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YEAR 9 · EXAM QUESTION PRACTICE

P5 Electricity and Magnetism

Best practice for exam questions
  1. Read the whole question and any data, then attempt it from memory before opening the hint, as you will in an IGCSE exam.
  2. Allow roughly one minute per mark. Each marking point is worth one mark, so make that many separate, precise points.
  3. Follow the IGCSE command word. Describe: say what happens, using data if given. Explain: give a linked because-chain of reasons. Compare: make points about both, using comparative words. Evaluate: weigh up evidence for and against, then conclude.
  4. Use precise scientific terms (for example “net movement”, “partially permeable”). In calculations, state the equation, substitute, and give the answer with its unit.
  5. Mark your answer, compare it with every marking point (a “/” separates alternative answers), then self-mark with − / +.

The suggested mark is a cautious word match, not an official mark. Accept scientifically equivalent wording when you self-mark, as an examiner would.

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P5 Exam Question Practice

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PHYSICS · P5

Electricity and Magnetism

Earlier foundation: P1.7 Forces at a distance

32 questions · 162 marks, in lesson order.

  1. 01P5.1Explain6 marks

    Charging up

    Exam question

    Mark points shown after marking

    A student rubs a plastic rod with a cloth. The rod becomes negatively charged. It then attracts small pieces of neutral paper.

    (a)

    Explain how the rod becomes negatively charged.

    (4)
    (b)

    Explain why the neutral paper is attracted to the rod.

    (2)

    Total for this question: 6 marks

    Lesson: Charging up

  2. 02P5.16 marks

    Charging up

    Exam question

    Mark points shown after marking

    Mia rubbed a polythene rod with a cloth. The rod became negatively charged.

    (a)

    Explain how the rod became negatively charged.

    (2)
    (b)

    What charge is left on the cloth? Explain your answer.

    (2)
    (c)

    A second polythene rod, rubbed in the same way, hangs from a thread. Mia brings her rod near one end of it. Predict what happens and explain why.

    (2)

    Total for this question: 6 marks

    Lesson: Charging up

  3. 03P5.2Explain5 marks

    Circuits and current

    Exam question

    Mark points shown after marking

    Two ammeters are placed either side of a lamp in a single-loop (series) circuit. Both show the same current.

    (a)

    Explain why both ammeters show the same current.

    (3)
    (b)

    Explain how the lamp transfers energy if the current is unchanged.

    (2)

    Total for this question: 5 marks

    Lesson: Circuits and current

  4. 04P5.2P5.15 marks

    Circuits and current

    Exam question

    Mark points shown after marking

    The drawing shows the parts of a torch.

    A torch drawn in a plastic case. Two cells stand side by side: the left one has its + end at the top, the right one its − end at the top, and a metal strip joins their bottom ends. A bulb sits on top of the left cell and is joined by a wire to a switch contact above the right cell. A second switch contact on the right cell can be pressed against it by the switch outside the case.+−−+bulbswitch contactswitchcellplastic case
    A torch
    (a)(i)

    Paul closed the switch. Why did this turn on the torch?

    (1)
    (a)(ii)

    The diagram shows the symbols for a battery, a bulb and a switch. Connect the symbols to make a series circuit for the torch.

    (1)

    Complete the diagram by drawing on it below. Then press Show model answer and tick each point your drawing shows.

    Draw with a mouse, finger or stylus.

    Battery, bulb and switch symbols
    (b)(i)

    The drawings show two other torches. In both torches the bulbs will not light even when Paul closes the switches. Look carefully at the drawings. Why is the circuit of torch A not complete?

    (1)
    Two torches like the first one. Torch A: the cells are the same as before (left + at the top, right − at the top), but the filament in the bulb has a gap in it. Torch B: the bulb filament is whole, but both cells have their + end at the top.+−−+torch A+−+−torch B
    Torch A and torch B
    (b)(ii)

    What could you do to torch B to get the bulb to light?

    (1)
    (c)

    When Paul bought his torch there was a paper strip between the contacts of the switch. He had to remove the paper strip before he could turn the torch on. Give the reason for this.

    (1)

    Total for this question: 5 marks

    Lesson: Circuits and current

  5. 05P5.2P5.44 marks

    Circuits and current

    Exam question

    Mark points shown after marking

    The diagram shows a circuit with a two-way switch, S. Rosie puts the switch in the position shown.

    A cell and bulb R are in a middle wire that runs up to the pivot of a two-way switch S. Bulb P is in the left-hand loop and bulb Q in the right-hand loop; both loops join the bottom of the middle wire. Switch S connects the middle wire to the right-hand loop only.SRPQ
    Switch S is joined to the right-hand side
    (a)

    Show if each bulb is on or off.

    (1)
    bulb P
    bulb Q
    bulb R
    (b)

    Give the name of the part that provides energy for the circuit.

    (1)
    (c)

    A bulb over a staircase has a two-way switch at the bottom of the stairs and another at the top. Two wires join the switches. The bulb is on when both switches touch the same wire. For each pair of switch positions, is the bulb on or off?

    (2)
    A cell and a bulb. One end goes to the bottom switch and the other to the top switch. Two wires, upper and lower, join the switches. Both switches are touching the upper wire, so the circuit is complete.bottom switchtop switchupper wirelower wire
    Both switches on the upper wire: the bulb is on
    bottom switch on the upper wire, top switch on the lower wire
    both switches on the lower wire
    bottom switch on the lower wire, top switch on the upper wire

    Total for this question: 4 marks

    Lesson: Circuits and current

  6. 06P5.2P5.3P4.66 marks

    Circuits and current

    Exam question

    Mark points shown after marking

    Susan has a small fan to keep herself cool. When she switches it on, a motor turns the blades to blow air.

    (a)

    Draw a series circuit diagram for the fan using the symbols for a battery, a motor (a circle with M inside) and a switch.

    (1)

    Draw the circuit, then compare it with the mark scheme.

    Draw here

    Draw with a mouse, finger or stylus.

    (b)(i)

    Which part provides energy for the circuit?

    (1)
    (b)(ii)

    Some of this energy is used to turn the blades. The rest is wasted. Choose words from this list: chemical, heat, light, sound.

    (2)

    When the blades are turning, energy is wasted as energy and energy.

    (c)(i)

    Susan added a bulb to the circuit. The current in the circuit decreased. How did this affect the motor?

    (1)
    (c)(ii)

    Susan removed the motor from the circuit. The current in the circuit increased. How did this affect the bulb?

    (1)

    Total for this question: 6 marks

    Lesson: Circuits and current

  7. 07P5.2P5.4P5.34 marks

    Circuits and current

    Exam question

    Mark points shown after marking

    Max built three circuits.

    (a)

    Max built circuit 1. He closed the switch, S, and all the bulbs came on. One of the bulbs then broke and all the bulbs went off. Which bulb must have broken? Give the letter.

    (1)
    Bulbs A, B, C and D are in four parallel branches between a top wire and a bottom wire. The battery is in the top wire, and bulb E and switch S are in the wire that returns from the battery to the bottom wire, so E is in the main part of the circuit.ABCDES
    Bulbs A to E and switch S
    (b)

    Max built circuit 2 with a plastic comb and a metal key in different parts of the circuit. With both switches open, bulbs P, Q and R are all off. For each setting of the switches, what happens to the bulbs?

    (2)
    A battery and bulb P in the top wire. Below are two parallel branches. The first has a plastic comb, bulb Q and switch 1 in series. The second has a metal key, bulb R and switch 2 in series.PQRswitch 1switch 2plastic combmetal key
    A plastic comb and a metal key in two branches
    switch 1 open, switch 2 closed
    switch 1 closed, switch 2 open
    (c)

    Max built circuit 3 using a battery, two bulbs and three ammeters. The reading on ammeter A1 was 0.8 A. What would be the readings on ammeters A2 and A3?

    (1)
    A single series loop: battery, ammeter A3, bulb, ammeter A2, bulb and ammeter A1.A1A2A3
    Three ammeters and two bulbs in series
    Choose one answer

    Total for this question: 4 marks

    Lesson: Circuits and current

  8. 08P5.2P5.4P5.14 marks

    Circuits and current

    Exam question

    Mark points shown after marking

    Circuit A and circuit B each have a battery and three bulbs, numbered 1, 2 and 3.

    Circuit A: a battery and bulbs 1, 2 and 3 in one series loop. Circuit B: a battery with bulbs 1, 2 and 3 each in its own parallel branch.123circuit A123circuit B
    Three bulbs in series and three bulbs in parallel
    (a)(i)

    In circuit A, bulb 1 breaks and goes off. Are bulbs 2 and 3 on or off?

    (1)
    bulb 2
    bulb 3
    (a)(ii)

    In circuit B, bulb 1 breaks and goes off. Are bulbs 2 and 3 on or off?

    (1)
    bulb 2
    bulb 3
    (b)

    Give the name of the part that provides energy for each circuit.

    (1)
    (c)

    Why is copper used for wires in a circuit?

    (1)
    Choose one answer

    Total for this question: 4 marks

    Lesson: Circuits and current

  9. 09P5.2P5.46 marks

    Circuits and current

    Exam question

    Mark points shown after marking

    Fred is learning about circuit symbols and circuits.

    (a)

    Match each circuit symbol to the correct name.

    (3)
    Symbol 1: a line with a gap bridged by a tilted lever. Symbol 2: a circle with a cross inside. Symbol 3: two pairs of long and short parallel lines. Symbol 4: a circle with the letter A inside.1234A
    Symbols 1 to 4
    symbol 1
    symbol 2
    symbol 3
    symbol 4
    (b)

    Fred made circuit 1. Give the name of the part that is the energy source for the circuit.

    (1)
    A single series loop: battery, ammeter, bulb, switch and a second bulb.A
    A battery, an ammeter, two bulbs and a switch
    (c)

    Fred then made circuit 2. Is each circuit a series or a parallel circuit?

    (1)
    A battery and an ammeter in the main wire. The circuit splits into two branches, each with a switch and a bulb in series.A
    Two branches, each with a switch and a bulb
    circuit 1
    circuit 2
    (d)

    What metal is usually used for wires in electric circuits?

    (1)

    Total for this question: 6 marks

    Lesson: Circuits and current

  10. 10P5.3Explain5 marks

    Potential difference

    Exam question

    Mark points shown after marking

    A 9 V battery is connected to two different lamps in series. Voltmeters across the lamps read 6 V and 3 V.

    (a)

    State what a potential difference of 1 V means.

    (1)
    (b)

    Explain the voltmeter readings.

    (4)

    Total for this question: 5 marks

    Lesson: Potential difference

  11. 11P5.3P5.44 marks

    Potential difference

    Exam question

    Mark points shown after marking

    Two identical bulbs are connected in series to a 6.0 V battery.

    (a)

    What is the potential difference across each bulb?

    (1)
    V
    (b)

    How should a voltmeter be connected to measure the potential difference across one bulb?

    (1)
    (c)

    A student says: “Current is used up by the first bulb, so the second bulb is dimmer.” Explain why the student is wrong.

    (2)

    Total for this question: 4 marks

    Lesson: Potential difference

  12. 12P5.4Compare6 marks

    Series and parallel circuits

    Exam question

    Mark points shown after marking

    Two identical lamps are connected to the same battery, first in series and then in parallel.

    Compare the series and parallel circuits.

    (6)

    Total for this question: 6 marks

    Lesson: Series and parallel circuits

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