plumiThermistors and LDRs: Edexcel A‑Level Physics questions
Every Edexcel A-Level Physics exam question on Thermistors and LDRs (specification points 47–48), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Calculations
Q5(b)(i)
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Q9(a)(i)
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Q9(a)(ii)
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Q9(b)
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Q15(b)(i)
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Q13(b)
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Q11(a)(i)
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Q11(a)(ii)
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Q11(b)
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Q16(a)
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Q11(a)
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Q11(b)(i)
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Q11(b)(ii)
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Q11(b)(iii)
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Q17(a)
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Q12(a)
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Q12(b)
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All 27 questions on Thermistors and LDRs, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q5(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain why a current in a wire causes the resistance of the wire to change. (3)
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q2 (1 mark): As the temperature of a negative temperature coefficient thermistor increases, the resistance of the thermistor changes. Which of the following statements is co
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q9(a)(i) (3 marks): Criticise the student’s plan for data collection. (3)
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q9(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain one precaution that the student should take to ensure that results are accurate. (2)
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q9(b) (3 marks): Explain why the ammeter reading increased as the LDR was brought closer to the lamp. Your answer should include reference to the charge carriers in the LDR. (3)
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q15(b)(i) (4 marks): The intensity of the light incident on the LDR increased. Explain what happened to the speed of the motor. Your answer should include reference to conduction el
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q13(b) (2 marks): Explain how the resistance of the LDR changes as the light level increases. (2)
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q11(a)(i) (1 mark): Draw a diagram of the circuit the student could use. (1)
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q11(a)(ii) (2 marks): The wire has a thin electrically insulating coating so that it can be coiled up without causing a short circuit. The student places the coil of wire into a wate
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q11(b) (4 marks): Explain, in terms of particle behaviour, why the resistance of the nichrome wire changes as temperature increases. (4)
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q16(a) (4 marks): A graph of her results is shown. Current / A Potential difference / V Explain the shape of the graph. (4)
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q11(a) (3 marks): Explain, making reference to charge carriers, why V increased as the water cooled. (3)
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q11(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain why a graph of ln V against θ would give a straight line. (2)
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q11(b)(ii) (5 marks): The student’s data is shown in the table below. θ / °C V / V 89.0 1.9 74.0 2.9 53.5 4.9 32.5 9.1 18.5 12.6 3.5 18.7 Plot a graph of ln V against θ on the grid o
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q11(b)(iii) (4 marks): Determine values for b and V0. (4) b = V0 =
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q17(a) (4 marks): The resistance of an LDR depends on the intensity of light incident on the LDR. Explain how the change in resistance may be modelled in terms of conduction elec
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q2 (1 mark): A constant current maintained in a copper wire causes the temperature of the wire to increase. Which of the following does not increase? A amplitude of vibratio
- October 2020, Paper 1, Q7 (1 mark): The intensity of light incident on a light dependent resistor (LDR) can vary both its electrical resistance R and the number of charge carriers per unit volume
- October 2020, AS Paper 1, Q12(a) (6 marks): Write a set of instructions that the student could follow and include one safety precaution. (6)
- October 2020, AS Paper 1, Q12(b) (2 marks): The following graph was plotted from the results of another student’s experiment for the same topic. 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 0 20 40 60 80 100 Temperature / °C Give
- October 2020, AS Paper 1, Q12(c) (4 marks): Explain, in terms of particle behaviour, why the resistance of the thermistor decreases as temperature increases. (4)
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q11(b) (3 marks): A negative temperature coefficient thermistor was used in this circuit. With reference to the charge carriers in the thermistor, explain what happens to the p.d
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q4 (1 mark): A light dependent resistor is connected across a cell of negligible internal resistance. The light intensity is increased. Which of the following statements abo
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q3 (1 mark): Which of the following increases as the temperature of a metallic conductor increases? A amplitude of the vibrations of the lattice ions B distance travelled by
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q8 (1 mark): A light dependent resistor and a negative temperature coefficient thermistor are connected in series. Which of the following combinations of illumination and te
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q14(c) (6 marks): Explain the variation of resistance with potential difference for the filament bulb in terms of particle behaviour. (6)
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q12(a) (5 marks): As the student moved a lamp towards the circuit she observed the potential difference (p.d.) changing across the fixed resistor. With reference to the electrons
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