CIE iGCSE Co-Ordinated Science P1.6.3 Energy resources Exam Style Questions Paper 3
Question
(a) The two boxes on the left each contain the name of an energy resource.
The four boxes on the right contain advantages or disadvantages of the energy resources.
Draw two lines from each energy resource to the advantages or disadvantages of the energy resource.
(b) The statements, A to E, describe processes in a coal-burning power station.
They are not in the correct order.
A Coal burns to produce thermal energy.
B A turbine drives a generator.
C Steam is produced.
D Steam turns a turbine.
E Thermal energy boils water.
(i) Use the letters B to E to complete the sequence to describe how the power station generates electricity.
A $\underset{}{\rightarrow}$ …………. $\underset{}{\rightarrow}$ ………….$\underset{}{\rightarrow}$ ………….$\underset{}{\rightarrow}$ …………$\underset{}{\rightarrow}$ electricity is generated
(ii) State the boiling point of water.
(c) When coal is burned in a power station, the energy in the coal is transferred to the energy outputs shown in Table 9.1.
The energy outputs are shown as percentages of the total energy from the coal.
(i) Explain why Table 9.1 shows that energy is conserved in the processes in the power station.
(ii) The power station in Table 9.1 produces a lot of thermal energy.
Explain why the power station is not efficient.
(d) The electricity generated from the power station is supplied to a house to power the lighting circuit.
Lamps for lighting in the house are connected in a parallel circuit and not in a series circuit.
(i) Complete the circuit diagrams to show the difference between a series circuit and a parallel circuit.
Use two lamps in each circuit.
ii) State one advantage of connecting lamps in parallel in a lighting circuit.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans : 9(a) coal to non-renewable and polluting ;
geothermal to renewable and non-polluting ;
9(b)(i) A → E → C → D → B
E and C correct ;
D and B correct ;
9(b)(ii) 100(°C) ;
9(c)(i) numbers add up to a hundred ;
9(c)(ii) thermal energy is not useful / useful energy output is only 25% ;
9(d)(i) correct symbol for lamp ;
series circuit correct ;
parallel circuit correct ;
9(d)(ii) any one from :
all the lamps can be switched on independently
all lamps get full mains voltage
if one lamp fails the others can still work…
Question
Visible light travels 1.5 × 10$^{8}$ km from the Sun to the Earth.
(a) The speed of light is 3.0 × 10$^{8}$ m / s.
Calculate the time taken for visible light to travel from the Sun to the Earth.
(b) Visible light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Fig. 12.1 shows an incomplete electromagnetic spectrum.
Identify regions J, K and L shown in Fig. 12.1.
(c) Explain why energy is transferred through space from the Sun to the Earth by radiation and not by conduction or convection.
(d) Solar energy is a renewable source of energy.
The list shows some renewable energy sources and some non-renewable energy sources.
coal geothermal hydroelectric
natural gas waves wind
(i) Identify two renewable energy sources from the list.
(ii) Identify two non-renewable energy sources from the list.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans : 12(a) evidence of, unit conversion km to m ;
evidence of, time = distance ÷ speed / 1.5 × 10$^{11}$ ÷ 3.0 × 10$^{8}$;
500 (s) ;
12(b) J = microwaves ;
K = infrared (radiation) ;
L = X-rays ;
12(c) space is a vacuum ;
radiation does not need a medium to pass through / conduction and convection need a medium to pass through ;
12(d)(i) any two from:
geothermal
hydroelectric
waves
wind
;;
12(d)(ii) coal AND natural gas ;
Question
(a) A man is sitting on a beach on a sunny day. The man is out in the Sun for too long and gets sunburned.
(i) State the name of the electromagnetic radiation that causes sunburn.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(ii) Place the electromagnetic radiation named in 3(a)(i) into the incomplete electromagnetic spectrum shown in Fig. 3.1.
(b) The man stands up. Pressure from his feet makes footprints in the sand.
State the two quantities needed to calculate this pressure.
1 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(c) The man catches a beach ball.
The ball has a mass of 0.50kg and a weight of 4.9N.
Calculate the value of the gravitational field strength g.
State the units of your answer.
g = …………………… units …………………..
(d) Fig. 3.2 represents a water wave on the sea.
(i) Determine the wavelength of the wave.
wavelength = …………………………………………….. m
(ii) Determine the amplitude of the wave.
amplitude = …………………………………………….. m
(e) A piece of glass has been left on the sand.
The glass acts as a convex lens focusing the Sun’s rays onto a piece of paper lying on the sand.
(i) Complete Fig. 3.3 to show the three rays of light focused on the paper at point X.
(ii) The lens has a mass of 5.0g and a volume of 2.0cm$^{3}$.
Calculate the density of the glass in the lens.
density = ………………………………………. g/cm$^{3}$
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: 3(a)(i) ultraviolet ;
3(a)(ii) ultraviolet (UV) written in box to the right of X-rays ;
3(b) surface area of feet (in contact with sand) ;
weight of man ;
3(c) g = weight × mass (in any form) / 4.9× 0.50 ;
9.8 ;
N / kg ;
3(d)(i) 4(.0) (m) ;
3(d)(ii) 1(.0) (m) ;
3(e)(i) three rays coming to a focus at X ;
3(e)(ii) density = mass ÷ volume (in any form) / 5.0 ÷ 2.0 ;
= 2.5 (g / cm$^{3}$) ;
Question
(a) An oil tanker is carrying petroleum.
Petroleum is a non-renewable energy source.
Identify the energy sources in Table 12.1 as renewable or non-renewable by placing a tick (3) for each one in the correct column.
One has been done for you.
(b) Fig. 12.1 shows a speed–time graph for the oil tanker.
The graph is divided into sections P, Q, R and S.
(i) State a section of the graph (P, Q, R or S) when the oil tanker is travelling at a constant speed and state this speed.
section ………………………………….
speed …………………………………. m / s
(ii) State the section of the graph (P, Q, R or S) when the oil tanker has the greatest acceleration.
Explain your answer.
section ………………………………….
explanation …………………………………………………………………………
(iii) Calculate the distance travelled by the oil tanker during section P.
distance = …………………………………………….. m
(c) The captain of the oil tanker uses a telescope to look at another ship.
The telescope uses a converging lens to focus the light and form an image of the other ship.
Fig. 12.2 shows two parallel light rays passing through a convex lens.
(i) Complete the light rays in Fig. 12.2 to show how the light rays are focused by the lens at point F.
(ii) State the name of point F.
(d) Fig. 12.3 shows a wave similar to a water wave on the surface of the sea.
(i) State which letter, A, B, C, D or E, is the amplitude of the wave.
letter ………………..
(ii) State which letter, A, B, C, D or E, is the wavelength of the wave.
letter ………………..
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans : 12(a) 
2 or 3 correct ;
4 correct ;
12(b)(i) section Q and 1 (m / s) OR
section S and 5 (m / s) ;
12(b)(ii) section R AND
greatest gradient ;
12(b)(iii) area under graph or 1/2 × 1 × 300 ;
150 (m) ;
12(c)(i) both rays meet at F ;
12(c)(ii) principal focus ;
12(d)(i) B ;
12(d)(ii) E ;
Question
A room in a house has an electric heater.
(a) Fig. 12.1 shows part of the circuit containing the heater.
Complete the circuit diagram in Fig. 12.1 by adding the correct electrical symbol for a fuse.
(b) When the circuit is switched on, the current in the heater is 3A and the supply voltage is 240V.
(i) Calculate the resistance of the heater.
State the unit of your answer.
resistance = ……………………………….. unit ………..
(ii) The fuse in the circuit needs to be replaced.
Explain why a 5A fuse is used and not a 3A fuse.
(c) Fig. 12.2 shows the heater as part of an underfloor heating system.
(i) When the heater is switched on, thermal energy passes through the solid floor to heat the air in the room.
The temperature of the air in the room increases slowly.
State the method of thermal energy transfer through the solid floor.
(ii) State the method of thermal energy transfer that heats all the air in the room.
(d) Some water spills onto the floor and evaporates.
Describe evaporation in terms of the motion of water molecules.
(e) There are solar cells on the roof of the house.
State one advantage and one disadvantage of generating electricity using solar cells. Do not include the cost.
advantage ………………………………………………………………………
disadvantage ………………………………………………………………….
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans : 12(a) fuse inserted in gap using the correct symbol ;
12(b)(i) evidence of resistance = voltage / current (in any form) or 240 / 3 ;
= 80 ;
Ω / ohms ;
12(b)(ii) fuse needs to be slightly greater than maximum current (or it would blow in normal use) ;
12(c)(i) conduction ;
12(c)(ii) convection ;
12(d) faster moving / most energetic molecules (leave) ;
(leave) from the surface of the liquid ;
12(e) renewable energy / does not produce CO2 etc ;
need sunlight / only works during the day etc ;
Question
(a) The list below shows energy sources used by power stations, to generate electricity.
coal gas hydroelectric (HEP)
nuclear petroleum
(i) State the three energy sources from the list that produce carbon dioxide when generating electricity.
1 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
3 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(ii) Coal is described as a non-renewable energy source.
Explain what is meant by non-renewable when describing an energy source.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(iii) State one disadvantage of using nuclear fuel to generate electricity.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(b) (i) In a nuclear power station, fission of plutonium-239 nuclei takes place.
Describe what happens to the nucleus of a plutonium-239 atom during nuclear fission.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(ii) State a safe way of storing a small sample of radioactive material.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(c) Technetium-99 is a radioactive material. The half-life of technetium-99 is 6 hours.
Calculate the percentage of technetium-99 remaining in a sample after 24 hours.
percentage = ……………………………………………..
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: 3(a)(i) any two from:
coal
gas
petroleum ;;
3(a)(ii) only existing as a finite quantity / being used up at a faster rate than it can be replaced ;
3(a)(iii) nuclear accidents / nuclear / dangerous / harmful waste produced ;
3(b)(i) (nucleus) splits ;
3(b)(ii) in a lead lined container ;
3(c) 4 half-lives / division by 16 ;
6.25% ;
Question
(a) Thermal energy is released, by combustion, in a gas-fired power station.
Describe how the thermal energy released is transferred into electrical energy in the power station.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(b) State one advantage and one disadvantage of a nuclear power station compared with a gas-fired power station.
advantage …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
disadvantage …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(c) Cobalt-60 is produced in a nuclear power station.
(i) A sample of cobalt-60 has a mass of 2g.
The half-life of cobalt-60 is 5.25 years.
Calculate the mass of cobalt-60 remaining after 21 years.
mass = ……………………………………………… g
(ii) Cobalt-60 decays by emitting β-particles and γ-rays.
State the charge on a β-particle.
charge = ………………………………………………….
(iii) Place α-particles, β-particles and γ-rays in order of their penetrating abilities.
(iv) Suggest a safe way of storing a small sample of cobalt-60.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: 3(a) thermal energy turns water to steam ;
steam drives turbine ;
turbine drives generator ;
3(b) advantage – nuclear not reliant on fossil fuels / no CO$_{2}$ produced ;
disadvantage – nuclear accidents / disposal of nuclear waste ;
3(c)(i) 4 half-lives ;
0.125 (g) ;
3(c)(ii) –1 ;
3(c)(iii) most penetrating
$\gamma$
β
$\alpha$
least penetrating ;
3(c)(iv) in a lead lined container ;