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Edexcel International GCSE Physics · Topic Test
Energy Resources and Energy Transfers
FREE Online Physics GCSE Course55minutes
56marks
7questions
How it works
- Answer each question. Type into the boxes or pick an option, and use paper for working and drawings.
- Press Check my answers at the end of the question. Tick-box and number answers are marked for you.
- For written answers, compare yours with the mark scheme and tick each point you made. We highlight the key words we spot, but you decide, just like an examiner.
Which course are you taking?
Pick one and the page skips the questions that aren’t on your course. Double Award skips Questions 6 and 7 (generating electricity), which are Physics only.
You will need: paper, a pen, a pencil, a ruler and a calculator. Use g = 10 N/kg. Your answers save automatically in this browser.
1
Question 1
6 marksThe diagram shows a metal device for cooking potatoes. Potatoes are pushed onto the metal spikes.
Two potatoes are cooked on the device in an electric oven. The inside of the oven is black. The heating element is at the bottom of the oven.
Cooking potatoes
Describe the different ways in which energy is transferred to cook the potatoes.
(6 marks)
Mark scheme
Any six of these score (“heat” is fine for thermal energy) (max 6):
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
General
2
Question 2
8 marksFour electrical appliances are: A a food mixer, B a kettle, C a lamp and D a radio.
(a)(i)
Which appliance is designed to transfer electrical energy to thermal energy?
(1 mark)
Mark scheme
Answer: B kettle
(a)(ii)
Which appliance is designed to transfer electrical energy to kinetic energy?
(1 mark)
Mark scheme
Answer: A food mixer
(b)
In all the appliances, energy is conserved. What is meant by the phrase energy is conserved?
(1 mark)
Mark scheme
Any one of these scores (max 1):
(c)(i)
The lamp has an efficiency of 20%. Explain what this means.
(2 marks)
Mark scheme
Two marks for one matching pair: 20% … light, or 80% … wasted:
⚠️ “20%” on its own isn’t enough: say 20% of what (the energy input) becomes what (light).
(c)(ii)
Draw (on paper) a labelled Sankey diagram for the lamp.
(3 marks)
Mark scheme
Compare your diagram with the one above. Score 1 for each of: one input and only two outputs; roughly right widths (light about a quarter of the waste, outputs adding up to the input); two correct labels.
3
Question 3
12 marksA student investigates how the surface area of water affects how quickly it cools down. He puts warm water into different shaped containers.
This is the student’s plan.
I will use four different containers and work out the surface area of water in each one.
I will heat some water and pour the same volume into each container.
I will put a thermometer into each container and measure the water temperatures.
After 15 minutes I will measure the temperatures again.
(a)
State the independent variable in this investigation.
(1 mark)
Mark scheme
Independent variable: (surface) area
💡 The independent variable is the one the student changes on purpose: the containers give different surface areas.
(b)(i)
State one variable that the student plans to control.
(1 mark)
Mark scheme
Control variable: volume of water or the timing period (15 minutes)
💡 Look at the plan: what does he keep the same? (The room isn’t in the plan, and area is what he changes.)
(b)(ii)
Explain why it is important to control this variable.
(2 marks)
Mark scheme
Any two of these score (max 2):
(c)
Suggest a safety precaution for this investigation.
(1 mark)
Mark scheme
Tick each marking point your answer makes:
(d)(i)
The table shows the student’s results. Complete the table by inserting the missing temperature differences.
| Surface area in cm² | Starting temperature in °C | Temperature after 15 minutes in °C | Temperature difference in °C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 600 | 85 | 54 | |
| 400 | 95 | 55 | |
| 300 | 88 | 60 | |
| 150 | 85 | 60 |
°C
°C
°C
°C
(2 marks)
Mark scheme
Difference for 600 cm²: 31 °C
Difference for 400 cm²: 40 °C
Difference for 300 cm²: 28 °C
Difference for 150 cm²: 25 °C
Final answer not right? You can still earn method marks. Tick each step you wrote down (max 1):
(d)(ii)
The student wants to display the data on a graph. Give suitable labels for the axes of his graph.
(3 marks)
Mark scheme
Tick each marking point your answer makes:
(d)(iii)
The student realises that it was a mistake to have different starting temperatures. Suggest how he could change his method to correct this mistake.
(2 marks)
Mark scheme
Any two of these score (max 2):
4
Question 4
10 marksA flying squirrel is an animal that can glide through the air. It spreads out its limbs to stretch a membrane that helps it to glide.
(a)(i)
The mass of a flying squirrel is 0.19 kg. It climbs 17 m up a tree. State the equation linking gravitational potential energy (GPE), mass, g and height.
(1 mark)
Mark scheme
Tick each marking point your answer makes:
(a)(ii)
Calculate the GPE gained by the squirrel during this climb.
J
(2 marks)
Mark scheme
GPE: 32 J (0.19 × 10 × 17 = 32.3 J)
💡 Power-of-ten slip: the mass is already in kg (0.19 kg). (Scores 1 mark: tick below.)
Final answer not right? You can still earn method marks. Tick each step you wrote down (max 1):
(a)(iii)
State the amount of work done against the force of gravity by the squirrel during this climb.
J
(1 mark)
Mark scheme
Work done: the same as (a)(ii): 32 J (work done = energy transferred)
(b)(i)
The flying squirrel glides from P to Q with a constant velocity of 13 m/s.
The glide
Sketch the diagram on paper and add labelled arrows to show the directions of the forces of weight and drag acting on the squirrel.
(2 marks)
Mark scheme
Compare your arrows with the answer above. A force with no label scores nothing.
(b)(ii)
State the equation linking kinetic energy (KE), mass and velocity.
(1 mark)
Mark scheme
Tick each marking point your answer makes:
(b)(iii)
Calculate the KE of the squirrel as it glides.
J
(2 marks)
Mark scheme
KE: 16 J (½ × 0.19 × 13² = 16.055 J)
💡 Power-of-ten slip: 0.19 kg is already in kg. (Scores 1 mark: tick below.)
💡 Don’t forget the ½.
💡 Square the velocity: 13² = 169.
Final answer not right? You can still earn method marks. Tick each step you wrote down (max 1):
(b)(iv)
The velocity of the squirrel decreases to zero when it reaches the second tree because
(1 mark)
Mark scheme
Answer: A an unbalanced force acts on the squirrel
5
Question 5
6 marksA resistance band is a stretchy plastic band that is used when doing exercises. The diagram shows a student exercising his leg by stretching a resistance band fixed to a wall.
The student moves his leg 34 cm sideways as shown. The average resistance force is 23 N.
The resistance band
(a)(i)
State the relationship between work done, force and distance moved.
(1 mark)
Mark scheme
Tick each marking point your answer makes:
(a)(ii)
Calculate the work done when the student moves his leg sideways once.
J
(2 marks)
Mark scheme
Work done: 7.8 J (23 × 0.34)
💡 Convert to metres first: 34 cm = 0.34 m. (A power-of-ten slip scores 1 mark: tick below.)
Final answer not right? You can still earn method marks. Tick each step you wrote down (max 1):
(b)
The student repeats this movement 15 times in 1 minute. Calculate the average power of the student during this exercise.
W
(3 marks)
Mark scheme
Power: 2.0 W (7.8 J every 4 s)
💡 That’s one movement’s work spread over the whole minute. He does it 15 times. (Scores 1 mark: tick below.)
💡 117 J is the total work. Now divide by the time: 60 s.
Final answer not right? You can still earn method marks. Tick each step you wrote down (max 2):
6
Question 6
Physics only6 marksSkip this one. Generating electricity (4.18P) is only on the Physics course, so it isn’t in your Double Award score.
Physics only. Double Award students: pick “Double Award” at the top and this question folds away.
The diagram shows a type of power station used to generate electricity.
A power station
(a)(i)
What type of renewable resource does this power station use?
(1 mark)
Mark scheme
Resource: geothermal
(a)(ii)
Name another renewable resource.
(1 mark)
Mark scheme
Another renewable: e.g. wind, hydroelectric, waves, tidal, solar, biomass
💡 That one isn’t renewable: it will run out.
💡 “Water” on its own isn’t enough. Say how: hydroelectric, waves or tides.
(b)
Cold water is pumped down into the hot, dry rock. Describe the energy transfers at each stage of electricity generation from this resource.
(4 marks)
Mark scheme
Any four of these score (“heat” for thermal, “mechanical” for kinetic are fine) (max 4):
7
Question 7
Physics only8 marksSkip this one. Generating electricity (4.18P) is only on the Physics course, so it isn’t in your Double Award score.
Physics only. Double Award students: pick “Double Award” at the top and this question folds away.
A small building has a wind turbine and a panel of solar cells, used for generating electricity from renewable sources.
(a)
Complete the sentences using words from the box: chemical heat kinetic light sound
(2 marks)
Mark scheme
The panel of solar cells transforms … energy into electrical: light
💡 Solar cells (photovoltaic) use the Sun’s light.
The wind turbine transforms … energy into electrical: kinetic
💡 Moving air has kinetic energy.
(b)(i)
On a windy day, the wind turbine transfers 78 W of power. State the equation linking power, energy transferred and time.
(1 mark)
Mark scheme
Tick each marking point your answer makes:
(b)(ii)
Calculate the amount of energy the turbine transfers in 10 s.
J
(3 marks)
Mark scheme
Energy transferred: 780 J (78 × 10)
💡 You divided. E = P × t = 78 × 10.
Final answer not right? You can still earn method marks. Tick each step you wrote down (max 2):
(c)
The Sankey diagram shows the energy transferred by the panel of solar cells.
The solar panel
Show that the efficiency of the panel of solar cells is 12%.
(2 marks)
Mark scheme
Tick each marking point your answer makes:
Your results
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| Question | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q5 | Q6 | Q7 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out of | 6 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 56 |
| Your mark | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 |
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