SSS Revision (Electricity)

Name: ____________________ ( ) Marks : / 16 .

Class: _____ Date: __________________

Notes (Electricity)

Key quantities Resistors in Series Resistors in Parallel

R1
R1 R2

R2
current same current through both resistors I current I split to flow through both resistors
= I1= I2 I = I1 + I2
potential difference total p.d. across both resistors V = V1 + V2 same p.d. across both resistors
V = V1 = V2
effective resistance Re of both 1 1 1
resistors Re = R1 + R2  
R e R1 R 2

1
 1. Four lamps and four switches are connected to a power supply as shown in the circuit diagram.
When all the switches are closed, all the lamps are lit.
When one of the switches is then opened, only one lamp goes out.
Which switch is opened?

2 An electric oven is connected to the mains supply using insulated copper wires. The
wires become very warm.
What can be done to prevent so much heat being produced in the connecting wires?
A Use thicker copper wires.
B Use thinner copper wires.
C Use thicker insulation.
D Use thinner insulation.

3. Which of the following describes the electromotive force (e.m.f.) of a cell?

A The energy used to drive unit charge through a resistor in the circuit.
B The energy used to drive unit charge through all the load resistors in the circuit.
C The energy used to drive unit charge through the resistance of the cell.
D The energy used to drive unit charge through the complete circuit.

2
4 An electric kettle is connected to the electrical mains by 3 core wires. When the
kettle is working correctly, which wires carry the same current?

A The live and the earth.

B The live, neutral and the earth.
C The neutral and the earth.
D The neutral and the live.

5 The diagram below shows the information given on an electric iron.

220 – 240 volts 1000 – 1200 watts

a.c. only

Model 185

If electricity costs 14 cents per unit, what is the cost of using this iron at its maximum
power for 10 hours?

A 34 cents B 140 cents C 168 cents D 440 cents

6 The diagram shows a circuit which contains three identical lamps. When the switch is
closed, which of these statements best describes what happens to lamps L1 and L2?

 L2


L1 

A L1 and L2 both become brighter than before.

B L1 and L2 both become dimmer than before.
C L1 is dimmer and L2 is brighter than before.
D L1 is brighter and L2 is dimmer than before.

3
7 James wants his students to understand what potential difference means and he sets up the circuit
below. The bulb has the markings “20 V, 40 W.”

energy source
joulemeter J

Before the switch is closed, the joulemeter reads 66,000 J. After closing the switch, the lamp is lit
and the ammeter reads 2.0 A. After 3.0 minutes, James opens the switch and notes that the
joulemeter reads 73,200 J.

(a) State how much energy was transferred to the lamp during the 3 minutes. [1]

(b) State how would James use this experiment to explain to his students what potential
difference means. [1]

4
8 Fig. 5 shows a wiring diagram for two different lamps A and B. Component C is a fuse that is a
safety device and in theory has no resistance.

Fig. 5
When both lamps are working correctly, the current in A and C is 0.25A and
0.42 A respectively, and the resistance of lamp A is 950 Ω.

(i) Calculate the current in lamp B, [1]

current = ……………………………

(ii) Calculate the potential difference across lamp B. [2]

Potential difference = ……………………………

(iii) Suggest a reason why the potential difference across the lamps is not equal
to the e.m.f of the mains supply. [1]

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5
9 A type of electric toaster, designed to toast two slices of bread at the same time, has four
identical heating elements P, Q, R and S arranged in the circuit shown below.

When the circuit is connected to the mains, a potential difference of 240 V is applied across
XY and a current of 2 A flows in each element.

(a) (i) What is the total current drawn by the toaster? [1]

(ii) What would be a suitable fuse to use in the toaster circuit if the fuses
available are of ratings 2 A, 5 A, 13 A and 20 A? [1]

(iii) Why is a fuse included in the toaster circuit? [2]