PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS

TOPIC-22 Electronics

PAPER-1 Multiple Choice

1-

The diagram shows a thermistor connected in a potential divider circuit.

The resistance of the thermistor decreases when its temperature rises. The thermistor
is heated.
What happens to the potential difference across the thermistor as it is heated?
A It decreases but not to zero.
B It decreases to zero.
C It increases.
D It stays the same.

????? /[May-2008]

2- The diagram shows a circuit.What are the components X and

Y?
X Y
A fuse resistor
B lamp variable resistor
C light-dependent resistor light-emitting diode
D light-dependent resistor variable resistor

[Nov-2003]

3- The following trace is shown on the screen of an

oscilloscope when it is connected to a transformer. The
scale is set at 5V per centimetre.
What is the value of the peak voltage?
A 4V B 5V C 10V D 20V [Nov-2003]

4- The diagram shows a circuit with a potential divider joined in series with a fixed resistor.
What are the minimum and maximum readings that can be obtained on the voltmeter when the
potential divider is adjusted? [Nov-2003]

minimum reading /V maximum reading /V

A 0 2
B 0 6
C 2 4
D 6 12

5- An electrical engineer connects a diode to a radio so that:

 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-22 Electronics

if the battery is connected the right way round the radio works,
if the battery is connected the wrong way there is no current. Which diagram is correct? A

[Nov-2004]

6- A cathode-ray oscilloscope is connected to an a.c. generator.

A wave is shown on the screen.
What is the effect on the trace if the generator’s speed of rotation is doubled?
number of waves on amplitude of waves
the screen on the screen
A doubled same
B same doubled
C doubled doubled
D same same
[Nov-2004]

7-In which circuit will a lamp glow more brightly when less light shines on a light-dependent
resistor? B [Nov-2004]

8- The diagram shows the design of a cathode-ray oscilloscope tube.

 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-22 Electronics

There is a constant potential difference across the deflection plates.

Which change increases the deflection of the spot on the screen?
A decreasing the distance from the deflection plates to the screen
B increasing the length of the deflection plates
C increasing the potential difference between cathode and anode
D increasing the separation of the deflection plates [Nov-2004]

9- Which circuit contains a cell, a light-emitting diode and a fixed resistor? A [May-2005]

10- The diagram shows some of the important parts of the tube of a cathode-ray oscilloscope.
Which change in voltage results in the position of the spot on the screen moving towards the top?

A decreasing V 1 B decreasing V 3 C increasing V 2 D increasing V 3 [May-2005]

11- A thermistor is connected in a circuit with a 6 V cell, a 3000 Ω resistor and a voltmeter, as shown.
The graph shows how the resistance of the thermistor varies with temperature.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-22 Electronics

What is the temperature of the thermistor when the voltmeter reads 2 V?

A 20oC B 40oC C 60oC D 80oC [May-2005]

12-

13- A potential divider consists of an LDR and a resistor

connected to a 6 V battery.

What should be the resistance of the LDR for the output to be 3

V?
A0
B between 0 and 10 000 Ω
C 10 000 Ω
D more than 10 000 Ω [Nov-2005]

14- A waveform is displayed on a cathode-ray oscilloscope. The

length of three cycles of the waveform is 6 cm. The vertical gain
and the time-base settings are shown on the diagram.
What is the time taken for one cycle of the waveform?

A 1 ms B 2 ms C 4 ms D 6 ms [May-2007]

15-A lamp is connected in series with a light-dependent resistor (LDR) and a battery. The barrier shields
the LDR from the lamp.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-22 Electronics

When low intensity light falls on the LDR, the lamp glows dimly. If the light intensity on the LDR increases,
what happens to the lamp?
A It gets brighter. B It gets dimmer but does not go out.
C It goes out. D It stays the same.
[May-2009]

16-The circuit diagram shows a variable resistor R connected in parallel to the lower half of a potential
divider.

The resistance of R increases. What happens to the two voltmeter readings?

reading on V1 reading on V2
A decreases decreases
B decreases increases
C increases decreases
D increases increases
[May-2009]

17- The diagram is a circuit designed to switch on a lamp when it gets dark.

Which component is used as the sensor at X? C

 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-22 Electronics

[Nov-2009]

18- A thermistor is connected in a circuit with a 6 V battery, a 3000 Ω resistor and a voltmeter, as
shown. The graph shows how the resistance of the thermistor varies with temperature.

What is the temperature of the thermistor when the voltmeter reads 2 V?

A 20 °C B 40 °C C 60 °C D 80 °C [Nov-2009]

19- A cathode-ray oscilloscope is connected to an a.c. generator. A wave is seen on the screen of the
oscilloscope.

The speed of rotation of the generator is doubled. What is the effect on the wave?

number of peaks on the screen amplitude of wave on the screen

A doubled doubled
B doubled same
C same doubled
D same same
[May-2010]
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-22 Electronics

PAPER-2 Theory

1- Fig. 7.1 shows a simple version of an electron-beam tube.

The filament is connected to a 6 V power supply and
there is a potential difference of 2000 V
between the filament and the anode. As the electron
beam hits the fluorescent screen, a
spot of light appears on the screen.
(a) Explain why
(i) electrons are emitted from the filament,
...............................................................................................
...................................
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...................................
(ii) electrons accelerate after they leave the filament,
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...................................
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(iii) a vacuum is needed in the tube.
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..................................................................................................................................
(b) An alternating potential difference of very low frequency is applied across the deflecting plates in Fig.
7.1. The spot of light on the screen is seen to move. Describe and explain the movement of the spot.
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
..............
...........................................................................................................................
.......... [May-2004]

2- Fig. 7.1 shows an electrical circuit.

 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-22 Electronics

(a) On Fig. 7.1, draw an arrow at A to show the direction of flow of the electrons in the wire.

(b) What is the name of component X?

...................................................................................................................................
(c) State and explain how the potential difference across X varies as the light shining on it becomes brighter.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
............................... [May-2005]

3- Fig. 7.1 shows an electrical circuit and a cathode-ray oscilloscope (C.R.O.).

(a) On Fig. 7.1, draw the connections you would make to enable the C.R.O. to measure the potential
difference (p.d.) across the resistor.

(b) Fig. 7.2 shows the trace on the screen before and after the connections are made.

The Y-gain control is set at 2 V for each division on the screen.

(i) State the value of the p.d. across the resistor.
p.d. = ..............................................................
(ii) The Y-gain control is altered to 4 V for each division.
On Fig. 7.2, draw the new trace seen on the screen.

[May-2006]

4- EITHER
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TOPIC-22 Electronics

The Y-plates of a cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO) are connected to an alternating voltage of amplitude 4.0
V and frequency 25 Hz.

The Y-gain of the CRO is set at 2.0 V / division and the time-base is set at 0.01 s / division. On the grid
below, draw the trace on the screen of the CRO. Show your calculations beside the grid. [4]

OR

Fig. 8.1 shows a transistor used in the circuit of a simple moisture detector.

(a) Describe what happens when the water level in the beaker reaches the metal contacts.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................... [3]

(b) State one use for this simple moisture detector.

.................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Nov-2007]
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-22 Electronics

5- Fig. 8.1 shows the part of a cathode-ray oscilloscope in which an electron beam is produced.

(a) State why the filament emits electrons.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) State

(i) how the electrons are made to move at high speed,

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................. [1]

(ii) why a vacuum is needed inside the oscilloscope.

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................. [1]

(c) In each second, 8.0 × 1014 electrons pass through the hole in the anode. The charge on an electron is 1.6
× 10–19 C. Calculate the current in the electron beam.

current = ............................... [2]

6-

PAPER-4 Alternative to Practical