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D.C. circuits: Eduqas A‑Level Physics questions

Every Eduqas A-Level Physics exam question on 2.3 D.C. circuits, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,592 questions

  1. Q1(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    3 marks2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 1(b)(i): Calculate the emf of the battery and the pd across the bulb, including the units of both quantities. [3]

  2. Q1(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    2 marks2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 1(b)(ii): Hence or otherwise calculate the battery’s internal resistance. [2]

  3. Q2(d)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    4 marks2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 2(d): The experiment is repeated with 3 identical lamps connected in parallel. These lamps are identical to the one lamp used previously by David. Write down the valu

  4. Q3(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    2 marks2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 3(b)(i): Calculate VLDR in the dark. [2]

  5. Q3(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · Component 2

    4 marks2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 2, question 3(b)(ii): Eleanor now wishes to modify her circuit by adding another resistor, R, as shown below, so that in daylight, the pd across the LDR is the same as the voltage (V

  6. Q5(b)(i)

    June 2025 · AS Component 2

    3 marks2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Component 2, question 5(b)(i): In an electrical toy, three cells, each of emf 1.6 V and internal resistance, r, are connected in series across the external circuit. The external circuit can b

  7. Q5(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · AS Component 2

    3 marks2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Component 2, question 5(b)(ii): Calculate the current in the circuit if one of the cells is connected the wrong way round. [3]

  8. Q5(c)

    June 2025 · AS Component 2

    3 marks2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Component 2, question 5(c): A different toy uses cells of the same type as in part (a). The external circuit of the toy requires a current of 0.44 A and a pd of 6.9 V. Determine the number

  9. Q1(c)

    June 2024 · Component 2

    3 marks2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 2, question 1(c): Tom connects the lamp in series with three identical cells, each of emf 1.2 V. He measures the pd across the lamp to be 3.0 V. Show that the internal resistance

  10. Q2(a)

    June 2024 · Component 2

    1 mark2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 2, question 2(a): For the above circuit, with the switch open (as shown), the ammeter reads 0.50 A. Show that R1 = 12.0 Ω. [1]

  11. Q2(b)(i)

    June 2024 · Component 2

    2 marks2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 2, question 2(b)(i): With the switch closed the ammeter reading increases to 0.75 A. Show that this current is consistent with R1 = R2. [2]

  12. Q2(b)(ii)

    June 2024 · Component 2

    3 marks2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 2, question 2(b)(ii): With the 6.0 Ω resistor still in place, further identical resistors are placed in parallel with R1 and R2 until a current of 1.2 A is measured by the ammeter. C

  13. Q2(b)(iii)

    June 2024 · Component 2

    2 marks2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 2, question 2(b)(iii): A student makes the following comment: “No matter how many resistors are added in parallel with R1 and R2, the reading on the ammeter will not go above a certai

  14. Q7(a)(i)

    June 2024 · AS Component 2

    1 mark2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Component 2, question 7(a)(i): State the expected reading on the voltmeter when the switch is open. [1]

  15. Q7(a)(ii)

    June 2024 · AS Component 2

    3 marks2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Component 2, question 7(a)(ii): With the switch closed the voltmeter reads 1.38 V. Determine the internal resistance, r, of the cell. [3]

  16. Q7(a)(iii)

    June 2024 · AS Component 2

    2 marks2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Component 2, question 7(a)(iii): The switch is closed for a period of time and 550 J of the cell’s energy is dissipated. Calculate the time for which the switch is closed. [2]

  17. Q7(b)

    June 2024 · AS Component 2

    3 marks2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Component 2, question 7(b): Calculate the voltmeter reading when the 1.50 Ω resistor is replaced by a 0.56 Ω resistor and the switch is closed. [3]

  18. Q1(b)(i)

    June 2023 · Component 2

    3 marks2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 2, question 1(b)(i): The circuit allows the water feature to operate during daylight. State and explain what happens to the reading on the voltmeter when the intensity of the light

  19. Q1(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · Component 2

    2 marks2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 2, question 1(b)(ii): The water feature is activated when the reading on the voltmeter reaches 2.0 V. Calculate the resistance of the LDR at this activation point. [2]

  20. Q1(b)(iii)

    June 2023 · Component 2

    3 marks2.3 D.C. circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 2, question 1(b)(iii): A gardener notes that, on some days, the water feature is activated throughout the day. He wishes to control the circuit manually so that he can turn the featur
All 61 questions on D.C. circuits, as a list
  1. June 2025, Component 2, Q1(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the emf of the battery and the pd across the bulb, including the units of both quantities. [3]
  2. June 2025, Component 2, Q1(b)(ii) (2 marks): Hence or otherwise calculate the battery’s internal resistance. [2]
  3. June 2025, Component 2, Q2(d) (4 marks): The experiment is repeated with 3 identical lamps connected in parallel. These lamps are identical to the one lamp used previously by David. Write down the valu
  4. June 2025, Component 2, Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate VLDR in the dark. [2]
  5. June 2025, Component 2, Q3(b)(ii) (4 marks): Eleanor now wishes to modify her circuit by adding another resistor, R, as shown below, so that in daylight, the pd across the LDR is the same as the voltage (V
  6. June 2025, AS Component 2, Q5(b)(i) (3 marks): In an electrical toy, three cells, each of emf 1.6 V and internal resistance, r, are connected in series across the external circuit. The external circuit can b
  7. June 2025, AS Component 2, Q5(b)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the current in the circuit if one of the cells is connected the wrong way round. [3]
  8. June 2025, AS Component 2, Q5(c) (3 marks): A different toy uses cells of the same type as in part (a). The external circuit of the toy requires a current of 0.44 A and a pd of 6.9 V. Determine the number
  9. June 2024, Component 2, Q1(c) (3 marks): Tom connects the lamp in series with three identical cells, each of emf 1.2 V. He measures the pd across the lamp to be 3.0 V. Show that the internal resistance
  10. June 2024, Component 2, Q2(a) (1 mark): For the above circuit, with the switch open (as shown), the ammeter reads 0.50 A. Show that R1 = 12.0 Ω. [1]
  11. June 2024, Component 2, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): With the switch closed the ammeter reading increases to 0.75 A. Show that this current is consistent with R1 = R2. [2]
  12. June 2024, Component 2, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): With the 6.0 Ω resistor still in place, further identical resistors are placed in parallel with R1 and R2 until a current of 1.2 A is measured by the ammeter. C
  13. June 2024, Component 2, Q2(b)(iii) (2 marks): A student makes the following comment: “No matter how many resistors are added in parallel with R1 and R2, the reading on the ammeter will not go above a certai
  14. June 2024, AS Component 2, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): State the expected reading on the voltmeter when the switch is open. [1]
  15. June 2024, AS Component 2, Q7(a)(ii) (3 marks): With the switch closed the voltmeter reads 1.38 V. Determine the internal resistance, r, of the cell. [3]
  16. June 2024, AS Component 2, Q7(a)(iii) (2 marks): The switch is closed for a period of time and 550 J of the cell’s energy is dissipated. Calculate the time for which the switch is closed. [2]
  17. June 2024, AS Component 2, Q7(b) (3 marks): Calculate the voltmeter reading when the 1.50 Ω resistor is replaced by a 0.56 Ω resistor and the switch is closed. [3]
  18. June 2023, Component 2, Q1(b)(i) (3 marks): The circuit allows the water feature to operate during daylight. State and explain what happens to the reading on the voltmeter when the intensity of the light
  19. June 2023, Component 2, Q1(b)(ii) (2 marks): The water feature is activated when the reading on the voltmeter reaches 2.0 V. Calculate the resistance of the LDR at this activation point. [2]
  20. June 2023, Component 2, Q1(b)(iii) (3 marks): A gardener notes that, on some days, the water feature is activated throughout the day. He wishes to control the circuit manually so that he can turn the featur
  21. June 2023, AS Component 2, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the potential difference across the 5.6 Ω resistor. [1]
  22. June 2023, AS Component 2, Q6(a)(ii) (5 marks): Calculate the resistance of X. [5]
  23. June 2022, AS Component 2, Q5(a) (4 marks): Show that the resistance of X is approximately 6 Ω assuming that the supply has negligible resistance.  [4]
  24. June 2022, AS Component 2, Q5(b) (5 marks): Stephan connects an external indicator circuit that has an overall resistance value of 12.0 Ω as shown below. Calculate the new potential difference between the
  25. June 2022, AS Component 2, Q5(c) (2 marks): Bruno suggests that Stephan replaces resistor X with a thermistor that changes its resistance from 10 kΩ at 0 °C to 8.7 kΩ at 30 °C. Explain why the circuit can
  26. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q8(b) (3 marks): Paragraph 8 Read through the following article carefully. Build Your Own Strainmeter in an A-level Physics Classroom The first questions that need answering are
  27. Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q1(a) (1 mark): State which of the thermistors (A or B) would be better to use to read temperature differences between 20 °C and 60 °C, giving a reason for your answer. [1]
  28. Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q1(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain why Vout increases as the temperature decreases. [3]
  29. Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q1(b)(ii) (3 marks): The alarm will trigger when Vout reaches 2.0 V. Helen wishes to be able to adjust the variable resistor to enable the alarm to be triggered at 10 °C. Determine
  30. Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q1(b)(iii) (2 marks): Hence calculate the power dissipated by the variable resistor when the alarm is activated. [2]
  31. Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q1(b)(iv) (1 mark): When deciding where to locate the circuit, Helen places the variable resistor a few mm away from the thermistor. Comment on this decision in light of your answe
  32. June 2019, Component 2, Q1(a) (4 marks): An equation which can be applied to the above circuit is: V = E – Ir Explain this equation in terms of energy. [4]
  33. June 2019, Component 2, Q1(b)(i) (3 marks): the internal resistance of each cell; [3]
  34. June 2019, Component 2, Q1(b)(ii) (2 marks): the energy dissipated in each cell in one minute. [2]
  35. June 2019, Component 2, Q1(c) (4 marks): The students note that the cells get hot when the heater is switched on for long periods. Tom believes that adding an identical heating coil in parallel with th
  36. June 2019, AS Component 2, Q5(a) (3 marks): Zhang Li uses 3 resistors of values 3.3 , 4.7 and 5.6 , to create various load resistance values. Show clearly how the value in cell C4 (column C and row 4) is
  37. June 2019, AS Component 2, Q5(b)(i) (6 marks): to determine the internal D4 resistance in cell F4. Explain in terms of energy why this is a valid method. [6]
  38. June 2019, AS Component 2, Q5(b)(ii) (2 marks): Determine the internal resistance value for cell F7. [2]
  39. June 2019, AS Component 2, Q5(b)(iii) (3 marks): Zhang Li can choose between 4.7 resistors with power ratings of 0.25 W or 0.50 W. Justify, numerically, which resistor power rating she should use in the circui
  40. June 2018, Component 2, Q1(a)(ii) (3 marks): Determine a suitable value for the fixed resistor R, which would allow the lamp to be switched on. [3]
  41. June 2018, Component 2, Q1(b) (2 marks): When installing the circuit, the engineer made the mistake of placing the lamp near to the LDR. The engineer noted that, when in the dark, the lamp kept turning
  42. June 2018, Component 2, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): Show that VP = 1.5 VT. [2]
  43. June 2018, Component 2, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): Hence or otherwise show that the values given in the diagram are consistent with the resistance of each resistor being 4.5 Ω. [3]
  44. June 2018, Component 2, Q2(c) (3 marks): Show that the total energy dissipated per second in the whole circuit is 15 times more than the energy dissipated per second in resistor Q. [3]
  45. June 2018, Component 2, Q2(d) (3 marks): Resistor T is now removed from the circuit. Explain the effect this will have on the ratio calculated in part (c). [3]
  46. June 2018, AS Component 2, Q2(b)(i) (4 marks): Determine the reading on the ammeter if it has an instrument resolution of ± 0.01 A. [4]
  47. June 2018, AS Component 2, Q2(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the potential difference across the 8.2 Ω resistor. [2]
  48. June 2018, AS Component 2, Q2(b)(iii) (2 marks): Calculate the power dissipated in the parallel resistor combination. [2]
  49. June 2017, Component 2, Q1(b) (3 marks): The diagram shows a possible control circuit for a cooling system. It consists of a battery of emf 12.0 V and negligible internal resistance connected in series
  50. June 2017, Component 2, Q1(c)(i) (2 marks): The reading on the voltmeter increases when the temperature of the thermistor increases. Explain why this is the case. [2]
  51. June 2017, Component 2, Q1(c)(ii) (4 marks): The cooling system can only be activated when the voltage across the 160 Ω resistor rises above 2.8 V. An engineer suggests that this thermistor and resistor co
  52. June 2017, Component 2, Q2(a)(i) (3 marks): Determine, in terms of R, the total resistance of the network. [3]
  53. June 2017, Component 2, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): Draw a circle around the resistor which dissipates the greatest power when a pd is applied across the arrangement. Explain your answer. [2]
  54. June 2017, AS Component 2, Q3(a) (3 marks): Plot a graph of power dissipated in R (on the y-axis) against resistance (on the x-axis) and draw a smooth curve through the data. [3]
  55. June 2017, AS Component 2, Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): State what is meant by an emf of 6.0 V. [2]
  56. June 2017, AS Component 2, Q3(b)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the current through the battery using data from your graph. [3]
  57. June 2017, AS Component 2, Q3(b)(iii) (3 marks): Calculate the internal resistance, r, of the battery. [3]
  58. June 2017, AS Component 2, Q3(c) (2 marks): Abigail repeats the experiment but with a battery of the same emf but smaller internal resistance. Explain how the graph would change. [2]
  59. June 2016, AS Component 2, Q3(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain how the reading on the voltmeter changes as the temperature increases. [3]
  60. June 2016, AS Component 2, Q3(b)(ii) (3 marks): Determine the value of R for the voltmeter to read 6.0 V when the temperature is 35 °C. [3]
  61. June 2016, AS Component 2, Q3(b)(iii) (2 marks): Richard replaces the voltmeter with a 6.0 V bulb expecting it to light with full brightness when the temperature is 35 °C. Explain why the bulb does not operate

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