plumiThe operation of a transformer: AQA A‑Level Physics questions
AQA A-Level Physics past-paper questions on 3.7.5.6 The operation of a transformer, 2008–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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All 37 questions on The operation of a transformer, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q23 (1 mark): A transformer is used to connect an ac power supply to a 100 W filament lamp. When the lamp is operating at its rated power, the power supply has a peak potenti
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q12 (1 mark): Which change will increase the efficiency of a transformer? [1 mark] A increasing the thickness of the iron layers in the laminated core B decreasing the freque
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q15 (1 mark): A transmission cable consists of many strands of wire. Electrical energy is transmitted along the cable at a frequency of 50 Hz. Which change gives the largest
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q27 (1 mark): A transformer for use in a 230 V ac supply is 90% efficient. The transformer provides a current of 3.00 A at 12.0 V. What is the current in the primary coil? [1
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q05.1 (3 marks): Explain the functions of the core and the secondary coil. [3 marks] core secondary coil
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q05.2 (3 marks): Figure 8 shows a cross-section through the transformer core. Thin iron sheets are separated by material M. Explain how the efficiency of the transformer is incr
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q05.3 (2 marks): Voltages between 33 kV and 400 kV are used for long-distance transmission. Suggest why engineers have chosen 132 kV for this system. [2 marks]
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q05.4 (3 marks): The industrial consumers use 72 MW of power. Transformers 1 and 2 each have an efficiency of 98% and the transmission line has an efficiency of 94%. Calculate t
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q25 (1 mark): The primary winding of a transformer has 200 turns and the secondary winding has 1600 turns. A root mean square (rms) alternating voltage of 25 V is applied to
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q28 (1 mark): A transformer has an efficiency of 80% It has 7000 turns on its primary coil and 175 turns on its secondary coil. When the primary of the transformer is connect
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q24 (1 mark): The National Grid is used to transfer electrical energy from power stations to consumers. What conditions for the transmission voltage and the transmission curr
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q25 (1 mark): A mains transformer has a primary coil of 2500 turns and a secondary coil of 130 turns. The primary coil is connected to a mains supply where Vrms is 230 V. The
- June 2016, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q24 (1 mark): The primary coil of a step-up transformer is connected to a source of alternating pd. The secondary coil is connected to a lamp. Which line, A to D, in the tabl
- June 2016, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q25 (1 mark): Which one of the following statements is the main reason for operating power lines at high voltage? A Transformers are never perfectly efficient. B High voltage
- June 2015, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q24 (1 mark): A lamp rated at 12 V 60 W is connected to the secondary coil of a step-down transformer and is at full brightness. The primary coil is connected to a supply of
- June 2015, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q25 (1 mark): The overhead cables used to transmit electrical power by the National Grid usually consist of a central core of steel cables surrounded by a sheath of cables of
- June 2014, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q25 (1 mark): A transformer has 1150 turns on the primary coil and 500 turns on the secondary coil. The primary coil draws a current of 0.26A from a 230V ac supply. The curre
- June 2013, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q25 (1 mark): A transformer, which is not perfectly efficient, is connected to a 230Vrms mains supply and is used to operate a 12Vrms, 60W lamp at normal brightness. The seco
- January 2013, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q24 (1 mark): Which one of the following statements concerning power losses in a transformer is incorrect? Power losses can be reduced by A laminating the core. B using high
- January 2013, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q25 (1 mark): A transformer with 3000 turns in its primary coil is used to change an alternating pd from an rms value of 240V to an rms value of 12V. When a 60W, 12V lamp is
- June 2012, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q25 (1 mark): When a mobile phone is being recharged, the charger heats up. The efficiency of the transformer in the charger can be as low as 15% when drawing a current of 50
- January 2012, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q25 (1 mark): Which one of the following would not reduce the energy losses in a transformer? A using thinner wire for the windings B using a laminated core instead of a soli
- January 2012, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the number of turns on the secondary coil. answer = turns (1 mark)
- January 2012, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q4(a)(ii) (2 marks): A number of identical lamps rated at 12V, 24W are connected in parallel across the secondary coil. The primary circuit of the transformer includes a 630mA fuse.
- January 2012, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q4(a)(iii) (1 mark): The transformer circuit includes a fuse. Explain why this is necessary. (1 mark)
- January 2012, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q4(a)(iv) (1 mark): Why is the fuse placed in the primary circuit rather than in the secondary circuit? (1 mark)
- June 2011, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q25 (1 mark): Which one of the following is not a cause of energy loss in a transformer? A good insulation between the primary and secondary coil B induced currents in the so
- June 2011, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q5(a)(ii) (2 marks): The total resistance of the cables is 30Ω. Calculate the power supplied to the factory by the cables. answer = kW (2 marks)
- June 2011, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q5(b)(i) (1 mark): Explain how a step-down transformer differs in construction from a step-up transformer. (1 mark)
- June 2011, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q5(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the secondary windings of a step-down transformer should be made from thicker copper wire than the primary windings. (2 marks)
- June 2011, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q5(c) (6 marks): Discuss the principles involved in high voltage transmission systems, explaining why a.c. is used in preference to d.c. and how the energy losses are minimised.
- January 2011, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q24 (1 mark): The primary coil of a step-up transformer is connected to a source of alternating pd. The secondary coil is connected to a lamp. Which line, A to D, in the tabl
- January 2011, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q25 (1 mark): A transformer has 1200 turns on the primary coil and 500 turns on the secondary coil. The primary coil draws a current of 0.25 A from a 240 V ac supply. If the
- June 2010, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q25 (1 mark): Copyright © 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. 25 A 230V, 60W lamp is connected to the output terminals of a transformer which has a 200 turn prim
- January 2010, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q4(a)(i) (2 marks): Outline the essential features of a step-down transformer when in operation. (2 marks)
- January 2010, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q4(a)(ii) (6 marks): Describe two causes of the energy losses in a transformer and discuss how these energy losses may be reduced by suitable design and choice of materials. The qua
- January 2010, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): If the efficiency of the transformer is 0.90, show that the current supplied by the 230V mains supply under these conditions is 13mA. (2 marks)
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