[1]
10. C
[1]
11. B
[1]
12. A
[1]

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 V
13. (a) (i) ratio of potential difference to current / with terms defined; 1
I
2302
(ii) resistance = ;
980
= 54 Ω;
Award [2] for bald correct answer. 2

RA
(iii) L= ;

54  π  [1.75 10 4 ] 2
= ;
1.3 10 6
(L ≈ 4 m) 2
Must see re-arrangement of data booklet equation or
completely correct substitution as shown in second
line for first mark.

(b) e.g.

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switch connected so that P can be achieved;
another switch connected so that 2P and 3P can be achieved;
Award [0] if three or more switches used. Allow any correct
alternative including case where single resistor is permanently
connected to supply. There are many variants, this diagram is
only one example. 2
[7]
14. B
[1]
15. B
[1]
16. D
[1]
17. A
[1]
18. D
[1]

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  pl  1.110 6  4.5
19. (a) use of R    8
; 1
 A  6.8 10
72.8 Ω (73 Ω)

2402
(b) / shows appropriate alternative equation;
72.8
790 W; 2

(c) one-third length so E2 has one-third resistance of E1 /

evaluates R (24 Ω);
(same V so) 3 × power of E1;
so total power = 4 × E1 = 3.2 kW; 3
or numerical method
728
current in R1 = = 3 A;
240
current in R2 = 9 A;
total current = 12 A and total power = 3.2kW;
Award [3] for correct alternative working.

(d) the power output will be less;

because the total resistance is greater in the series case;
hence the current is less and power depends on I2;
V2

20. C
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P=
R
; 3 max
[9]

[1]
21. (a) resistance: the ratio of potential difference across a device/load/
resistor to current in the device/load/resistor;
Ohm’s law: the resistance of a conductor is constant provided
its temperature is constant / the current is proportional
to the voltage across; 2

RA
(b) ρ= ;
l
 1.5   1.2 2 10 6 
=  2
  3.1 × l0–4 Ωm; 2
 2.2 10 

 P  1
(c) I=   ;
 R  1.35
 
= 0.86 A; 2

(d) (i) the power supplied per unit current / work done per unit
charge in moving charge completely round the circuit /
energy per unit charge made available by the source; 1

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 (ii) minimum resistance is 2.0 Ω, maximum resistance is 2.5 Ω;
 2.0 2 
so maximum power is   = 2.0 W

 2.0 
 2.0 2 
and minimum power is   = 1.6 W;
 3
 2.5 
[10]
22. B
[1]
23. B
[1]
24. (a) voltmeter in parallel across X;
ammeter in series with X;
correct circuit; 3
(allow ecf from 1st and 2nd marking points) Accept voltmeter
connections that include ammeter (in series with X) Condone
re-drawing of resistor X closer to variable resistor.

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(b) I = 2.4 A at 2.0 V;
2
2 .4
;
= 0.83 Ω 2
Award [1 max] for use of gradient of graph from (2,2.4) to origin.

(c) total p.d. across 1 Ω resistor = 1.3(V);

p.d. across X = 0.7(V);
reading from graph I = 1.3 A at 0.7 V / evidence that the graph has been read;
Award [1 max] if value of calculated p.d. is incorrect but there is
clear graphical evidence of derivation of current (typically marks
on graph).
or
total p.d. across X + resistor = 2.0 (V);
this occurs when VX = 0.7(V) and V1.0 = 1.3(V);
at I = 1.3 A; 2
[8]
25. B
[1]
26. D
[1]

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27. (a) emf : the power supplied per unit current / work done per unit
charge in moving charge completely round the circuit /
energy per unit charge made available by the source;
Internal resistance : resistance within the supply which causes a
potential drop within the supply/ E = I(R + r) define symbols 2

(b) 3.0 W; 1

(c) power dissipated in battery = (0.252 × 4.0) = 0.25 W;

power dissipated in circuit = (3.0 – 0.25) = 2.8 (2.75) W; 2

(d) power dissipated in lamp = (3.0 × 0.25) = 0.75 W;

power dissipated in resistor = (2.75 – 0.75) = 2.0 W;
 2.0 
resistance    = 32 Ω; 3
 0.25 2 
or
resistance of lamp =12 Ω;
12 = 0.25 (R + 16);
R = 32 Ω;
or
V across R = 8.0V;
0 .8
R= ;

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0.25
= 32 Ω; 3
[8]
28. C
[1]
29. D
[1]
30. (a) any circuit in which the current will flow through the lamp;
variable resistor connected as a potential divider;
voltmeter across lamp;
ammeter in series with lamp; 4

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 (b) correct shape;
through origin; 2

(c) 0.24 A; 1

(d) resistance calculated = 5.2(Ω);

 l 
A =   = 6.2 × 10–8 m2;
R
A
radius = seen/used;
π
= 1.4 × 10–4 m; 4

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(e) calculates resistance of lamps in parallel (2.6 Ω);
V = ε – Ir used to give V = 1.0 V;
1.0 V is lower than 1.25 V / power available to each lamp is 192 mW
lower than 300 mW;
(terminal pd/power lower) hence not operating normally; Award [0]
for only stating this bald answer. 4
Watch for ECF from (d).
Award [4 max] for any correct numerical argument involving
energy or power calculations.
[15]
31. C
[1]
32. B
[1]
33. C
[1]

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34. (a) there are no positions;
the lamp is effectively in series with 100 k no matter what the position of S;
this means that the pd across it will always be close to zero (very small) / never
reach 6 V;
or
the resistance of the filament is much smaller than 100 k;
so (nearly) all the potential of the battery appears across the variable resistance; 3
Award [0] for incorrect argument or just the answer without any explanation.

V
(b) I ;
R
12
= 5
1.2 10 4 A ; 2
10

(c)

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correct position of ammeter;
correct position of voltmeter (either to the right or left of the lamp); 2
[7]

35. Domestic shower

P
(a) (i) P  VI I  ;
V
7.2 10 3
=  30A ; 2
240

(ii) when operating at 7.2 kW the element is at a higher temperature/

hotter than when first switched on;
therefore, resistance is greater (and so current is smaller) / OWTTE;
or
element is cold / OWTTE when first switched on;
therefore, smaller resistance than when hot (and so current is larger); 2

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 V2
(b) P ;
R
240 2 110 2
 ;
R240 R110
2
R110  110 
  ;
R240  240 
= 0.21
or
from P = VI
11
240I2 = 110I1 to give I 2  I1 ;
24
I22 R2 = I12 R1;
2 2
R1 I 2  11 
   ;
R2 I 1 2  24 
= 0.21 3
[7]
36. C
[1]

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