The current–voltage characteristic between 0 and 6.0 V is required for a filament lamp.

The lamp
1.
is connected in a circuit with a battery of emf 6.0 V and negligible internal resistance.

Which circuit should be used?

(Total 1 mark)

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 The potential difference between points X and Y is V.
2.

What is the potential difference between P and Q?

A zero

(Total 1 mark)

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 The figure shows a light dependent resistor (LDR) and fixed resistor R connected in series
3. across a cell. The internal resistance of the cell is negligible.

Which row shows how the readings on the ammeter and the voltmeter change when the light
intensity incident on the LDR is increased?

Ammeter reading Voltmeter reading

A decreases increases

B decreases decreases

C increases increases

D increases decreases

(Total 1 mark)

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 The circuit shown is used to supply a variable potential difference (pd) to another circuit.
4.

Which graph shows how the pd supplied V varies as the moving contact C is moved from
position P to position Q?

(Total 1 mark)

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 In this resistor network, the emf of the supply is 12 V and it has negligible internal resistance.
5.

What is the reading on a voltmeter connected between points X and Y?

A 0V

B 1V

C 3V

D 4V

(Total 1 mark)

(a) Figure 1 and Figure 2 show two circuits that may be used for controlling the voltage
6.
across a 3.0 Ω resistor. In each circuit the supply has an e.m.f. E of 10 V and negligible
internal resistance.

Figure 1 Figure 2

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(i) Calculate the minimum voltage which can exist across the 3.0 Ω resistor using the
circuit shown in Figure 1.

(3)

(ii) State one advantage of using the circuit shown in Figure 2 for controlling the voltage
across the 3.0 Ω resistor.

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(1)

(iii) The total resistance of the potentiometer wire in Figure 2 is 30 Ω. Explain why the
voltage across the 3.0 Ω resistor would not be half of the maximum when the slider of
the potentiometer is half-way along the wire, as shown in Figure 2.

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(2)

(iv) Label with a letter P the approximate position of the slider in Figure 2, when the
voltage across the 3.0 Ω resistor is about half the maximum possible.
(1)

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 (b) The circuit in Figure 3 is used to balance the power dissipated by two components that
have different resistances. This is achieved by adjusting the position of S.

Figure 3

(i) Show that for the power dissipation to be the same, the ratio V1/V2 = 3/2.

(2)

(ii) Calculate the power dissipated by one of the components when they are balanced.

(1)
(Total 10 marks)

Figure 1 shows a variable resistor that has a maximum resistance of 25 Ω.

7.
A sliding contact P is mounted on a thick copper bar. P can be set to any position between
X and Y.

Figure 1

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(a) Figure 2 shows the variable resistor being used to investigate the variation of current with
voltage for a filament lamp.
The normal operating voltage of the lamp is 12 V.

The 12 V battery has negligible internal resistance.

Figure 2

The position of P is adjusted so that the reading on the voltmeter is at its minimum value of
0.75 V.

Calculate the resistance of the lamp when the voltmeter reading is 0.75 V.

resistance = _______________ Ω
(2)

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(b) Figure 3 shows the variation of current with voltage for the lamp between 2 V and 12 V.

Figure 3

Calculate the resistance of the lamp when the voltage across the lamp is 8.0 V.

resistance = _______________ Ω
(2)

(c) Explain, in terms of electron movement, why the resistance of the filament lamp changes as
the voltage changes as shown in Figure 3.

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(3)

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(d) Figure 4 shows an alternative circuit used to investigate the variation of current with
voltage for the lamp.

Figure 4

The circuit components are the same as in Figure 2.

When the voltage across the lamp is 12 V its resistance is 6.0 Ω.

P is moved to position Y.

Calculate the total resistance of the circuit.

total resistance = _______________ Ω

(2)

(e) Calculate the power transferred by the battery when P is at position Y.

power = _______________ W
(2)

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(f) A student wants to control the brightness of the lamp.

He gives two reasons why the circuit in Figure 4 is better than the circuit in Figure 2 for
controlling the brightness. The two reasons are:

• the Figure 4 circuit can achieve a greater range of voltages across the lamp
• the Figure 4 circuit is more efficient at transferring energy to the lamp.

Discuss, without calculation, whether either of these two reasons is correct.

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(3)
(Total 14 marks)

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