CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

Exam-style questions and sample answers have been written by the authors. In examinations, the way marks are awarded
may be different.

Coursebook answers
Chapter 27
Science in context guidance b
I/A
• Power is equal to the current multiplied by 5
the potential difference. You can increase
the power by increasing the current and/or
the potential difference. There is, however,
a problem with increasing the current. As 0
1 1 t/s
current increases, the temperature of the 120 60
conductor increases, which increases the
resistance. A large proportion of the energy –5
transferred is then wasted as heat energy.
• Increasing the potential difference to hundreds 4 V0 = peak value of voltage = 300 V
a 
of thousands of volts allows you to keep the
ω = 100π rad s−1
current as low as possible, reducing the energy ω
lost as hear to the surroundings. frequency f = 2π = 50 Hz
b At t = 0.002 s, V = 300 sin (100π × 0.002) =
300 × 0.588 = 176 V ≈ 180 V
Self-assessment questions
c
1 a 
2.0 A, positive V/V
b 15 ms
300
c 20 ms
1 1
d frequency = T
= 0.020
= 50 Hz 0
10 20 30 40 t / ms
2 I0 = peak value of current = 2.0 A
a 
ω = angular frequency ω = 2pf = 2π × 50 = –300
100π rad s−1
b I = 2.0 sin (100pt)
3 I0 = 5.0 A
a  5 amplitude = 2 × 5 = 10 V
ω = 120π rad s−1 period T = 4 × 10 = 40 ms
ω
frequency f = 2π = 60 Hz
frequency = 1
T
= 1
0.040
= 25 Hz
1 1
period T = f
= 60
= 1.7 × 10−2 s ≈ 17 ms 6

1 cm

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
1 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 d V

00
CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK t

 he exact starting point on the graph may

T e V
be different, but the trace has an amplitude
of 1 cm and one complete wave is 1 cm
horizontally. 00 t
I 2.5
7 I r.m.s. = 0 = = 1.8 A
2 2
V
8 Rearrange V r.m.s. = 0 to give
2
13 T
 he voltage will be half-wave rectified. Current
V0 = V r.m.s. × 2 = 230 ×2 = 325 V can flow through diode 2 when terminal A is
2
 I  positive. When terminal B is positive, current
9 power dissipated, P = (I r.m.s.)2R =  0 
I2  2 cannot flow because there is no complete path
R= 0 R to terminal A.
2
100 14 a 
Less pronounced ripple
= (3.0)2 × = 450 W
2
b More pronounced ripple
V 325
10 a  Vr.m.s. = 0 = = 230 V
2 2
Vr.m.s. 230 Exam-style questions
b I r.m.s. = = = 0.23 A
R 1000 1 A[1]
c power dissipated, P = (I r.m.s.)2R = (0.23)2 × 2 A[1]
1000 = 53 W
3 V = V0 sin ωt, where ω = 2pf[1]
a 
d  eak power dissipated, P =
p V02 = 3252
1000
= 105.6 ≈ 110 W
R b I = I0 sin ωt[1]

11 D
 iode 3 is pointing the wrong way, so the P = I0V0 sin2 ωt = (I0)2R sin2 ωt = V02
c 
current flows through diode 4, through R and sin2(ωt)/R[1]
then through diode 1. 4 a 
2.0 A[1]
12 a V
b 2pf = 50π[1]
so, f = 25 Hz[1]
00 t c I /A

2
Irms (1.4 A)
1

b V 0
0.04 0.08 t/s
–1

t –2
00

 [2]
I0
c V d Ir.m.s. = = 1.41 ≈ 1.4 A[1]
2
e 0.005 s and 0.015 s in the first cycle[1]

00 t 0.045 s and 0.055 s in the second cycle[1]

I r.m.s. marked on graph[1]
5 a average power = V2/R = 202/6.0[1]
average power = 66.7 W ≈ 67 W[1]
d V
b maximum power = 2 × average power =
2 × 66.7 ≈ 130 W[1]
00 t

e V

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
2 00 t © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

energy = average power × time = 66.7 ×

c  c  iode has very large / infinite resistance
D
5.0 × 60[1] [1]
energy = 2.0 × 104 J[1] when the p.d. across the diode is negative
6 period = 8 × 5 = 40 ms = 0.040 s[1]
a  (i.e., it is reverse biased) or when top
contact of supply is at a smaller potential
frequency = 1
T
= 25 Hz[1] than top plate of the capacitor.[1]
b V0 = 3 × 0.5 = 1.5 V[1] 9 a 
Full-wave rectification occurs[1]
Vr.m.s. = 1.5
= 1.06 ≈ 1.1 V[1] Four diodes are used[1]
2
Circuit showing correct bridge rectifier
c I r.m.s. = V r.m.s./R = 1.06/200 = 5.3 × 10−3 A
with four diodes, input and output (as per
 [1]
Figure 27.12 in the coursebook)[1]
d <P> = I r.m.s. × V r.m.s. = 1.06 × 5.3 × 10−3[1] Circuit with all diodes connected in
mean power = 5.6 × 10−3 W[1] correct direction[1]
7 I0 = 2 × I r.m.s.
a  [1] Correct explanation describing the two
diodes that conduct when the supply
b i 
The current using the a.c. supply is not voltage has positive potential at top and
steady and is mostly below 2.0 A.[1] negative potential at bottom[1]
The heating effect is greater using Correct explanation describing the other
the d.c. supply.[1] two diodes that conduct when the supply
Pdc ( I )2 voltage has negative potential at top and
ii = dc 2 [1] positive potential at bottom[1]
Pac ( I rms )
Pdc b Capacitor charges up to 1.0 V.[1]
= 2[1] When the p.d. across capacitor exceeds the
Pac
supply p.d. the diode stops conducting.[1]
8 a 
Correct dotted line showing a.c[1]
Capacitor provides current in resistor and
Peak voltage V0 = 2 × 6.0 = 8.49 ≈ 8.5 V
discharges (exponentially).[1]
marked as peak on graph[1]
1 = 0.02 s marked
c i t = 0.013 to 0.015 s[1]
Time for one cycle 50
on graph[1] ii Vmean = 0.91 V (allow 0.01 V)[1]
Correct half-wave rectified shape shown (Vmean )2 0.912
iii <P> = = [1]
[1] R 1000
= 8.28 × 10−4 ≈ 8.3 × 10−4 W[1]
p.d./V
i   The steady direct voltage that delivers
10 a 
8.5 the same energy / power[1]
to a resistance / resistive load as the
0 alternating voltage.[1]
0.02 0.04 Time/s
ii V0 = 2 × Vrms = 2 × 400 000[1]
–8.5
= 566 000 ≈ 5.7 × 105 V or The p.d.
between two conductors is twice
3
b i  4
× 0.02 = 0.015 s[1] this value.[1]
Vmean 5.7 P 500 × 106
ii Imean = = [1] b I r.m.s. =
i  = [1]
R 400 Vr.m.s. 400 × 103
= 0.014 25 ≈ 1.4 × 10−2 A[1] = 1250 ≈ 1.2 × 103 or 1.3 × 103 A[1]
iii Q = Imeant = 0.014 25 × 0.015[1] ii P = (I r.m.s.)2R = 12502 × 4.0[1]
Q = 2.14 × 10−4 ≈ 2.1 × 10−4 C[1] P = 6.25 × 106 ≈ 6.2 × 106 or
6.3 × 106 W[1]
iv p.d. across capacitor falls from 8.49 to
4.24 V iii When the voltage is stepped up, the
Q 2.14 × 10 −4 current is reduced (for the same input
C = = [1] power).[1]
Vfinal −Vinitial 8.49 − 4.24
= 5.04 × 10−5 ≈ 5.0 × 10−5 F[1]

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
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 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

Smaller currents produced less energy b  0 = 100 V; V = 80 V with t = 8.0 ms

V
/ power loss in the line’s resistance.[1] (allow ±0.5 ms)[1]
i  Between A and B, the capacitor is
11 a  V = V0e−t/CR; ln (V/V0) = −t/CR or ln
charging.[1] (80/100) = −8.0 × 10−3/C × 120[1]
ii Between B and C, the capacitor is C = 3.0 × 10−4 F[1]
discharging through the resistor.[1]

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
4 © Cambridge University Press 2020