O Level Physics 5054 · Electricity and magnetism · 4.4

Practical electricity: past paper questions

6 real questionsasked in 2 of the last 10 exam series2020–2024usually: Suggest, State, Explain, Calculate

Real questions on practical electricity

The newest 6 of 6 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

5054/41 · October/November 2024 · Q2a(iii)[1]
Suggest why the switch is opened after the readings of potential difference and current are recorded.
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5054/41 · October/November 2024 · Q2b(iii)[1]
The manufacturer suggests that the combined resistance of resistors X and Y when placed in parallel is 2.5 Ω. Two quantities can be considered to be equal within the limits of experimental accuracy if their values are within 10% of each other. State whether your value of R T calculated in (b)(ii) has the same value as...
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5054/22 · May/June 2023 · Q8a[1]
State the material used for the core of the transformer.
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5054/22 · May/June 2023 · Q8b[3]
A current in the primary coil produces a magnetic field in the core. Explain how an alternating voltage is produced in the secondary coil.
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5054/22 · May/June 2023 · Q8c[2]
The transformer has 4600 turns on the primary coil which is connected to a mains supply of 230 V. An output of 5.0 V is used to operate the bell. Calculate the number of turns needed on the secondary coil. number of turns =
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5054/22 · October/November 2020 · Q5c(ii)[1]
Suggest why the hair-dryer does not need an earth wire.
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What examiners said

Iron or soft iron were the most common answers with a number of candidates suggesting copper or just metal.
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 5054/22 Q8(a) (Cambridge)

Candidates showed a good knowledge of how an alternating voltage is produced and the workings of a transformer and usually included the idea that the magnetic field cuts the secondary coil. More complete answers also mentioned that the current or applied voltage to the primary needed to be alternating and the magnetic field is also alternating or changing in some way. Weaker candidates tended to c...
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 5054/22 Q8(b) (Cambridge)

This question was answered well. Most answers started with the correct formula. Where the answer was incorrect, the formula or the calculation was incorrect.
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 5054/22 Q8(c) (Cambridge)

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Practise practical electricity

In the syllabus

4.4 Practical electricity

State common uses of electricity, including heating, lighting, battery charging and powering motors and electronic systems
State the advantages of connecting lamps in parallel in a lighting circuit
Recall and use the equation power = current × voltage P = IV
Recall and use the equation energy = current × voltage × time E = IVt
Define the kilowatt-hour (kW h) and calculate the cost of using electrical appliances where the energy unit is the kW h State the hazards of: (a) damaged insulation (b) overheating cables (c) damp conditions (d) excess current from overloading of plugs, extension leads, single and multiple sockets when using a mains supply Explain the use and operation of trip switches and fuses and choose appropriate fuse ratings and trip switch settings Explain what happens when a live wire touches a metal case that is earthed Explain why the outer casing of an electrical appliance must be either non-conducting (double- insulated) or earthed Know that a mains circuit consists of a live wire (line wire), a neutral wire and an earth wire and explain why a switch must be connected into the live wire for the circuit to be switched off safely
Explain why fuses and circuit breakers are connected into the live wire

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