GCSE PHYSICS

ELECTRICITY IN THE HOME

ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 1
(a) (i)

0.4 A

(ii) 0.4 A

(b) (i)

potential difference = current resistance

2.4 V

(ii) 1.6 V

1
1
1

(c) showing all working

correct answer with units for total resistance: 16
calculate third resistance: 6

1
1
1
TOTAL / 8

QUESTIONSHEET 2
(a) (i)

144 kJ / 144,000 J

(ii) Lost in heating the surroundings, eg the kettle itself.

(b) (i)

10 A

2.4 20/10 = 4.80

(ii) 0.1 20 10 = 20p

(iii)

20

1
1

(ii) iron / cooker / covector heater /

any appliance whose main purpose is producing heat
(c) (i)

100 = 4.17%

2
1
1
1

480
TOTAL / 8

GCSE PHYSICS

ELECTRICITY IN THE HOME

ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 3
(a) time = 5 3 minutes = 15 minutes = 1/4 hour
units = 2.4 kW 1/4 hour = 0.6 kWh
cost = 0.6 8p = 4.8p

1
1
1

(b) (i)

Power = current x voltage

(ii) current = power/voltage = 2400 W/240 V

10 A

1
1

(iii) 13 A

(c) If the cable/cord was damaged could be a large current

1
TOTAL / 8

QUESTIONSHEET 4
(a) (i)

12V - 10V = 2 V

(ii)

Voltage = current resistance

(iii)

2 V/1000
0.002 A or 2 mA

1
1

0.008 A 1000
8V
12 - 8 = 4 V

1
1
1

4 V/0.008 A
= 500

1
1

(b) (i)

(ii)

TOTAL / 9

QUESTIONSHEET 5
(a) dangerous
too much current may flow/overloading the circuit
causing much heat and possibly a fire

1
1
1

(b) If fault develops circuit breaker acts more quickly than a fuse
reducing the chance of electrocution.

1
1
TOTAL / 5

GCSE PHYSICS

ELECTRICITY IN THE HOME

ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 6
(a) (i)

High heat
parallel connection (A to B & A to D)
no connection C to D

1
1

Medium heat
Single connection A to B
No connection C to D

1
1

Low heat
Connection A to B
And C to D

1
1

(ii) Parallel circuits each element

has same current

1
1

medium heat has only one element

therefore half the heat

1
1

series circuit shares current

between elements

1
1
TOTAL / 12

QUESTIONSHEET 7
(a) (i)

3000 / 240
= 12.5 amps

1
1

(ii) 13 amps

(b) 240 / 12.5

= 19.2 ohms

1
1

(c) earth connected to case of fire

1
TOTAL / 6

GCSE PHYSICS

ELECTRICITY IN THE HOME

ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 8
(a) 5A 240 V
= 1200 W
1200 / 60
= 20

1
1
1

(b)

mains

3
(c) 6 15 1.2 = total units
= 108 kWh
Price = 108 12 p
= 12.96

1
1
1
TOTAL / 10

QUESTIONSHEET 9
(a) voltage across coil 1 = number of turns in coil 1
voltage across coil 2
number of turns in coil 2
working
correct answer with units: 12 V
(b) (i)

current / electric current / current flow

(ii) A2
(c) (i)

low current

(ii) 1 mark for answers which include the idea that:

flow of current converts some electrical energy to heat energy which is lost by convection
1 mark for answers which include the idea that:
transmitting at high voltage is more efficient than at high current.

1
1
1
1
1
1

1
1
TOTAL / 8

GCSE PHYSICS

ELECTRICITY IN THE HOME

ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 10
(a) (i)

a resistor whose resistance changes with temperature.

(ii)
Resistance (k)

400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Temperature (oC)

Deduct 1 mark for each incorrectly plotted point to a maximum of 2.

(iii) decreases / goes down
(b) (i)

decreases / goes down

(ii) potential difference = current resistance

0.04 mA / 0.00004 A
(c) Light dependent resistor (LDR)

2
1
1
1
1
1
TOTAL / 8

GCSE PHYSICS

ELECTRICITY IN THE HOME

ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 11
A
(a) all components present: battery or cell,
variable resistor, bulb and ammeter all in series,
voltmeter connected in parallel with bulb only.

1
1

(b) (i)
4
3
Potential
Difference (V) 2
1
0
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

Current (A)

Deduct 1 mark for each incorrectly plotted point to a

maximum of 2.

(ii) 1 V + 0.1 V

(iii) resistance = potential difference

current

5 + 0.5
(iv) increases

1
1
TOTAL / 8

GCSE PHYSICS

ELECTRICITY IN THE HOME

ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 12
(a) (i) 787, 748, 604, 527:
all correct
3 correct.

2
1

(ii) December 1998

(iii) Weather colder so more energy required for heating or cooking/

nights longer so more lighting required.

(b) (i)

times (h): 0.25, 0.25, 2, 0.5, 4

kWh: 0.5, 0.175, 0.4, 0.4, 0.41
Deduct 1 mark per incorrect answer to a total of 3 marks.

(ii) 18.75p

1
1

1
TOTAL / 8

QUESTIONSHEET 13
(a) low energy bulb

(b) units = 0.15 kW 1000 = 150 units

(note the change of watt to kilowatt)
150 8p
1200 p or 12

1
1
1

(c) 12 5 = 2.40

1
TOTAL / 5

QUESTIONSHEET 14
(a) 1000 W (power is measured in watt, W)

Power = current voltage

(b) (i)

(ii) current = power/voltage = 1000 W/230 V

4.3(5) A
(c) (i)

safety device
if too much current flows, it breaks and prevents
further current flow

(ii) 5 A (use the lowest value which will allow the device to operate normally.)

1
1
1
1
1
TOTAL / 7

GCSE PHYSICS

ELECTRICITY IN THE HOME

ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 15
(a) 1100 W
(b) (i)
(ii)

(c) (i)

Power = current voltage

current = power/voltage = 1100 W/220 V

5A

1
1

Voltage = current resistance

(ii) resistance = voltage/current = 220 V/5 A

44
(d) Assume the heating element has the same resistance
current = voltage/resistance = 110 V/44 = 2.5 A
power = current voltage = 2.5 A 110 V = 275 W
new power = 275/1100 = 1/4 of original power

1
1
1

1
1
1
TOTAL / 10

QUESTIONSHEET 16
(a) if a short circuit occurs
current will flow to earth
case will not become live

1
1
1

(b) short circuit causes fuse to heat up

and melt
cutting off power

1
1
1
TOTAL / 6

GCSE PHYSICS

ELECTRICITY IN THE HOME

ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 17
(a) current = power/voltage = 3000 W/240 V
12.5 A

1
1

(b)
wire
earth
live
neutral

current /A
0
12.5
12.5
3

(c) Very large current flows

in the live and earth wires
fuse melts and breaks, preventing further current flow.

1
1
1
TOTAL / 8

QUESTIONSHEET 18
(a)
Wire
A
B
C

Name
NEUTRAL
EARTH
LIVE

Colour
BLUE
GREEN AND YELLOW
BROWN
3

(b) (i)
(ii)

earth wire

since the case of the hairdryer is plastic, there are no exposed metal parts
no danger of electrocution if the live wire touches the plastic case.

1
1

(c) Fuse protects wires

high current flows & melts fuse wire
circuit breaks

1
1
1
TOTAL / 9

GCSE PHYSICS

ELECTRICITY IN THE HOME

ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 19
(a) kilowatt
one hour
unit

1
1
1

(b) 3 600 000

3.6 mV

(c) (i)

3 amp
13 amp
5 amp

(ii) A 3 2 = 6 units
B 0.1 12 = 1.2 units
Immersion heater

1
1
1
TOTAL / 11

QUESTIONSHEET 20
One mark for each of
current
fire
damaged
metals
melting
5 amps
melt
live
TOTAL / 8