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Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 19
 

Chapter 19 Practical Electricity

Test Yourself 19.1 (page 365)

An electric kettle contains a heating element that heats up when current flows through it. Conduction
and convection currents heat the water surrounding the heating element.
An electric iron also contains a heating element that heats up when current flows through it. Heat from
the heating element is transferred to the flat metal base of the iron, which is a good conductor of heat.

Test Yourself 19.2 (page 369)

(a) P = VI
= 240 V × 9.0 A
= 2160 W
= 2.16 kW
(b) Total electrical energy consumed per day = 2.16 kW × 1.5 h
= 3.24 kWh
Total electrical energy consumed per month = 3.24 kWh × 30 days
= 97.2 kWh
Total cost per month = 97.2 kWh × $0.27
= $26.24
≈ $26.00 (proven)

Test Yourself 19.3 (page 371)

Hydroelectric power; the water flow is concentrated and can be easily controlled.

Test Yourself 19.4 (page 373)

1. Check for damaged insulation, and replace wires if necessary.

2. Avoid plugging in several appliances to the same power socket.
3. Do not use electrical appliances in damp environments.

Test Yourself 19.5 (page 380)

1. (a) A circuit breaker switches off the electrical supply in a circuit if the current flowing though it
is higher than the cut-off current. This prevents damage to the appliances connected to the
circuit. It should be fitted to the live wire of the circuit.
(b) A fuse breaks an electrical circuit if the current flowing through it is higher than the rated
value of the fuse. This prevents damage to the appliances connected to the circuit. A fuse
should be fitted to the live wire of the circuit.
(c) The earth wire provides a conducting path for electricity should an electrical fault cause an
appliance to become electrically live. The earth wire diverts the current to the ground, so
that the user will not suffer electric shocks. The earth wire is connected to the external
casing of the appliance.

2. Appliances with metal casings use three-pin plugs, whereas appliances that have double
insulation (these appliances usually have plastic casings) use two-pin plugs. Three-pin plugs have
an earth wire to ground the metal casing if it ever becomes ‘live’ due to an electrical fault. Double
insulated appliances do not need to be earthed due to their extra insulating layer.

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Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 19
 

Get It Right (page 381)

(a) True
(Note: Wires with low resistivity can also be used to produce a significant heating effect by
increasing their effective resistance e.g. by increasing the length of wire used.)
(b) False
We can calculate the energy consumed by an appliance by multiplying the power rating of the
appliance with the duration the appliance is switched on, or by multiplying the voltage supplied to
the appliance with the current flowing through the appliance and the duration the appliance is
switched on, i.e. E = P × t = VIt.
(c) False
The unit kWh measures the amount of energy supplied to an electrical appliance.
(d) False
Nuclear energy is a non-renewable source of energy that produces radioactive waste, which is
difficult to dispose of safely. Also, the possibility of nuclear accidents makes this energy source
potentially dangerous.
(e) False
Overheating can occur if the wires of an appliance are too thin.
(f) False
The fuse rating of the fuse in an appliance should be slightly higher than the operating current of
the appliance.
(g) True
(h) False
The colour of the earth wire in a three-pin mains plug is green and yellow.
(i) True

Let’s Review (page 381)

Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions

1. B
P = VI,
where P = power;
V = potential difference;
I = current

2. D
Power P = VI
= 15 V × 4 A
= 60 W
Energy consumed E = Pt
= 60 W × (2 × 60 s)
= 7200 J

3. B

4. D
Total energy consumed = (3 kW × 1 h) + (2 kW × 6 h) = 15 kWh
Total cost of electrical energy = 15 kWh × 5 cents = 75 cents

5. D
Options (A) and (B) are safety features that protect users from electric shocks. They do not protect
the electrical appliance. Option (C) is not a safety feature and switches should be connected to the
live wire.

6. D

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Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 19
 

7. A
P
Current I =
V
2 kW
=
240 V
= 8.3 A
This value is higher than the rated value of the fuse, so the fuse melts (blows).

Section B: Structured Questions

1. (a) P
Current I =
V
90 W
=
19 V
= 4.74 A
(b) Energy consumed each day = 0.090 kW × 6 h = 0.54 kWh
Energy consumed in one month = 0.54 kWh × 30 = 16.2 kWh

2. (a) P: Earth wire (green and yellow wire)

Q: Neutral wire (blue wire)
R: Live wire (brown wire)
S: Fuse
(b) Part S (fuse) protects an electrical appliance from damage by heating up and melting when
there is excessive current flow. This creates an open circuit that stops current from flowing
through the circuit.

3. (a),
(b)

Section C: Free-Response Questions

1. (a) • The efficiency of nuclear energy is comparable to that of fossil fuels.

• Although nuclear energy sources are non-renewable, uranium is abundant.
• Rising prices of fossil fuels force us to search for alternative sources of energy.
(b) • Cost: Nuclear reactors are expensive to build and maintain.
• Geography: Nuclear reactors must be able to withstand the type of natural disasters that
countries in the region are prone to.
• Risk: Are the benefits of harnessing nuclear energy worth the risk of nuclear accidents?
Can Singapore come up with robust guidelines and procedures to prevent or cope with
nuclear accidents?
(c) Solar power, wind power, hydroelectric power

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Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 19
 

2. (a) Parallel; if one light bulb fails, the others will not be affected.
2
(b) (potential difference V)
Using power P = ,
resistance R
2
V
resistance of one light bulb R =
P
2
(230 V)
=
80 W
= 661 Ω
To find the combined resistance RT of the three light bulbs, we use
1 1 1 1
= + +
RT R1 R2 R3
1 1 1
= + +
661 Ω 661 Ω 661 Ω
RT = 220 Ω
(c) The fuse protects the lighting circuit from excessive current flow. When the switch is on,
current flows through the fuse. As the current flowing through the fuse is lower than the fuse
rating, the fuse does not melt and the circuit functions normally.
(d) Day 3: One bulb failed; only two bulbs in use
Day 5: Entire lighting circuit failed
Day 6: One bulb added to lighting circuit; four bulbs in use

The above can be deduced by examining the ratio of the electrical energy consumed by the
2
lighting circuit each day. On day 3, only of the energy consumption on day 1 was used,
3
which means one light bulb had failed. On day 5, no energy was consumed, which means the
4
lighting circuit was down. On day 6, of the energy consumption on day 1 was used, which
3
means another light bulb had been added to the lighting circuit.

3. (a) (i) P
Lamp: Current I =
V
50 W
=
230 V
= 0.22 A
(ii) 50
Fuse X: Current I = 3 × ( )A
230
= 0.65 A
(The current flowing through fuse X is the sum of the current flowing through lamps A,
B and C.)
(iii) P
Heating element R: Current I =
V
2 kW
=
230 V
= 8.7 A

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Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 19
 

(b) (i), Fuse Z is wired incorrectly. It should be fitted to the live wire.
(ii)

(iii)By earthing the rice cooker, we prevent the user from getting an electric shock if the
rice cooker’s casing becomes ‘live’ due to an electrical fault.
(c) Based on the currents calculated in (a),
Fuse X: slightly higher than 0.65 A, e.g. 1 A
Fuse Y: slightly higher than 8.7 A, e.g. 10 A
(d) (i) Energy E consumed a day = Pt
1
= 2 kW × h
4
= 0.5 kWh
Energy consumed a week = 0.5 kWh × 7 = 3.5 kWh
(ii) Cost of using rice cooker for a week = 3.5 kWh × $0.28 = $0.98

4. (a) P
Current I =
V
500 W
=
240 V
= 2.1 A
(b) Type B (0.50 mm)
The maximum current of the thinnest wire (A) is lower than 2.1 A, the operating current of
the fan. This means that wire A will melt and the fan will not operate. The wires thicker than
0.50 mm have maximum currents that are much higher than 2.1 A. This means that currents
much larger than 2.1 A can flow through these wires before they melt. This can result in
overheating, which can lead to fires.
(c) Three-pin plug
As the electric fan has a metal casing, it is safer to have the metal casing earthed. (Two-pin
plugs do not have an earth wire.)

Physics Today (page 384)

1. Pros: Non-lethal; a lower chance of causing severe/fatal injury

Cons: May not be a strong enough deterrent; the use of stun guns on youths and people with weak
hearts could result in death.

2. As resistance R is directly proportional to the length of the resistor, as length increases, R

increases. By placing the steel barbs farther apart, the R between the barbs on the body increases.
As voltage V is constant, the current decreases.

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