Electricity | AQA A-Level Physics (7408)
Electricity
- 157 questions
- 6 subtopics
- Paper 1, and available on Paper 3
- Paper 1 and Paper 3
Electricity is examined on Papers 1 and 3.
It covers current, potential difference and resistance, the characteristics of common components, circuit rules, and what internal resistance does to a real source.
Sample questions from Electricity
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Basics of electricity
Define potential difference.
Show the answer
Potential difference is the work done per unit charge. -
Basics of electricity
In the equation R = V/I, what physical quantity does R represent?
Show the answer
R represents the resistance of the component. -
Current–voltage characteristics
Describe the shape of the current–voltage characteristic for a filament lamp.
Show the answer
A non-linear curve that bends away from the current axis (towards the voltage axis) at higher currents. -
Current–voltage characteristics
What is the resistance of an ideal ammeter, and why?
Show the answer
Zero resistance, so it does not affect the current in the circuit it measures. -
Resistivity
Why does the resistance of an ntc thermistor decrease when it is heated?
Show the answer
Increased thermal energy releases more charge carriers from atoms, increasing the number available for conduction and reducing resistance. -
Resistivity
Why should multiple diameter measurements be taken at different points along the wire in a resistivity experiment?
Show the answer
To account for any variation in diameter along the wire and obtain a more accurate mean value for calculating cross-sectional area. -
Circuits
What is true about the current at all points in a series circuit?
Show the answer
The current is the same through all components in a series circuit. -
Circuits
What factors should be considered when selecting appropriate components for constructing a circuit?
Show the answer
The required resistance values, power ratings, voltage ratings, current capacity, and the purpose of each component in the circuit.
The 6 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Basics of electricity | Current as rate of flow of charge, potential difference as work per unit charge, and resistance. | 17 |
| Current–voltage characteristics | Ohm's law and the characteristics of a resistor, a filament lamp and a diode. | 18 |
| Resistivity | The resistivity equation, the effect of temperature on a metal, and superconductivity. | 25 |
| Circuits | Resistors in series and parallel, the circuit rules, and the equations for electrical power. | 43 |
| Potential divider | The potential divider equation, and using an LDR or thermistor to make a sensing circuit. | 18 |
| Electromotive force and internal resistance | Emf, terminal potential difference, lost volts, and measuring both experimentally. | 36 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
AQA A-Level Physics Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 3,682 questions with their answers.