Skip to content
Try on iPad

Transformers and the National Grid: Edexcel GCSE Physics questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Physics exam question on Transformers and the National Grid (specification points 13.5–13.11), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

Find questions1,554
Exam
All years
Calculations

1,554 questions

  1. Q6(a)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Higher

    3 marksTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Higher, question 6(a)(i): Explain how the current is produced in the secondary coil of the transformer in Figure 9. (3)

  2. Q6(a)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Higher, question 6(a)(ii): The potential difference across the primary coil is 230 V. The potential difference across the secondary coil is 1.5 V. The primary coil has 1840 turns of wire.

  3. Q9(d)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    6 marksTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 9(d): Figure 18 is a diagram showing a part of the National Grid, used to supply electrical power to homes. overhead power lines 132 000 V 230 V 25 000 V home power s

  4. Q10(b)

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher

    6 marksTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Higher, question 10(b): A transformer converts a voltage of 11 000 V to 230 V. Explain how the design of this transformer enables the voltage to be converted from 11 000 V to 230 V. Yo

  5. Q10(b)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Higher

    3 marksTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Higher, question 10(b): Figure 25 shows a transformer. soft iron core Vp Np Ns Figure 25 The number of turns on the primary coil, Np = 800 The potential difference across the primary c

  6. Q5(b)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 5(b): Explain why the National Grid uses high voltages with small currents to transfer electricity from power stations. (2)

  7. Q5(c)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 5(c)(i): Calculate the power in the primary coil. Use the equation P = V×I (2) power in the primary coil = W

  8. Q5(c)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 5(c)(ii): Calculate the following for the transformer in Figure 12. number of turns in secondary coil number of turns in primary coil (2)

  9. Q5(c)(iii)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 5(c)(iii): For the transformer in Figure 12, evaluate, in its simplest form, the ratio secondary voltage : primary voltage (2) :

  10. Q10(b)

    June 2022 · Paper 2 Higher

    3 marksTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2 Higher, question 10(b): This question is about a transformer. iron core primary coil secondary coil 700 turns of wire 400 turns of wire primary voltage = 230 V secondary current = 1.75

  11. Q10(c)

    June 2022 · Paper 2 Higher

    6 marksTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2 Higher, question 10(c): Figure 22 shows how electricity is delivered efficiently from a power station (P) to homes (T). not to scale R T P Q S Figure 22 Using Figure 22, explain the st

  12. Q9(a)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 2 Higher

    1 markTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2 Higher, question 9(a)(i): The size of the potential difference (voltage) across the secondary coil is (1) A twice the size of the current in the primary coil B half the size of the curre

  13. Q9(a)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 2 Higher

    3 marksTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2 Higher, question 9(a)(ii): Explain how an alternating current in the primary coil causes an alternating current in the secondary coil of the transformer. (3)

  14. Q9(b)

    November 2021 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2 Higher, question 9(b): The primary coil of a different transformer is connected to the 230 V mains supply. The voltage across the secondary coil is 15 V. The primary coil has 600 turn

  15. Q5(c)

    November 2021 · Paper 2 Foundation

    3 marksTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2 Foundation, question 5(c): A transformer is used to connect a laptop computer to the mains electricity supply. The input voltage to the transformer is 230 V. The output current from the t

  16. Q7(c)(i)

    November 2020 · Paper 2 Higher

    1 markTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2 Higher, question 7(c)(i): State the purpose of the transformer shown in Figure 18. (1)

  17. Q7(c)(ii)

    November 2020 · Paper 2 Higher

    3 marksTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2 Higher, question 7(c)(ii): Calculate the output voltage of the secondary coil. Use an equation selected from the list of equations at the end of this paper. (3) output voltage = V

  18. Q2(c)

    November 2020 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2 Foundation, question 2(c): The transformer in another battery charger has a primary coil and a secondary coil. The voltage across the primary coil = 230 V. The voltage across the secondar

  19. Q6(b)(i)

    June 2019 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2 Higher, question 6(b)(i): Describe the cause of the changing magnetic field in the core of the transformer. (2)

  20. Q6(b)(ii)

    June 2019 · Paper 2 Higher

    3 marksTransformers and the National Grid
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2 Higher, question 6(b)(ii): A potential difference of 230 V is applied across the primary coil of a transformer. There is a potential difference of 15 V across the secondary coil. The prim
All 28 questions on Transformers and the National Grid, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(a)(i) (3 marks): Explain how the current is produced in the secondary coil of the transformer in Figure 9. (3)
  2. June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(a)(ii) (2 marks): The potential difference across the primary coil is 230 V. The potential difference across the secondary coil is 1.5 V. The primary coil has 1840 turns of wire.
  3. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(d) (6 marks): Figure 18 is a diagram showing a part of the National Grid, used to supply electrical power to homes. overhead power lines 132 000 V 230 V 25 000 V home power s
  4. June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q10(b) (6 marks): A transformer converts a voltage of 11 000 V to 230 V. Explain how the design of this transformer enables the voltage to be converted from 11 000 V to 230 V. Yo
  5. June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q10(b) (3 marks): Figure 25 shows a transformer. soft iron core Vp Np Ns Figure 25 The number of turns on the primary coil, Np = 800 The potential difference across the primary c
  6. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(b) (2 marks): Explain why the National Grid uses high voltages with small currents to transfer electricity from power stations. (2)
  7. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(c)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the power in the primary coil. Use the equation P = V×I (2) power in the primary coil = W
  8. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(c)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the following for the transformer in Figure 12. number of turns in secondary coil number of turns in primary coil (2)
  9. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(c)(iii) (2 marks): For the transformer in Figure 12, evaluate, in its simplest form, the ratio secondary voltage : primary voltage (2) :
  10. June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q10(b) (3 marks): This question is about a transformer. iron core primary coil secondary coil 700 turns of wire 400 turns of wire primary voltage = 230 V secondary current = 1.75
  11. June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q10(c) (6 marks): Figure 22 shows how electricity is delivered efficiently from a power station (P) to homes (T). not to scale R T P Q S Figure 22 Using Figure 22, explain the st
  12. November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(a)(i) (1 mark): The size of the potential difference (voltage) across the secondary coil is (1) A twice the size of the current in the primary coil B half the size of the curre
  13. November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(a)(ii) (3 marks): Explain how an alternating current in the primary coil causes an alternating current in the secondary coil of the transformer. (3)
  14. November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(b) (2 marks): The primary coil of a different transformer is connected to the 230 V mains supply. The voltage across the secondary coil is 15 V. The primary coil has 600 turn
  15. November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(c) (3 marks): A transformer is used to connect a laptop computer to the mains electricity supply. The input voltage to the transformer is 230 V. The output current from the t
  16. November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q7(c)(i) (1 mark): State the purpose of the transformer shown in Figure 18. (1)
  17. November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q7(c)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the output voltage of the secondary coil. Use an equation selected from the list of equations at the end of this paper. (3) output voltage = V
  18. November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(c) (2 marks): The transformer in another battery charger has a primary coil and a secondary coil. The voltage across the primary coil = 230 V. The voltage across the secondar
  19. June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): Describe the cause of the changing magnetic field in the core of the transformer. (2)
  20. June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b)(ii) (3 marks): A potential difference of 230 V is applied across the primary coil of a transformer. There is a potential difference of 15 V across the secondary coil. The prim
  21. June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(b)(i) (2 marks): Figure 17 shows the output from a battery. current 0 time Figure 17 Explain why a transformer will not work with the input current as shown in Figure 17. (2)
  22. June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(b)(ii) (3 marks): A transformer has 30 turns on the primary coil and 150 turns on the secondary coil. A potential difference of 25 V is applied across the primary coil. Calculate
  23. June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(c) (6 marks): High voltage transmission cables and transformers are used in the national grid. Explain how using high voltage transmission cables and transformers allows the
  24. June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Electrical power is generated at (1)
  25. June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Electricity is transmitted over long distances by transmission lines that are part of (1)
  26. June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Electricity is transmitted at high voltages so that (1)
  27. June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(b) (1 mark): Which statement is true for transformers? (1) A Transformers can only step-up voltages. B Transformers can only step-down voltages. C Transformers can work with
  28. June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q1(c) (2 marks): In a small transformer ● the primary voltage is 230 V ● the primary current is 0.020 A ● the secondary voltage is 5.0 V Calculate the secondary current. Use the

Questions, mark schemes and examiner’s reports are © Pearson Edexcel, from their published past papers. Plumi isn’t affiliated with any exam board. Want whole papers? Every Edexcel GCSE Physics paper.

Rather write your answers by hand on iPad? Plumi marks them against the same mark schemes.