GCSE PHYSICS CIRCUITS

ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 1

(a) 3 A / 2 1
1
= 1.5 A 1
1

(b) 6 V 1
1

(c) resistance = V / I 1
1
= 6 / 1.5 1
1
= 4 1
1

TOTAL / 6

QUESTIONSHEET 2

(a) 5  + 10  1
1
= 15  1
1

(b) I = V / R 1
1
= 3 / 15 1
1
= 0.2 A 1
1

Units are essential in calculations. Sometimes examination questions give a blank space for the answer
followed by the unit. Sometimes no unit is given and you are expected to supply it. It is a common mistake to
leave the units out altogether – don’t get into this bad habit.

TOTAL / 5
GCSE PHYSICS CIRCUITS
ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 3

(a) 6v

2
5
4

symbols correct 1
1
2  and 4  resistors in parallel 1
1
5  resistor in series 1
1

(b) resistance of parallel resistors given by

1 1 1
  1
Rt R1 R2
1
1 1
  1
2 4
1
4
Rt   1
3
1
so total resistance = 3  + 5 = 6 3 
4 1
1
1

6
(c) 1
6
3
1 1
= 0.95 A 1
1

For parallel resistors, it is sometimes easier to use the expression Product / Sum for the total resistance.
i.e. here we get 2 × 4 / (2 + 4) = 8 / 6 = 4/3 

TOTAL / 9
GCSE PHYSICS CIRCUITS
ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 4

(a) (i) Power of lamp is 6 W 1

1
when used on 12 V 1
1

(ii) 6 W = 6 J/s 1
1
5 minutes = 300 s 1
1
energy transferred = 300  6 1
1
= 1800 J 1
1

(b) (i) I = P / V = 6 / 12 1
1
= 0.5 A 1
1

(ii) R = V / I = 12 / 0.5 1
1
= 24  1
1

(c) No difference 1
1
24 V shared between 2 lamps / pd across each lamp is 12 V 1

Power is the rate of transferring electrical energy into other forms – in this case, heat and light. A 6 W lamp
transfers 6 Joules of electrical energy into heat & light each second, since 1 W = 1 J/s.
The formula P = I / V is one you need to know.

TOTAL / 12

QUESTIONSHEET 5

(a) (i) 0.6  10/20 1

1
= 0.3 A 1
1

(ii) 0.6 + 0.3 1

1
= 0.9 A 1
1

(b) V=IR 1
1
0.6  10 or 0.3  20 1
1
GCSE PHYSICS CIRCUITS
ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES
= 6V 1
1

Current is inversely proportional to the resistance as long as the pd is constant. So half the current flows through
the resistor that is twice as big.

TOTAL / 7
GCSE PHYSICS CIRCUITS
ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 6

1 1 1 1
(a)    1
R 10 10 5
1
R=5
1 1

(b) 10 + 5 1
1
= 15  1
1

(c) current through single resistor = V / R = 6 / 15 1

= 0.4 A 1
1
current through parallel resistors = 0.2 A 1

In many questions, the value of the parallel resistors is the same. In this case, the total resistance is half the
value of one.

TOTAL / 7

QUESTIONSHEET 7

(a) (i) 2 + 5 + 10 1
1
= 17  1

(ii) 1/R = 1/2 + 1/5 + 1/10 1

1
= 8 / 10  1
1
R = 10 / 8 = 1.25  1
1

(b) Current larger in (ii) 1

1
current inversely proportional to resistance 1
1
smaller resistance means larger current 1
1

TOTAL / 8
GCSE PHYSICS CIRCUITS
ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 8

1 1 1 1
(a)     R 1 = 4 1
R1 6 12 4
1
1 1 1 1
    R2 = 2 1
R2 3 6 2

Total resistance = 2 + 4 = 6 1
1
1

(b) I = V / R 1
1
= 12 / 6 1
1
=2A 1

(c) R = 4 + 3 1
1
= 7 1
1
I = 12 / 7 or 1.7 A 1
1

(d) R = 3 + 6 = 9  1
1
I = V / R = 12 / 9 1
1
= 1.33 A 1
1

TOTAL / 11

QUESTIONSHEET 9

(a) C 1
1

(b) (i) a complete path 1

1
for electricity to flow 1
1
when connected to a voltage supply 1
1

(ii)A & D (both) 1

1

No electricity flows in the last circuit, because the cells are the opposite way round from each other,
GCSE PHYSICS CIRCUITS
ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES
so they cancel out.

TOTAL / 5
GCSE PHYSICS CIRCUITS
ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 10

(a) switch shown in either of the positions indicated 1

A1 1.5 A

SWITCH SWITCH
A2

(b) Parallel 1
1

(c) 1.5 / 3 1
1
= 0.5 A 1

(d) 12 V 1

TOTAL / 5

QUESTIONSHEET 11

(a) Resistance in circuit alters current 1

1
ammeter resistance must be low so it doesn’t affect
current flow 1
1

(b) (i) In parallel across component 1

1

(ii) voltmeter must have high resistance 1

1
little current flows through voltmeter 1
1
most current flows through component 1
1

For two parallel resistors, 1/R = 1/R 1 + 1/R2. So if one resistor (the voltmeter) R 2 has a high resistance, 1/R2
is very small and the total resistance is almost the same as without the voltmeter.

TOTAL / 6
GCSE PHYSICS CIRCUITS
ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES
GCSE PHYSICS CIRCUITS
ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 12

(a) 7 x

6 x

x
5

4 x
pd/v

3 x

2 x

1 x
x

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1

I/A

axes labelled + units 1

1
correct plotting 2
2
smooth curve drawn 1
1

(b) (i) no 1
1

(ii) the graph is not a straight line 1

1
or V / A  R 1
1

(iii) filament lamp 1

1

TOTAL / 8
GCSE PHYSICS CIRCUITS
ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 13

(a) Voltage is proportional to current 1

for a metal conductor at constant temperature 1

(b)
A

Test component

circuit symbols correct 1

ammeter in series 1
voltmeter in parallel 1
variable resistor in series 1

TOTAL / 6

QUESTIONSHEET 14

(a) A = metal wire 1

1
B = diode 1
1
C = lamp filament 1
1

(b) A 1

(c) C 1

An ohmic conductor obeys Ohm’s law, so a graph of I against V must be a straight line through the origin.
The gradient of graph C decreases so the resistance must be increasing.

TOTAL / 5
GCSE PHYSICS CIRCUITS
ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 15

(a) (i)

MACHINE

two switches 1
1
in series 1
1
with machine 1
1

(ii) each switch must be able to turn off machine 1

1

(b) switches not in series 1

1
each must be able to switch light on or off 1
1
needs two parallel parts of circuit 1
1

TOTAL / 7
GCSE PHYSICS CIRCUITS
ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 16 A

(a) Set up Ohm’s law circuit 1

1
measure pd across wire and current through it 1
Test component
measure length of wire 1
1
change length of wire and repeat experiment 1
1
1

(b) (i)
60
50
40
Length (cm)
30
20
10
0
0 5 10 15 20 25

Resistance ()
(ii) as length increases 1
resistance increases
directly proportional 1

(iii) as length varies, resistance varies 1

1
current varies 1
1
and light dims or brightens 1
1

The first two or three marks of this question could be obtained by drawing a labelled diagram.

TOTAL / 12

QUESTIONSHEET 17

(a) A = battery 1
1
B = lamp/light bulb 1
1
GCSE PHYSICS CIRCUITS
ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES
C = switch 1
1
D = variable resistor 1
1

(b) varies current in a circuit / acts as dimmer switch 1

You must be able to recognise circuit components. Look at the syllabus or ask your teacher which ones you
must know. Note that a battery is made up of two or more cells joined in series

TOTAL / 5

QUESTIONSHEET 18

(a) (i) 1.5 V 1

1
(ii) 0 V 1
1
(iii) 3.0 V 1

1
(iv) 1.5 V 1

1
(v) 1.5 V 1

(b) car bulb needs 12 v 1

1

(c) increases 1
1

TOTAL / 7

QUESTIONSHEET 19

(a) silver too expensive 1

1

(b) copper is too heavy 1

1

(c) rubber and PVC 2

1

(d) water will conduct electricity 1

1
would get shock with wet hands 1
1

TOTAL / 7
GCSE PHYSICS CIRCUITS
ANSWERS AND MARK SCHEMES

QUESTIONSHEET 20

(a) One connected after another in line 2

1

(b) 240 / 20 1
1
= 12 V 1

(c) bulb from 40-bulb set uses 6 v 1

1
higher voltage would cause it to blow 1
1

(d) (i) fuse would blow repeatedly 1

1

(ii) fault would not blow fuse 1

1
could be dangerous to operator 1
1

TOTAL / 9