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Electricity and Magnetism — Free MYP1 Sciences Practice Questions
1QuestionDifference Between Series and Parallel CircuitsConcept Practice
2 marks~3 minCriterion A
The two circuits below show different ways to connect bulbs.
Circuit X has two bulbs connected in one single loop. Circuit Y has two bulbs each connected on its own separate branch.
Circuit X has two bulbs connected in one single loop. Circuit Y has two bulbs each connected on its own separate branch.
a
Identify which circuit is the series circuit and which is the parallel circuit. [1]
b
Describe one difference between how electricity flows in a series circuit and in a parallel circuit. [1]
Solutions
2QuestionReal-Life Applications Home and School CircuitsConcept Practice
2 marks~3 minCriterion B
A student adds more bulbs to a series circuit, one at a time, and records how bright the bulbs glow.
| Number of bulbs | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brightness | Very bright | Bright | Dim | Very dim |
a
Identify the independent variable in this investigation. [1]
b
Describe how changing this variable affects the brightness of the bulbs. [1]
Solutions
3QuestionReal-Life Applications Home and School CircuitsConcept Practice
3 marks~5 minCriterion C
The table below shows the current measured in a series circuit with different numbers of identical bulbs.
| Number of bulbs | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current (A) | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
a
Identify the current when 1 bulb is connected. [1]
b
Describe what happens to the current as more bulbs are added to the series circuit. [1]
c
A student says: "Adding bulbs to a series circuit is like adding more blocked pipes — the water flows more slowly each time." Describe one way this comparison matches what the data shows. [1]
Solutions
4QuestionDifference Between Series and Parallel CircuitsConcept Practice
2 marks~3 minCriterion A
The diagram shows a series circuit and a parallel circuit, each with a battery and bulbs connected by wires.
a
Label one component that appears in both circuits. [1]
b
Describe one difference between how the bulbs are connected in the series circuit and the parallel circuit. [1]
Solutions
5QuestionElectrical Safety and InsulationConcept Practice
2 marks~3 minCriterion B
A student tests four materials — a paper clip, a plastic straw, a wooden stick, and a copper wire — in a simple circuit with a battery and a bulb. They watch to see whether the bulb lights up.
a
Identify the independent variable in this investigation. [1]
b
Identify the dependent variable in this investigation. [1]
Solutions
6QuestionElectrical Safety and InsulationConcept Practice
2 marks~3 minCriterion A
The circuit diagram shows a battery, a bulb, a switch, and a fuse.
a
Identify the component in the circuit that protects it from too much electricity. [1]
b
Describe what this component does when too much electricity flows through the circuit. [1]
Solutions
7QuestionDrawing Magnetic Field LinesConcept Practice
2 marks~3 minCriterion B
A student sprinkles 10, 20, or 30 iron filings onto paper placed over a bar magnet to see how the pattern of magnetic field lines changes.
a
Identify the independent variable in this investigation. [1]
b
Describe what the student keeps the same to make this a fair test. Give one example. [1]
Solutions
8QuestionEarth Magnetic Field IntroductoryConcept Practice
3 marks~5 minCriterion C
The table below shows the magnetic field strength at different latitudes on Earth's surface.
| Latitude (degrees) | 0 | 30 | 60 | 90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field strength (units) | 25 | 40 | 55 | 65 |
a
Identify the latitude where the magnetic field is weakest. [1]
b
Describe what happens to the magnetic field strength as latitude increases from 0° to 90°. [1]
c
Compare the magnetic field strength at the equator (0°) with the field strength at the poles (90°). [1]
Solutions
9QuestionDrawing Magnetic Field LinesConcept Practice
2 marks~3 minCriterion A
The diagram shows a bar magnet with magnetic field lines drawn around it.
a
Identify one feature of the magnetic field lines shown in the diagram. [1]
b
Describe what the arrows on the field lines tell you about where a compass needle would point near the magnet. [1]
Solutions
10QuestionComparing Magnets and ElectromagnetsConcept Practice
3 marks~5 minCriterion C
An electromagnet is made by wrapping wire around a nail and connecting it to a battery. The table below shows how many paper clips it picks up with different numbers of coils. A permanent magnet always picks up 6 paper clips.
| Number of coils | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper clips picked up | 2 | 5 | 8 | 11 |
a
Identify one thing that happens to the electromagnet's strength as the number of coils increases. [1]
b
Describe what the data shows about the number of paper clips the electromagnet picks up as more coils are added. [1]
c
Compare the strength of the electromagnet with the strength of the permanent magnet at 15 coils. Use the data to support your answer. [1]
Solutions
11QuestionMaking an ElectromagnetConcept Practice
4 marks~6 minCriterion B
Two electromagnets are made by wrapping wire around an iron nail and connecting it to a battery.
Electromagnet A: 5 coils → lifts 2 paperclips
Electromagnet B: 15 coils → lifts 6 paperclips
Electromagnet A: 5 coils → lifts 2 paperclips
Electromagnet B: 15 coils → lifts 6 paperclips
a
Identify what is being changed between Electromagnet A and Electromagnet B. [1]
b
Describe what happens to the lifting strength as the number of coils increases. Use the numbers above in your answer. [2]
c
Electromagnet A lifts 2 paperclips. Electromagnet B has three times as many coils. Compare the lifting strength of the two electromagnets and suggest why the one with more coils is stronger. [1]
Solutions
12QuestionComparing Magnets and ElectromagnetsConcept Practice
3 marks~5 minCriterion A
The diagram shows a bar magnet and an electromagnet. Both attract the same number of paperclips.
a
Name the part of the electromagnet that can be switched on or off to control its magnetism. [1]
b
Describe how the iron core helps the electromagnet work. [1]
c
Give one difference between how a bar magnet and an electromagnet produce their magnetism. [1]
Solutions
13QuestionFactors Affecting Electromagnet StrengthConcept Practice
2 marks~3 minCriterion D
A scrapyard crane uses an electromagnet to lift cars. The crane operator can change the number of wire coils on the electromagnet.
a
State what happens to the strength of the electromagnet when the number of wire coils is increased. [1]
b
Describe how being able to change the number of coils makes the crane more useful in a scrapyard. [1]
Solutions
14QuestionCharging by Friction Conduction and InductionConcept Practice
6 marks~9 minCriterion C
A student rubs a plastic ruler with different materials and counts how many paper clips it picks up.
| Number of rubs | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper clips picked up (wool) | 2 | 5 | 8 | 11 |
| Paper clips picked up (silk) | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Paper clips picked up (cotton) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
a
Identify which material caused the strongest static charge on the ruler. [1]
b
Describe what happens to the number of paper clips picked up as the number of rubs increases when using wool. [2]
c
Compare how well wool and cotton charge the ruler. Use the results in your answer. [3]
Solutions
15QuestionAttraction and Repulsion of ChargesConcept Practice
2 marks~3 minCriterion A
The diagram shows two pairs of balloons hanging from strings.
Pair A: one balloon has a positive charge () and the other has a negative charge (). The arrows point toward each other.
Pair B: both balloons have a positive charge (). The arrows point away from each other.
Pair A: one balloon has a positive charge () and the other has a negative charge (). The arrows point toward each other.
Pair B: both balloons have a positive charge (). The arrows point away from each other.
a
Identify the type of force shown by the arrows in Pair A and in Pair B. [1]
b
Describe why the balloons in Pair A behave differently from the balloons in Pair B. [1]
Solutions
16QuestionDefinition of Static ElectricityConcept Practice
3 marks~5 minCriterion B
A student rubs a balloon on a wool sweater. The table shows what happens.
| Number of rubs | 1 | 3 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper pieces picked up | 2 | 6 | 10 |
a
Identify the pattern shown in the table. [1]
b
Describe how rubbing the balloon on the sweater creates static electricity. [1]
c
Compare what happens to the balloon's charge after 1 rub and after 5 rubs, and explain why more paper pieces are picked up after 5 rubs. [1]
Solutions
17QuestionGood Conductors vs Poor ConductorsAssessment Practice
4 marks~6 minCriterion D
A school is building a safety railing next to electrical equipment. They are choosing between three materials: copper, rubber, and wood.
a
Name one material from the list that is a good conductor of electricity. [1]
b
Describe why copper would be dangerous to use for this railing. [1]
c
Compare rubber and wood as choices for the railing. In your answer, include one safety reason and one practical reason for each material. [2]
Solutions
18QuestionGood Conductors vs Poor ConductorsAssessment Practice
5 marks~8 minCriterion C
A student tests four materials in a simple circuit with a battery, a bulb, and wires.
| Material | Bulb brightness |
|---|---|
| Copper nail | Bright |
| Plastic straw | Off |
| Graphite pencil lead | Dim |
| Rubber band | Off |
a
Identify which material is the best conductor of electricity. [1]
b
Describe what the bulb brightness tells you about how well graphite pencil lead conducts electricity. [2]
c
A classmate says: "Only metals can conduct electricity." Describe whether this claim is correct, using two materials from the results to support your answer. [2]
Solutions
19QuestionTemporary vs Permanent MagnetsAssessment Practice
4 marks~6 minCriterion D
A wooden pencil case needs a magnetic latch to keep it closed in a school bag and to open easily when needed. You can use a permanent magnet or an electromagnet (a wire wrapped around an iron nail connected to a battery).
a
Name the type of magnet that would work better for this latch. [1]
b
Describe one reason why the type of magnet you named in part (a) is better for this latch. [1]
c
The pencil case latch uses an electromagnet. Describe one problem with using an electromagnet and explain how this problem could stop the latch from working. [2]
Solutions
20QuestionAttraction and Repulsion of ChargesAssessment Practice
3 marks~5 minCriterion A
Three balloons hang from strings. Balloon 1 and Balloon 2 are both negatively charged and push each other apart. When Balloon 3 is brought close to Balloon 1, it pulls Balloon 1 toward it.
a
Identify the type of charge on Balloon 3. [1]
b
Describe why Balloon 3 pulls Balloon 1 toward it. Use the term "opposite charges" in your answer. [1]
c
Describe what Balloon 3 would do to Balloon 2, and explain why. Use the term "like charges" in your answer. [1]
Solutions