plumiReducing energy transfers and efficiency: Edexcel GCSE Combined Science questions
Every Edexcel GCSE Combined Science exam question on Reducing energy transfers and efficiency (specification points 3.9–3.12), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
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Exam
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Calculations
Q1(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q5(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q1(c)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q5(c)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q5(d)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q6(d)
The whole paper ↗Q1(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q1(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q1(c)
The whole paper ↗Q6(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q5(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q5(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q5(c)
The whole paper ↗Q5(d)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q5(d)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q2(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q2(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q2(c)
The whole paper ↗
All 32 questions on Reducing energy transfers and efficiency, as a list
- June 2025, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): The light gate, shown in Figure 1, is used to determine the actual velocity of the trolley at the end of the runway. The actual velocity at the end of the runwa
- June 2025, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(a)(iii) (1 mark): The light gate, shown in Figure 9, is used to determine the actual velocity of the trolley at the end of the runway. The actual velocity at the end of the runwa
- June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q1(c)(iii) (2 marks): Calculate the efficiency of the system represented in Figure 2. (2) efficiency =
- June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(c)(iii) (2 marks): Calculate the efficiency of the system represented in Figure 10. (2) efficiency =
- June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(d) (2 marks): The person would like to start from P again but have a greater velocity at Q. Suggest two ways that this can be achieved. (2) 1 2
- June 2024, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q4(b)(iii) (1 mark): The efficiency of the motor was 59%. State one reason why the motor was not 100% efficient. (1)
- June 2023, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(d) (6 marks): The table shows some properties of two materials used as thermal insulation. The higher the R‑value, the better the thermal insulating properties of the materia
- June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q1(b)(i) (3 marks): Draw a labelled diagram to show how the student should set up the equipment to investigate which material is the better insulator. (3)
- June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q1(b)(ii) (3 marks): Give three factors that the student must control in this investigation. (3) 1 2 3
- June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q1(c) (2 marks): Expanded polystyrene, used to insulate buildings, has different densities. Figure 2 shows how the thermal conductivity of expanded polystyrene changes with the
- June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q6(b)(ii) (3 marks): The microwave oven is 55% efficient and transfers 42 000 J of energy to some food when it is heated. Calculate the total amount of energy that must be supplied
- June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(b)(i) (3 marks): Draw a labelled diagram to show how the student should set up the equipment to investigate which material is the better insulator. (3)
- June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(b)(ii) (3 marks): Give three factors that the student must control in this investigation. (3) 1 2 3
- June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(c) (2 marks): Expanded polystyrene, used to insulate buildings, has different densities. Figure 10 shows how the thermal conductivity of expanded polystyrene changes with the
- June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(d)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the amount of energy lost to the surroundings in one second. (1) energy lost to the surroundings in one second = J
- June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(d)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the efficiency of the kettle. Use the equation efficiency = useful energy transferred by the kettle in one second total energy supplied to the kettle
- June 2022, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(c)(i) (2 marks): Explain why the useful energy transferred to the water is different from the total energy supplied to the pump. (2)
- November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): Calculate how much energy is wasted. (1) energy wasted = J
- November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the efficiency of the electric motor. (2) Use the equation: efficiency = (useful energy transferred by the device) (total energy supplied to the devic
- November 2021, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q2(c) (2 marks): Figure 4 shows a shed made mostly of concrete blocks. Figure 4 State two practical ways to reduce heat loss from this shed. (2) 1 2
- November 2021, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q4(a)(v) (1 mark): The cyclists lubricated the chains and the wheel bearings of their bicycles before setting off. Lubricating the chains and wheel bearings helps to (1) A decreas
- November 2021, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(c) (2 marks): Figure 14 shows a shed made mostly of concrete blocks. Figure 14 State two practical ways to reduce heat loss from this shed. (2) 1 2
- November 2020, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(e) (2 marks): Explain one way the student could reduce the amount of thermal energy transferred to the surroundings as the toy car rolls down the slope. (2)
- June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the amount of wasted energy. (1) wasted energy=... ...J
- June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the efficiency of the steam engine. Use the equation efficiency = (useful energy tranferred by the steam engine) (total energy supplied to the steam e
- June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(iii) (1 mark): State what happens to the wasted energy. (1)
- June 2018, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(d) (2 marks): Figure 7 shows a wind turbine. rotor blade gearbox generator tower Figure 7 Explain how unwanted energy transfers could be reduced in the gear box. (2)
- June 2018, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(c)(i) (2 marks): Explain why the axles become warm when the wheels turn. (2)
- June 2018, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(c)(ii) (1 mark): Give one way of reducing the heating of the axles when the wheels turn. (1)
- June 2018, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(d)(i) (1 mark): Complete the equation that relates efficiency, useful energy transferred by a device and total energy supplied to the device. (1) efficiency =
- June 2018, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(d)(ii) (1 mark): In one second an engine has a total energy input of 7500 J. In one second 3200 J is transferred to the surroundings as wasted energy. Calculate the useful energ
- June 2018, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(d)(iii) (2 marks): Calculate the efficiency of this engine. (2) efficiency of the engine =
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