plumiMains electricity: Edexcel International GCSE Physics questions
Every Edexcel International GCSE Physics exam question on Mains electricity (specification points 2.2–2.6), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations
Q10(a)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)
The whole paper ↗Q3(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q3(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(c)
The whole paper ↗Q7(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q7(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q8(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q2(a)
The whole paper ↗Q2(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q2(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q2(c)
The whole paper ↗Q10(c)
The whole paper ↗Q4(d)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q9(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)
The whole paper ↗Q3(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q3(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q7(b)
The whole paper ↗
All 47 questions on Mains electricity, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q10(a) (2 marks): The student can increase the current in the metal rod up to a maximum of 5.0 A. Suggest why the student should only have the power supply switched on for short
- November 2024, Paper 1, Q3(a) (2 marks): Photograph 1 shows a power supply for some electrical equipment. The electrical equipment is connected to the mains supply. (Source: © 2211575607/ Shutterstock)
- November 2024, Paper 1, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): State the formula linking power, current and voltage. (1)
- November 2024, Paper 1, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): The electrical equipment has a power of 350 W. Calculate the current in the equipment when it is being used. (2) current = A
- November 2024, Paper 1, Q3(c) (2 marks): Photograph 2 shows a circuit breaker. (Source: © 509531608 / Shutterstock) Photograph 2 Explain the advantages of using a circuit breaker rather than a fuse. (2
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q7(b)(ii) (3 marks): Show that lamp 1 has a power of about 5 W. (3)
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q7(b)(iii) (3 marks): Calculate the energy transferred by lamp 1 when it is on for 30 seconds. (3) energy transferred = J
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q8(b)(ii) (3 marks): The table shows some information about the heating element in the water bath and the heating process. Initial temperature of water 15 °C Final temperature of wa
- June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q2(a) (1 mark): Give an advantage of using a circuit breaker instead of using a fuse. (1)
- June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): State the formula linking power, current and voltage. (1)
- June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): The normal operating current of the heater is 11 A. Calculate the input power to the heater for this current. Give your answer in kW. (3) power = kW
- June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q2(c) (1 mark): The circuit breaker has a rating of 16 A. Suggest a reason why the heater may switch off before it reaches its normal operating current. (1)
- June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q10(c) (3 marks): The mean voltage across the battery is 7.2 V. The battery gains 14 kJ of energy in 8400 seconds. Calculate the mean current in the battery. (3) mean current = A
- November 2023, Paper 1, Q2 (4 marks): The diagram shows four graphs, P, Q, R and S. Each graph shows a different relationship between current and time. Current Current 0 0 0 Time 0 Time Graph P Grap
- November 2023, Paper 1, Q4(d)(i) (3 marks): When the switch is on, the filament lamp transfers 120 J of energy in a time of 3.0 minutes. Each cell has a voltage of 1.5 V. Calculate the current in the fila
- November 2023, Paper 1, Q9(b)(iii) (2 marks): The generator produces alternating current. Describe the differences between alternating current (a.c.) and direct current (d.c.). (2)
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q3(a) (3 marks): The television set has a low power mode called standby. When on standby, the power rating of the television set is 0.27 W. Calculate the energy transferred to t
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q3(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain how a fuse works to protect the television set if there is a fault. (3)
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why a 13 A fuse is not an appropriate choice of fuse to use in the plug of this television set. (2)
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q7(b) (2 marks): The switch is closed. The motor takes 0.42 seconds to reach its maximum speed of rotation. The mean current in the motor is 3.9 A. The voltage across the motor
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q12(b)(i) (2 marks): Describe the difference between direct current (d.c.) and alternating current (a.c.). (2)
- January 2023, Paper 1, Q7(b)(iv) (3 marks): Calculate the time for the lamp to transfer 250 J of energy when the voltage across the lamp is 10 V. (3) time = s
- January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q6(c)(i) (1 mark): State the formula linking power, current and voltage. (1)
- January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q6(c)(ii) (3 marks): The small computer operates at a voltage of 5.1 V with a current of 2.9 A. Calculate the power of the small computer. Give the unit. (3) power = unit
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q1(b) (2 marks): The student measures the mean power output (in watts) for six different appliances. Diagram 1 shows their results. Toaster = 1068 W Kettle = 2025 W Laptop = 47
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q1(c)(i) (1 mark): The student identifies an anomalous result in their data. Draw a circle around the anomalous result. (1)
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q1(c)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the mean power output for this appliance. Give your answer to three significant figures. (3) mean power output = W
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q3(a)(i) (2 marks): The power of the charger can be calculated using the formula power = current × voltage Calculate the output power of charger X. (2) output power = W
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q3(a)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the input current to charger X. Assume that charger X is 100% efficient. (3) input current = A
- June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): The total voltage across the two loudspeakers is 0.75 V and the current in the circuit is 0.15 A. Show that the total power of the two loudspeakers is about 0.1
- January 2022, Paper 2, Q6(b)(iv) (2 marks): The current in the loudspeaker is alternating current (a.c.). Give the evidence from the oscilloscope trace to support this statement. (2)
- January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): State what is meant by the term direct current. (1)
- January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q8(a)(ii) (3 marks): When the handle is turned for 15 s the dome gains 0.50 J of energy in its electrostatic store as it becomes charged. The voltage between the dome and the earth
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q2(c)(i) (1 mark): State the formula linking power, current and voltage. (1)
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q2(c)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the current in the wires. (3) current = A
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q2(c)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why the current in the wires causes the temperature of the wires to increase. (2)
- January 2021, Paper 1, Q3(c)(iii) (4 marks): Calculate the energy transferred to lamp X when it is used for 2.5 hours. (4) energy transferred = J
- January 2021, Paper 1, Q4(a) (1 mark): State which wire in the hair dryer should be in series with the fuse. (1)
- January 2021, Paper 1, Q4(b) (2 marks): The fuse is an electrical safety feature used in mains-operated domestic appliances. State two other electrical safety features that can be used in mains-operat
- January 2021, Paper 1, Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): State the formula linking power, current and voltage. (1)
- January 2021, Paper 1, Q4(c)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the power of the hair dryer. Give the unit. (3) power = unit
- January 2021, Paper 1, Q4(c)(iii) (3 marks): The hair dryer contains a coil of wire which is used to heat air passing through the hair dryer. Explain why the coil of wire heats up when there is a current i
- January 2021, Paper 1, Q4(d) (3 marks): Explain how a fuse protects a domestic appliance. (3)
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q4(b) (2 marks): Solar panels produce direct current (d.c.). The National Grid in many countries operates on alternating current (a.c.). Describe the difference between direct c
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q8(c)(ii) (1 mark): A fuse is installed in the plug which supplies the input current. Which fuse should be used in this plug? (1) A 3 A B 5 A C 10 A D 13 A
- November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q5(b)(i) (1 mark): State the formula linking power, current and voltage. (1)
- November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q5(b)(ii) (3 marks): The power rating of the toaster is 2.8 kW. Calculate the total current in the toaster. [mains voltage = 230 V] (3) current = A
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