plumiElectric potential: AQA A‑Level Physics questions
AQA A-Level Physics past-paper questions on 3.7.3.3 Electric potential, 2008–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q08.1
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All 62 questions on Electric potential, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q08.1 (2 marks): Calculate the maximum speed of an electron that is accelerated from rest by this potential difference. [2 marks] maximum speed = m s−1
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q13 (1 mark): A particle has mass m and charge q. The particle is moved a distance d through a potential difference V. What is the change in electric potential energy? [1 mar
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q14 (1 mark): The diagram shows an electron in an electric field represented by equipotentials. Which arrow shows the direction of the electric force on the electron? [1 mark
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q06.1 (3 marks): The electric potential at a point in an electric field is −4.0 V. Explain what is meant by this statement. [3 marks]
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q06.2 (4 marks): Determine, using the graph in Figure 9, the maximum magnitude of the electric field. State an appropriate unit for your answer. [4 marks] maximum magnitude = un
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q06.3 (2 marks): An electron at rest at x = 300 nm gains kinetic energy and moves to x = 800 nm. Determine the minimum kinetic energy required by the electron. [2 marks] minimum
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q06.4 (3 marks): One of the confined electrons is at x = 350 nm. Discuss the subsequent motion of this electron due to the variation in electric potential shown in Figure 9. Ass
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q26 (1 mark): Which diagram shows a distribution of charge where the electric potential at P and the electric field at P are both zero? [1 mark] A B C D A B C D
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q04.2 (2 marks): Calculate the ratio speed of electron when it reaches the wire speed of argon ion when it reaches the mesh . Assume that the air has no effect on the motion of
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q04.3 (1 mark): In practice, the air does affect the motion of the electron and the motion of the argon ion. Suggest how the presence of air between the mesh and the wire chang
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q17 (1 mark): The graph shows the variation of electric field strength E surrounding a charged sphere of radius R. The distance from the centre of the sphere is r. The total
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q19 (1 mark): An alpha particle is moving towards a stationary gold nucleus. The alpha particle has a kinetic energy of 9.0 × 10−13 J when it is a large distance from the gol
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q03.2 (4 marks): The magnitude of the electric field strength E is related to V by E = V r ∆ ∆ . Determine, using this relationship, the magnitude of the electric field strength
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q03.3 (3 marks): The sphere acts as a capacitor because it stores charge at an electric potential. Show that the capacitance of the sphere is approximately 1 × 10−11 F. [3 marks
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q15 (1 mark): A particle of mass m and charge Q is accelerated from rest through a potential difference V. The final velocity of the particle is u. A second particle of mass
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q16 (1 mark): The diagram shows a uniform electric field of strength 15 V m−1. The length RS is perpendicular to the field and the line ST is parallel to the field. What is t
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q06.3 (2 marks): One model of nuclear fusion suggests that fusion happens when nuclei touch. Initially the helium nucleus and oxygen nucleus are separated so that the force betw
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q17 (1 mark): Two charged particles P and Q are separated by a distance of 120 mm. X is a point on the line between P and Q where the electric potential is zero. What is the
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q18 (1 mark): An isolated spherical conductor is charged. The conductor has a radius R and an electric potential V. The electric field strength at its surface is E. Point T i
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q19 (1 mark): O is the centre of a negatively charged sphere. K and L are two points at a distance r1 from O. M and N are two points at a distance r2 from O. Which statement
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q03.5 (3 marks): Figure 5 shows a different type of mass spectrometer working with lithium ions. Figure 5 A stationary Li+ 3 7 ion in the lithium sample is at the mid-point betw
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q03.6 (2 marks): Li 3 6 + and Li 3 7 + ions are produced in the sample simultaneously and travel a distance L from aperture P to the detector. For each type of ion, the time int
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q15 (1 mark): At a distance L from a fixed point charge, the electric field strength is E and the electric potential is V. What are the electric field strength and the electr
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q16 (1 mark): Which diagram shows lines of equipotential in steps of equal potential difference near an isolated point charge? [1 mark] A B C D A B C D
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q17 (1 mark): A positive charge of 2.0 × 10−4 C is placed in an electric field at a point where the potential is +500 V. What is the potential energy of the system? [1 mark]
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q18 (1 mark): Two charges P and Q are 100 mm apart. X is a point on the line between P and Q where the electric potential is 0 V. What is the distance from P to X? [1 mark] A
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q22 (1 mark): Charged plates X and Y have a potential difference 1.5 V between them. Which particle gains 3.0 eV of kinetic energy when moving from Y to X? [1 mark] A proton
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q04.1 (3 marks): Calculate the potential of one of the spheres. [3 marks] potential = V
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q15 (1 mark): 1.5 mJ of work is done when a charge of 30 µC is moved between two points, M and N, in an electric field. What is the potential difference between M and N? [1 m
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q17 (1 mark): The ionisation potential for the atoms of a gas is V. Electrons of mass m and charge e travelling at a speed v can just cause ionisation of atoms in the gas. Wh
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q02.3 (2 marks): Explain, without calculation, whether net work must be done in moving a proton from infinity to position P in Figure 2. [2 marks]
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q21 (1 mark): A charged spherical conductor has a radius r. An electric field of strength E exists at the surface due to the charge. What is the potential of the spherical co
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q22 (1 mark): Four positive charges are fixed at the corners of a square as shown. The total potential at the centre of the square, a distance d from each charge, is . Three
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q06.6 (2 marks): Draw, on Figure 7, an equipotential line that passes through point N. Do not extend your line beyond the given field lines. [2 marks]
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q17 (1 mark): An electron moves through a distance of 0.10 m parallel to the field lines of a uniform electric field of strength 2.0 kN C−1. What is the work done on the elec
- Specimen, Paper 2, Q14 (1 mark): A 1.3 m B 1.5 m C 7.9 m D 15 m
- June 2016, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q15 (1 mark): The diagram shows the field lines in a region of an electric field created by a positive charge. Which one of the following statements is correct? When moving f
- June 2016, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q16 (1 mark): The diagram shows two point charges of magnitude +Q and –2Q placed a distance r apart. What is the electric potential at point P, a distance r to the right of t
- June 2016, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q17 (1 mark): The potentials at points R and S due to the +5.0 nC charge are 375 V and 450 V respectively. How much work is done when a +2.0 nC charge is moved from R to S? A
- June 2015, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q2(b) (2 marks): Figure 3 shows how the electric potential, V, varies with –, where r is the distance from a point charge Q. Figure 3 State what can be deduced from the graph ab
- June 2015, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q2(c)(i) (2 marks): Use data from the graph (Figure 3) to show that the magnitude of Q is about 30 nC. [2 marks]
- June 2015, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q2(c)(ii) (2 marks): A +60 nC charge is moved from a point where r = 0.20 m to a point where r = 0.50 m. Calculate the work done. [2 marks] work done J
- June 2014, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q15 (1 mark): Two identical positive point charges, P and Q, are separated by a distance of 4.0m. The resultant electric potential at point M, which is mid-way between the ch
- June 2014, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q16 (1 mark): The diagram below shows the field lines and equipotential lines around an isolated positive point charge. Which one of the following statements concerning the w
- June 2014, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q17 (1 mark): Two fixed parallel metal plates X and Y are at constant potentials of + 100V and + 70V respectively. An electron travelling from X to Y experiences a change of
- June 2014, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q18 (1 mark): A uniform electric field of electric field strength E is aligned so it is vertical. An ion moves vertically through a small distance Δd from point X to point Y
- June 2013, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q16 (1 mark): Two horizontal parallel plate conductors are separated by a distance of 5.0mm in air. The lower plate is earthed and the potential of the upper plate is +50V. W
- June 2013, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q17 (1 mark): Two identical positive point charges, P and Q, separated by a distance r, repel each other with a force F. If r is decreased so that the electrical potential en
- January 2013, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q17 (1 mark): Two charges, each of +0.8nC, are 40mm apart. Point P is 40mm from each of the charges. What is the electric potential at P? A zero B 180V C 360V D 4500V 40 mm 4
- January 2012, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q1(a) (3 marks): Define the electric potential at a point in an electric field.
- January 2012, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q1(b)(i) (3 marks): The electric potential at point L due to this charge is + 3.0 V. Calculate the magnitude Q of the charge. Express your answer to an appropriate number of signif
- January 2012, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Show that the electric potential at point N, due to the charge, is +1.0V. (1 mark)
- June 2011, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q14 (1 mark): An electron and a proton are 1.0 × 10–10m apart. In the absence of any other charges, what is the electric potential energy of the electron? A +2.3 × 10–18J B –
- June 2011, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q16 (1 mark): The electric potential at a distance r from a positive point charge is 45V. The potential increases to 50V when the distance from the charge decreases by 1.5m.
- June 2011, PHYA5 Section A (old spec), Q2(b) (3 marks): For the reaction to take place the a particle must come within a distance, d, from the centre of the aluminium nucleus. Calculate d if the nuclear reaction occu
- January 2011, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q15 (1 mark): At a distance R from a fixed charge, the electric field strength is E and the electric potential is V. Which line, A to D, in the table gives the electric field
- June 2010, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q13 (1 mark): The diagram shows two charges, +4µC and –16µC, 120mm apart. What is the distance from the +4µC charge to the point between the two charges where the resultant e
- June 2010, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q14 (1 mark): The diagram shows four point charges at the corners of a square of side 2a. What is the electric potential at P, the centre of the square? A B C D Q 2 2πε0a Q 2
- January 2010, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q14 (1 mark): Which one of the following statements about a charged particle in an electric field is correct? A No work is done when a charged particle moves along a field li
- January 2010, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q16 (1 mark): Which one of the following statements about electric field strength and electric potential is incorrect? A Electric potential is a scalar quantity. B Electric f
- January 2010, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q17 (1 mark): An α particle travels towards a gold nucleus and at P reverses its direction. Which one of the following statements is incorrect? A The electric potential energ
- January 2008, PA04B (2008 spec), Q4(a) (5 marks): 4 (a) In order for fusion of two nuclei to take place, they have to be brought together to a separation of about 2 fm. (i) Show that the electrostatic potential
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