Electrical current
4.2.2What the syllabus asks of you
- Define electric current as the charge passing a point per unit time; recall and use the equation electric current = charge / time I = Q / t
- Describe electrical conduction in metals in terms of the movement of free electrons
- Know that current is measured in amps (amperes) and that the amp is given by coulomb per second (C / s)
- Know the difference between direct current (d.c.) and alternating current (a.c.)
- State that conventional current is from positive to negative and that the flow of free electrons is from negative to positive
- Describe the use of ammeters (analogue and digital) with different ranges
Read the notes first
Chapter 4: Electrical current
Drill this topic
Every question on Electrical current, untimed, marked as you go.
Make a worksheet
Choose the years and how many questions, then print it with the answers on separate pages.
16 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q31Show mark scheme →
Aampere / second
Bcoulomb / second
Cjoule / second
Dvolt / second
Mark scheme
2May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q31Show mark scheme →
AMetals have electrons that are free to move.
BMetals have isotopes that are radioactive.
CMetals have nuclei that have a positive charge.
DMetals have protons that are fixed in their nuclei.
Mark scheme
3Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 11 · Q30Show mark scheme →
A1500 C
B15 000 C
C24 000 C
D54 000 C
Mark scheme
4May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q28Show mark scheme →
A3.6 C
B220 C
C250 C
D15 000 C
Mark scheme
5May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q29Show mark scheme →
Afrom negative to positive / from negative to positive
Bfrom negative to positive / from positive to negative
Cfrom positive to negative / from negative to positive
Dfrom positive to negative / from positive to negative
Mark scheme
6May / June 2023 · Paper 12 · Q27Show mark scheme →
Afrom positive terminal to negative terminal; protons
Bfrom positive terminal to negative terminal; electrons
Cfrom negative terminal to positive terminal; protons
Dfrom negative terminal to positive terminal; electrons
Mark scheme
7Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 12 · Q32Show mark scheme →
Aammeter | in parallel
Bammeter | in series
Cvoltmeter | in parallel
Dvoltmeter | in series
Mark scheme
8May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q32Also set in May / June 2022 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Anegative, X to Y
Bnegative, Y to X
Cpositive, X to Y
Dpositive, Y to X
Mark scheme
9May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q33Show mark scheme →
Aa charge of 0.10 C passes through a resistor in 100 ms
Ba 10 V lamp with input power 0.10 W
Ca resistor of resistance 0.50 Ω with a potential difference (p.d.) of 2.0 V across it
Dtwo resistors with a current of 0.50 A connected in series
Mark scheme
10Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Q30Show mark scheme →
A2.6 hours
B5.2 hours
C7.8 hours
D10.4 hours
Mark scheme
11Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 11 · Q38Show mark scheme →
A1 and 4
B2 and 3
C1 and 3
D2 and 4
Mark scheme
12Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q35Also set in Oct / Nov 2017 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Aalpha-particles
Belectrons
Cneutrons
Dprotons
Mark scheme
13May / June 2017 · Paper 11 · Q36Show mark scheme →
A1.0 A
B36 A
C60 A
D1800 A
Mark scheme
14May / June 2017 · Paper 12 · Q33Show mark scheme →
A2.0 C
B12 C
C120 C
D720 C
Mark scheme
15May / June 2016 · Paper 11 · Q29Show mark scheme →
A8.0 C
B30 C
C120 C
D480 C
Mark scheme
16May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q25Show mark scheme →
A0.25 A
B4.0 A
C15 A
D135 A
Mark scheme