plumiReducing energy transfers and efficiency: Edexcel GCSE Physics questions
Every Edexcel GCSE Physics exam question on Reducing energy transfers and efficiency (specification points 3.9–3.12), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Calculations
Q2(a)(iii)
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Q8(a)(iii)
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Q2(c)(iii)
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Q8(c)(iii)
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Q8(d)
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Q7(b)(iii)
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Q10(a)(i)
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Q9(d)
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Q2(b)(i)
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Q2(b)(ii)
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Q2(c)
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Q9(b)(ii)
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Q8(b)(i)
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Q8(b)(ii)
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Q8(c)
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Q8(d)(i)
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Q8(d)(ii)
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Q5(c)(i)
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Q10(a)(ii)
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Q4(b)(i)
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All 37 questions on Reducing energy transfers and efficiency, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q2(a)(iii) (1 mark): The light gate, shown in Figure 3, 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, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(a)(iii) (1 mark): The light gate, shown in Figure 17, is used to determine the actual velocity of the trolley at the end of the runway. The actual velocity at the end of the runw
- June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q2(c)(iii) (2 marks): Calculate the efficiency of the system represented in Figure 3. (2) efficiency =
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(c)(iii) (2 marks): Calculate the efficiency of the system represented in Figure 19. (2) efficiency =
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(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, Paper 2 Higher, Q7(b)(iii) (1 mark): The efficiency of the motor was 59%. State one reason why the motor was not 100% efficient. (1)
- June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q10(a)(i) (2 marks): An RTG has an efficiency rating of only 7%. Calculate the useful energy transferred by the RTG when 1300 J of thermal energy is released in the decay. (2) Use t
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q2(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): Give three factors that the student must control in this investigation. (3) 1 2 3
- June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q2(c) (2 marks): Expanded polystyrene, used to insulate buildings, has different densities. Figure 4 shows how the thermal conductivity of expanded polystyrene changes with the
- June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(b)(ii) (3 marks): Give three factors that the student must control in this investigation. (3) 1 2 3
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(c) (2 marks): Expanded polystyrene, used to insulate buildings, has different densities. Figure 13 shows how the thermal conductivity of expanded polystyrene changes with the
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(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, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q10(a)(ii) (2 marks): For one turbine • the energy input per second from the wind is 6.2 kJ • the energy output per second to the National Grid is 2.2 kJ. Calculate the efficiency of
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Calculate how much energy is wasted. (1) energy wasted = J
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(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, Paper 2 Higher, Q3(c) (2 marks): Figure 7 shows a shed made mostly of concrete blocks. Figure 7 State two practical ways to reduce heat loss from this shed. (2) 1 2
- November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q7(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, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(c) (2 marks): Figure 21 shows a shed made mostly of concrete blocks. Figure 21 State two practical ways to reduce heat loss from this shed. (2) 1 2
- November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(b) (2 marks): The kettle has an efficiency of 91% in supplying energy to the water. The thermal energy of the water increases by 3.3 × 105 J in 200 s. Calculate the total amo
- November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the amount of wasted energy. (1) wasted energy=... ...J
- June 2019, 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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(iii) (1 mark): State what happens to the wasted energy. (1)
- June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q4(c)(ii) (3 marks): Oil is applied to the wheel of a bicycle at the point shown in Figure 9. oil applied here Figure 9 Explain how the oil improves the efficiency of the bicycle. (
- June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10(c)(ii) (3 marks): Oil is applied to the wheel of a bicycle at the point shown in Figure 22. oil applied here Figure 22 Explain how the oil improves the efficiency of the bicycle.
- June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(d) (2 marks): Figure 11 shows a wind turbine. rotor blade gearbox generator tower Figure 11 Explain how unwanted energy transfers could be reduced in the gear box. (2)
- June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q4(c)(i) (2 marks): Explain why the axles become warm when the wheels turn. (2)
- June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q4(c)(ii) (1 mark): Give one way of reducing the heating of the axles when the wheels turn. (1)
- June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q4(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, Paper 2 Foundation, Q4(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, Paper 2 Foundation, Q4(d)(iii) (2 marks): Calculate the efficiency of this engine. (2) efficiency of the engine =
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