Name: .....................................................................

Date: ....................

Title: Electric Circuits, Energy and Power

Topic: Electricity
Statement of Inquiry: Increasing electrical energy
production to meet the needs of an expanding global
population can have environmental consequences.
MYP Assessment Criteria

A: Knowing and Understanding

Time: 1 class (60 minutes)

Task

Hints

1. Use a black or blue pen, except for drawing

diagrams or graphs.

When completing multiple choice questions,

read the question and ALL possible answers.
Then choose the correct answer. If you are
not sure, narrow it down to the most likely
answers and guess the best one. Do not
leave any multiple choice questions blank.

2. Choose only ONE alternative for multiple

choice questions. Circle the letter next to
the correct answer.
3. Short answers are to be written in the
spaces provided.
4. Show all formulas and working out for
calculation questions.

Think about what the question is asking.

Highlight, circle or underline key words. Rewrite the question if that helps.

5. Rulers and calculators allowed.

Give all questions a go. It is possible to

partially get the question correct.

6. Examination conditions apply.

Put your hand up if you have a question.

Good luck.

Level of achievement

Criteria C - Knowledge and understanding

1-2

i. state scientific knowledge

ii. apply scientific knowledge and understanding to suggest solutions to problems set in
familiar situations
iii. interpret information to make judgments.

3-4

i. outline scientific knowledge

ii. apply scientific knowledge and understanding to solve problems set in familiar
situations
iii. interpret information to make scientifically supported judgments.

5-6

i. describe scientific knowledge

ii. apply scientific knowledge and understanding to solve problems set in familiar
situations and suggest solutions to problems set in unfamiliar situations
iii. analyse information to make scientifically supported judgments.

7-8

i. explain scientific knowledge

ii. apply scientific knowledge and understanding to solve problems set in familiar and
unfamiliar situations
iii. analyse and evaluate information to make scientifically supported judgments.

Most appropriate grade: _____

Command Terms
Use the Command terms to guide you in the level required for your answer.
State: give a specific name, value, or other brief answer without explanation or calculation
Suggest: Propose a solution, hypothesis or other possible answer
Outline: to give a brief account.
Solve: obtain the answer(s) using appropriate methods
Interpret: Use knowledge and understanding to recognize trends and draw conclusions from given
information.
Describe: to give a detailed account or picture of a situation, event, pattern or process.
Analyse: break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure. To identify parts and
relationships, and to interpret information to reach conclusions.
Explain: to give a detailed account including reasons or causes.
Evaluate: make an appraisal by weighing up the strengths and limitations
1.

State the
name and symbol for the unit of electrical resistance: OHM
[strand i - 1/2]
2. In a simple parallel circuit: (circle the best answer)
a) the current through each branch is always the same
b) the voltage across each branch is always the same
c) the resistance of each resistor is always the same
d) the current is the same as the voltage in each branch.
[strand i - 1/2]
3. Which of these correctly describes current in an electric circuit containing the light bulb? (circle
the best answer)
a) Current travels from one pole of the battery to the light bulb along one wire and lights it up.
b) Current travels from both sides of the battery and clashes in the light bulb, producing light.
c) The current travels around the circuit but some of it is used up as it goes through the light
bulb.
d) The current travels around the circuit, and is the same everywhere.
[strand i - 1/2]
4. When two light bulbs are connected in series and one of the bulbs breaks the other will: (circle
the best answer)
a) glow twice as brightly
b) dim and glow faintly
c) glow exactly as it did before
d) not glow at all.
i) Outline your reasons
There is a break in the circuit so current cannot pass
[strand i - 1/2/3/4]
5. A bulb glows brightly when connected in series with an ammeter and a cell, but the ammeter
reads zero. The most likely reason for this is that: (circle the best answer)
a) the cell is not working correctly
b) the bulb is not working correctly
c) the ammeter is not working correctly
d) the connecting wires are not working correctly.
i) interpret information to make scientifically supported judgments.
since the bulb is lit up current must be flowing so it cannot be a) or b). Since connected in
series it cannot be d) since current in flowing.
There current must be flowing through the ammeter since all in series and the bulb is
working.
[strand iii - 1/2/3/4]
10
6.
Calcu
late the total resistance between points
12 A and B.
12
A

15

2 of 8

[strand ii - 1/2/3/4]

7. Examine this circuit diagram carefully before answering this question. Show all your working
for these questions or use words to show scientific understanding that you applied.

a) If V2 reads 8 V, what is the reading on V3?

V3 = VT V2 = 10V 8V = 2V
[strand ii - 1/2/3/4]
b) What is the reading on the ammeter A1?
V = IR
V
8V
I= =
= 0.4A
R 20
[strand ii - 1/2/3/4]
c) Calculate the resistance be of the variable resistor?
V = IR
R=

V
2V
= 5
=
I 0.4A
[strand ii - 1/2/3/4]

d) The variable resistor is now changed and the resistance is increased.

Without performing any more calculations explain what will happen to each of the readings on
the three meters. You should give reasons for your answers.
i) The ammeter:
The reading will go down. The overall resistance will be greater, but the total potential
difference from the power supply will have stayed the same; as current is inversely
proportional to resistance, less current will flow.
ii) Voltmeter two:
The reading will go down. With a greater overall resistance in the circuit and a smaller
current flowing, the pd across the fixed resistor will be smaller.
iii)Voltmeter three:
The reading will go up. With a greater resistance in the variable resistor, it will get a greater
share/proportion of the total 10V.
[strand i - 5/6/7/8]
8. A 9.0-V battery costs $1.49, and will run a portable CD player for 6.0 hours.
Suppose the battery supplies a current of 25 mA to the player (1000 mA = 1 A).
a) Calculate the price of energy in dollars per kWh for the battery?
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E = Pt

P = IV

need power

P = (0.025A )(9.0V )

E = (0.000225kW )(6.0h )

P = 0.225W = 0.000225kW
E = 0.00135kWh
Cost of Electricity = Energy Price
Cost of Electricity
Price =
Energy
$1.49
Price =
= $1104.70 / kWh
0.00135kWh

[strand ii - 5/6/7/8]
b) An average price of electricity is about $0.10/kWh.
i) Compare your answer in a) to the average price of electricity
The price of electricity for a 9V battery if 11,000 times greater

[strand ii - 5/6/7/8]
ii) Analyse and evaluate why the price of electricity for 9 V battery is different than house
current.
it is portable
substances battery is made from cost more than coal (other ways of producing house
current)
manufacturing cost of a battery is greater than cost of burning coal
cost of manufacture, transportation to stores and store profit are included
it does not (directly) cause pollution when using it

[strand iii - 5/6/7/8]

9. Unfamiliar question. Analyze and Evaluate Scientific Information The light dependent resistor
and a 2 k resistor are connected in series across a d.c. power supply.
Note: k = kilo = 1000

A light d
(LDR) is
resistanc
how muc
light gets
gets less
Symbol

In an
experiment, the light intensity (the brightness)
falling on the LDR is changed during over 60s
seconds. The voltages across both components
are measured and the following graphs
produced.
4 of 8

a) State the values of V1 and V2 at the start of the 60s period.

V1 = 1.8 V
V2 = 1.2 V
[strand iii - 1/2/3/4]
b) Calculate the value of Vs.
Vs = V1 + V2 = 1.8V + 1.2V = 3.0 V
[strand iii - 1/2/3/4]
c) Calculate the resistance of the light dependent resistor at the start of the 60s period.
First need to calculate the current flowing. It will be the same as in the resistor since
they are in series

[strand ii - 5/6/7/8]
d) Is the light that is shining on the LDR getting brighter or duller during the time interval from
10s to 30s? Explain your answer.
The light is getting dimmer because the resistance is increasing. V=IR with a higher
resistance the potential difference increases across the LDR. This increase in resistance
causes a decrease in current. This is seen in the decrease in graph 2: potential difference
across the resistor.
Note: students can reach a max of level ___ if they attempt justify the light getting
brighter, with an increase of current which leads to increase in potential difference.
[strand i - 5/6/7/8]
10. Marianne and Annemarie are arguing about resistance. Marianne says that a thicker wire will
have more material to resist electron flow, so resistance will increase in a thicker wire.
Annemarie says that the electrons will have more room in a thicker wire and so will move more
easily, meaning resistance will decrease. Explain the correct answer to them, using parallel
circuits.
Annemarie is correct
in parallel circuits the resistance decreases
a thicker wire is like several parallel circuits joined together
A wire of twice the cross-sectional area could be considered as two identical single wires
connected in parallel. Each wire will have the same potential difference, and
therefore a resistance of V/I. (Both will have the same resistance, and hence the
same current.) According to It = I1 + I2 the two wires together will draw a
current of 2I, meaning their combined resistance will be V/2I . This is half the
resistance of each wire. Thus a wire twice the cross-sectional area will have half
the resistance. Likewise, if the wire was three times the area, its resistance
would be one-third, and so on.

5 of 8

[strand i - 5/67/8]
11. Analyze and Evaluate Scientific Information. Makes judgments supported by scientific
understanding. A designer of a power plant has planned for electricity to be produced from five
steam driven turbines. Each turbine will be fired by coal, which should provide 108 J/s of energy
to each turbine. At peak periods the power plant must produce 500 MW of power. A scientist has
estimated that these particular turbines are about 80% efficient in producing electricity. Analyse
the information and suggest any possible changes which should be made.
Note: 108 = 100,000,000, 1 MW is 1 megawatt = 1 million watts
500 MW converts to 5 108 J/s.
Each turbine has 108 J/s of energy input, making a total of 5 108 J/s.
80% efficiency means maximum output is 4108 J/s(or 400MW).
One extra turbine provides a total of 80% of 6108 J/s=4.8108 J/s(or 480 MW).
This is not quite sufficient. A good recommendation would be for two more turbines, which
would also allow for future increases in power demand.

[strand iii - 5/6/7/8]

12. Analyze and Evaluate Scientific Information. A mystery (something that is unknown)
component is placed in a sealed box, Boris is able to take measurements of potential difference
(p.d.) and current, but there is no way for him to know what the component is. He draws a graph
of p.d. against current, which is shown below (note the axes on the graph):

Boris is asked to conclude what sort of component is in the box.

He writes:
6 of 8

I think the mystery component is a 45 Ohm resistor. From my results it is clear that the
resistor is ohmic (obeys Ohms Law). When drawing my line of best fit I have ignored
the last three results as they clearly do not fit the pattern of the graph.
Do you agree with Boris conclusion? You should use the ideas you have learnt in class,
and these results, to answer the question. Include the concept of resistance in your
answer.
Boris is clearly wrong; there is no indication from the results that the last three points are
anomalous, they should therefore not be ignored.
The line of best fit should more correctly be drawn as a curve. [_4__]
showing that the results are from a component that is not ohmic. [__6__]
As the voltage in increasing the current is increasing at a greater rate, the resistance is
decreasing [__8__]
(note: it is not a light bulb graph since the axes are reversed, there is a bolded warning to look
at the axes. award [____] if state a light bulb and resistance is increasing)
(the results match a semiconductor diode - students will not know this)
[strand iii - 5/6/7/8]

i. Scientific
Knowledge
1-4

5-8

ii. Solve
Problems
1-4

1
2
3
4
5
6
7a
b
c
d
8a
bi
b ii
9a
b
7 of 8

5-8

iii. Analyze
information
1-4

5-8

i. Scientific
Knowledge
1-4

ii. Solve
Problems

5-8

1-4

iii. Analyze
information

5-8

1-4

c
d
10
11
12
i.

ii.

iii.

8 of 8

5-8