O Level Physics 5054 · Electricity and magnetism · 4.5

Electromagnetic effects: past paper questions

60 real questionsasked in 10 of the last 10 exam series2019–2025usually: Explain, State, Describe, Calculate, Determine

Real questions on electromagnetic effects

The newest 20 of 60 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

5054/21 · October/November 2025 · Q5b(i)[3]
The induction heater contains a coil of wire in which there is a high-frequency alternating current (a.c.). The alternating current in the coil generates a current in the base of the iron beaker by electromagnetic induction. Explain how electromagnetic induction generates the current in the base of the iron beaker.
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5054/21 · May/June 2025 · Q7a[3]
Explain how an alternating current in the primary coil produces an alternating output voltage.
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5054/21 · May/June 2025 · Q7b(i)[1]
Suggest why no output voltage reading is obtained with this voltmeter when the input voltage is 6.4 V.
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5054/21 · May/June 2025 · Q7b(ii)[2]
The number of turns on the primary coil is 48. Calculate the number of turns on the secondary coil. number of turns =
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5054/21 · October/November 2024 · Q6c(ii)[3]
Describe and explain what happens to the bar magnet when the electromagnet is switched on.
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5054/22 · October/November 2024 · Q7b(i)[1]
The core of the transformer is made from iron. Explain why iron is a suitable material for the core of the transformer.
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5054/22 · October/November 2024 · Q7b(ii)[3]
Explain why there is a voltage across the secondary coil.
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5054/22 · October/November 2024 · Q7b(iii)[2]
There are 60 turns on the secondary coil. Calculate the maximum value of the voltage across the secondary coil. maximum voltage = V
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5054/22 · October/November 2024 · Q8d(i)[1]
On Fig. 8.1, sketch the path of the γ‑radiation in the electric field.
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5054/22 · October/November 2024 · Q8d(ii)[1]
Fig. 8.2 shows the electric field replaced with a magnetic field that is directed into the page. magnetic field into the page beam of γ-radiation Fig. 8.2 On Fig. 8.2, sketch the path of the γ‑radiation in the magnetic field.
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5054/22 · October/November 2024 · Q9b(i)[2]
State what provides this force.
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5054/22 · October/November 2024 · Q9b(ii)[2]
The orbit of the Earth around the Sun is an ellipse. Describe what happens to the magnitude of the force that acts on the Earth as it moves in this elliptical orbit.
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5054/22 · October/November 2024 · Q9b(iii)[2]
Explain why the Earth travels the slowest when it is at its furthest distance from the Sun.
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5054/21 · May/June 2024 · Q4c[2]
Fig. 4.1 shows radio waves of long and short wavelength passing over the same hill. hill hill diagram A diagram B Fig. 4.1 (not to scale) Explain why the radio waves in diagram A reach the house but the radio waves in diagram B do not reach the house.
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5054/22 · May/June 2024 · Q7b(i)[2]
Explain why a current is produced when the magnet moves.
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5054/22 · May/June 2024 · Q7b(ii)[1]
Describe the movement of the magnet that produces an a.c. of frequency 0.50 Hz.
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5054/22 · May/June 2024 · Q7b(iii)[1]
Describe how the centre-zero ammeter shows the current is a.c. rather than d.c. (direct current).
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5054/22 · May/June 2024 · Q7b(iv)[1]
Explain why increasing the frequency of the a.c. produced also increases the magnitude (size) of the a.c produced.
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5054/21 · October/November 2023 · Q7b(iii)[1]
Using Fig. 7.2, determine, in milliseconds, the time it takes for one revolution of the coil. time for one revolution of the coil = ms
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5054/21 · October/November 2023 · Q7b(iv)[2]
Determine the frequency of the output of the generator. frequency = Hz
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What examiners said

Many candidates deduced that the wavelength of the trace was 4.0 cm, but few were able to go any further and use the timebase setting of 2.0 ms / cm to deduce that the time for one revolution of the coil was 8.0 ms.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5054/21 Q7(b)(iii) (Cambridge)

Many candidates attempted to use the equation f = 1/T and their answer to (iii) to deduce the frequency of the output of the generator and scored partial credit. The fact that T was in milliseconds was missed by almost all candidates and most answers were a factor of 103 out.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5054/21 Q7(b)(iv) (Cambridge)

Many candidates made reference to ‘iron or steel’ but only steel was correct as iron is used to make temporary magnets.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5054/22 Q8(a) (Cambridge)

Practise this topic

Answer these questions online and get each one marked against the official mark scheme, with what you missed and how to fix it.

Practise electromagnetic effects

In the syllabus

4.5 Electromagnetic effects

Describe an experiment to demonstrate electromagnetic induction
State that the magnitude of an induced e.m.f. is affected by: (a) the rate of change of the magnetic field or the rate of cutting of magnetic field lines (b) the number of turns in a coil
State and use the fact that the effect of the current produced by an induced e.m.f. is to oppose the change producing it (Lenz’s law) and describe how this law may be demonstrated Describe a simple form of a.c. generator (rotating coil or rotating magnet) and the use of slip rings and brushes where needed Sketch and interpret graphs of e.m.f. against time for simple a.c. generators and relate the position of the generator coil to the peaks, troughs and zeros of the e.m.f. Describe the pattern and direction of the magnetic field due to currents in straight wires and in solenoids and state the effect on the magnetic field of changing the magnitude and direction of the current Describe how the magnetic effect of a current is used in relays and loudspeakers and give examples of their application Describe an experiment to show that a force acts on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field, including the effect of reversing: (a) the current (b) the direction of the field Recall and use the relative directions of force, magnetic field and current Describe the magnetic field patterns between currents in parallel conductors and relate these to the forces on the conductors (excluding the Earth’s field) Know that a current-carrying coil in a magnetic field may experience a turning effect and that the turning effect is increased by increasing: (a) the number of turns on the coil (b) the current (c) the strength of the magnetic field Describe the operation of an electric motor, including the action of a split-ring commutator and brushes

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