Electrical charge
4.2.1What the syllabus asks of you
- State that there are positive and negative charges and that charge is measured in coulombs
- State that unlike charges attract and like charges repel
- Describe experiments to show electrostatic charging by friction
- Explain that charging of solids by friction involves only a transfer of negative charge (electrons)
- Describe an electric field as a region in which an electric charge experiences a force
- State that the direction of an electric field line at a point is the direction of the force on a positive charge at that point
- Describe simple electric field patterns, including the direction of the field: (a) around a point charge (b) around a charged conducting sphere (c) between two oppositely charged parallel conducting plates (end effects will not be examined)
- State examples of electrical conductors and insulators
- Describe an experiment to distinguish between electrical conductors and insulators
- Recall and use a simple electron model to explain the difference between electrical conductors and insulators
Read the notes first
Chapter 4: Electrical charge
Drill this topic
Every question on Electrical charge, untimed, marked as you go.
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Choose the years and how many questions, then print it with the answers on separate pages.
45 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q30Show mark scheme →
AElectrons transfer from the cloth to the rod.
BElectrons transfer from the rod to the cloth.
CProtons transfer from the cloth to the rod.
DProtons transfer from the rod to the cloth.
Mark scheme
2Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 11 · Q27Show mark scheme →
Aaluminium
Bglass
Cplastic
Drubber
Mark scheme
3Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 11 · Q28Show mark scheme →
Amagnitude of charge on cloth: equal to Q; sign of charge on cloth: positive; type of force: attraction
Bmagnitude of charge on cloth: equal to Q; sign of charge on cloth: negative; type of force: repulsion
Cmagnitude of charge on cloth: greater than Q; sign of charge on cloth: positive; type of force: repulsion
Dmagnitude of charge on cloth: greater than Q; sign of charge on cloth: negative; type of force: attraction
Mark scheme
4Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 11 · Q30Show mark scheme →
AElectrons are transferred from earth to the plastic.
BElectrons are transferred from the cloth to the plastic.
CElectrons move from one side of the plastic to the other side of the plastic.
DProtons are transferred from the plastic to the cloth.
Mark scheme
5Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 11 · Q31Show mark scheme →
ADiagram A: horizontal arrows pointing right between plates
BDiagram B: horizontal arrows pointing left between plates
CDiagram C: vertical arrows pointing down between plates
DDiagram D: vertical arrows pointing up between plates
Mark scheme
6Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 12 · Q27Show mark scheme →
AThe plastic rod loses protons and becomes negatively charged.
BThe plastic rod loses electrons and becomes negatively charged.
CThe plastic rod gains protons and becomes positively charged.
DThe plastic rod loses electrons and becomes positively charged.
Mark scheme
7May / June 2024 · Paper 11 · Q30Show mark scheme →
Agains electrons | loses electrons | neutral | positive
Bgains electrons | loses electrons | negative | positive
Closes electrons | gains electrons | negative | positive
Dloses electrons | gains electrons | positive | neutral
Mark scheme
8Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 11 · Q23Also set in Oct / Nov 2019 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Abackground radiation in the aircraft
Bfriction of the aircraft with the air
Cheating of the aircraft surface
Dradio waves emitted by the aircraft
Mark scheme
9Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 11 · Q24Show mark scheme →
ABoth spheres are charged and both are positive.
BBoth spheres are charged but one is positive and the other is negative.
CThe spheres have the same number of electrons.
DThe spheres have the same number of protons.
Mark scheme
10Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 12 · Q31Show mark scheme →
Aa polythene rod rubbed with a steel magnet
Ba polythene rod rubbed with a woollen duster
Can iron rod rubbed with a steel magnet
Dan iron rod rubbed with a woollen duster
Mark scheme
11May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q27Show mark scheme →
Aelectrons move from the rod on to the cloth
Bprotons move from the cloth on to the rod
Celectrons move from the cloth on to the rod
Dprotons move from the rod on to the cloth
Mark scheme
12May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q28Show mark scheme →
AIt is towards the right because it is in an electric field.
BIt is towards the left because it is in an electric field.
CIt is towards the right because it is in a magnetic field.
DIt is towards the left because it is in a magnetic field.
Mark scheme
13May / June 2023 · Paper 12 · Q26Also set in May / June 2017 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
ANegative electrons are transferred to the carpet.
BNegative electrons are transferred to the shoe.
CPositive electrons are transferred to the carpet.
DPositive electrons are transferred to the shoe.
Mark scheme
14Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 11 · Q27Show mark scheme →
Anegative; electrons move from the cloth to the rod
Bnegative; protons move from the rod to the cloth
Cpositive; electrons move from the rod to the cloth
Dpositive; protons move from the cloth to the rod
Mark scheme
15Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 12 · Q31Show mark scheme →
Aaway from each other | opposite charges attract
Baway from each other | opposite charges repel
Ctowards each other | opposite charges attract
Dtowards each other | opposite charges repel
Mark scheme
16May / June 2022 · Paper 11 · Q29Show mark scheme →
Aa computer hard disk drive
Ba motor
Ca photocopier
Da transformer
Mark scheme
17May / June 2022 · Paper 11 · Q30Show mark scheme →
Adirection of electric field E, rod with negative charge on right end
Bdirection of electric field E, rod with positive charge on right end
Cdirection of electric field E, rod with positive charge on left end and negative charge on right end
Ddirection of electric field E, rod with negative charge on left end and positive charge on right end
Mark scheme
18May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q30Show mark scheme →
Asphere with + charges distributed on the left side
Bsphere with – charges distributed on the left side
Csphere with + charges on the left and – charges on the right
Dsphere with – charges on the left and + charges on the right
Mark scheme
19May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q31Also set in May / June 2022 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Acharge on X: positive; charge on Y: positive
Bcharge on X: positive; charge on Y: uncharged
Ccharge on X: uncharged; charge on Y: positive
Dcharge on X: uncharged; charge on Y: uncharged
Mark scheme
20Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 11 · Q5Show mark scheme →
Ain an electric field only
Bin a gravitational field only
Cin a gravitational field and an electric field only
Din a gravitational, electric and magnetic field
Mark scheme
21Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q31Show mark scheme →
Acharge on left-hand side of ball: –2.0 × 10–9 A; charge on right-hand side of ball: –1.0 × 10–9 A
Bcharge on left-hand side of ball: –2.0 × 10–9 A; charge on right-hand side of ball: +2.0 × 10–9 A
Ccharge on left-hand side of ball: –2.0 × 10–9 C; charge on right-hand side of ball: +2.0 × 10–9 C
Dcharge on left-hand side of ball: +2.0 × 10–9 C; charge on right-hand side of ball: –2.0 × 10–9 C
Mark scheme
22May / June 2021 · Paper 11 · Q27Show mark scheme →
ADiagram A: field lines pointing radially outwards from a positive charge
BDiagram B: field lines pointing radially inwards towards a positive charge
CDiagram C: concentric circular field lines around a positive charge with arrows clockwise
DDiagram D: concentric circular field lines around a positive charge with arrows anticlockwise
Mark scheme
23May / June 2021 · Paper 11 · Q29Show mark scheme →
ADust particles gain electrons.
BDust particles gain protons.
CDust particles lose electrons.
DDust particles lose protons.
Mark scheme
24May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q31Also set in May / June 2021 Paper 11, Oct / Nov 2018 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Asphere with + + + + charges
Bsphere with + + + + charges
Csphere with – – – – charges
Dsphere with – – – – charges
Mark scheme
25Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 11 · Q33Show mark scheme →
Acharged charged
Bcharged uncharged
Cuncharged charged
Duncharged uncharged
Mark scheme
26Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 11 · Q34Show mark scheme →
Avertically upwards
Bvertically downwards
Chorizontally to the right
Dhorizontally to the left
Mark scheme
27Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Q9Also set in Oct / Nov 2020 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Aelectric, gravitational and magnetic
Belectric and gravitational only
Celectric and magnetic only
Dgravitational and magnetic only
Mark scheme
28May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q34Show mark scheme →
AElectrons move downwards and protons move upwards in the conductor.
BOnly electrons move in the conductor.
COnly protons move in the conductor.
DProtons in the air attach themselves to the conductor.
Mark scheme
29May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q35Also set in May / June 2020 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Anegative and smaller than that on X
Bnegative and the same size as that on X
Cpositive and smaller than that on X
Dpositive and the same size as that on X
Mark scheme
30May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q36Also set in May / June 2020 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Ato the left
Bto the right
Cdown the page
Dup the page
Mark scheme
31Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 11 · Q31Show mark scheme →
Anegative; electrons moving to the top of the mast
Bnegative; protons moving to the bottom of the mast
Cpositive; electrons moving to the bottom of the mast
Dpositive; protons moving to the top of the mast
Mark scheme
32Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 12 · Q30Show mark scheme →
AElectrons flow from Y to earth only.
BElectrons flow to Y from earth only.
CProtons flow from Y to earth and electrons flow to Y from earth.
DProtons flow to Y from earth and electrons flow from Y to earth.
Mark scheme
33Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 12 · Q31Show mark scheme →
ABoth positive and negative charges can flow through copper.
BCopper can be electrostatically charged.
CSo the lightning conductor has a low electrical resistance.
DSo the heat is conducted away quickly.
Mark scheme
34May / June 2019 · Paper 11 · Q31Show mark scheme →
Agains electrons / no change of electrons
Bloses electrons / gain electrons
Cno change of electrons / lose electrons
Dno change of electrons / gain electrons
Mark scheme
35Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 11 · Q24Show mark scheme →
ADiagram A: arrows pointing radially inward towards a positive charge
BDiagram B: arrows pointing radially outward from a positive charge
CDiagram C: concentric circular field lines with clockwise arrows around a positive charge
DDiagram D: concentric circular field lines with anticlockwise arrows around a positive charge
Mark scheme
36Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
AIt is stronger at X than at Y and is in the opposite direction.
BIt is stronger at X than at Y and is in the same direction.
CIt is weaker at X than at Y and is in the opposite direction.
DIt is weaker at X than at Y and is in the same direction.
Mark scheme
37Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 11 · Q28Show mark scheme →
AElectrons move from the cloth to the rod.
BElectrons move from the rod to the cloth.
CProtons move from the cloth to the rod.
DProtons move from the rod to the cloth.
Mark scheme
38Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q27Show mark scheme →
ANegative electrons flow from the handkerchief and positive electrons flow from the block.
BNegative electrons flow from the handkerchief to the block.
CPositive electrons flow from the block to the handkerchief.
DPositive electrons flow to the handkerchief and negative electrons flow to the block.
Mark scheme
39Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q28Show mark scheme →
AA
BB
CC
DD
Mark scheme
40May / June 2017 · Paper 11 · Q32Show mark scheme →
Aelectric, gravitational and magnetic
Belectric and gravitational only
Celectric and magnetic only
Dgravitational and magnetic only
Mark scheme
41Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 11 · Q36Show mark scheme →
AApply a voltage between metal plates P and Q.
BDecrease the positive voltage of the anode.
CIncrease the positive voltage of the anode.
DIncrease the voltage between the terminals of the cathode.
Mark scheme
42Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Q32Also set in Oct / Nov 2016 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Adiagram A
Bdiagram B
Cdiagram C
Ddiagram D
Mark scheme
43May / June 2016 · Paper 11 · Q28Show mark scheme →
Adiagram A
Bdiagram B
Cdiagram C
Ddiagram D
Mark scheme
44May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q24Show mark scheme →
ANegative charges are transferred from the cloth to the polythene.
BNegative charges are transferred from the polythene to the cloth.
CPositive charges are transferred from the cloth to the polythene.
DPositive charges are transferred from the polythene to the cloth.
Mark scheme
45May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q35Show mark scheme →
Acharge on plate: negative; temperature of metal filament: high
Bcharge on plate: negative; temperature of metal filament: low
Ccharge on plate: positive; temperature of metal filament: high
Dcharge on plate: positive; temperature of metal filament: low
Mark scheme