A student is investigating the electrical properties of a long piece of ni-chrome wire. The student has access to the following list of apparatus: 30 cm ruler, ammeter, connecting leads, electronic balance, small electric motor, metre rule, 6 V fixed-voltage DC power supply, switch, tape measure, variable resistor (rheostat), voltmeter.
From the list, choose the most suitable device to measure a package of wire that is approximately 15 m long.
Describe how the ammeter, voltmeter, and variable resistor should be connected to the ni-chrome wire in a circuit to measure its current for a range of different potential differences.
The student replaces the ni-chrome wire with a small electric motor. When the circuit is switched on, the motor does not rotate. Suggest how the student can use the existing circuit to check if a current is actually passing through the motor, without removing the motor.
State whether a voltmeter with a range of 0 - 300 V is suitable for measuring the potential difference across the wire in this circuit. Give a reason for your answer.
17 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 4.3.1a Circuit diagrams and circuit components. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.