Lesson 4.2.3.2

4.2.3.2 Mains electricity Quiz: AQA Physics, Unit 2

20 questions

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Lesson 4.2.3.2, Mains electricity: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Physics (8463), Unit 2: Electricity, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What are the three core wires in a standard UK mains cable?

    • Live, neutral, earth
    • Positive, negative, neutral
    • Phase, return, safety
    • Active, passive, ground
  2. What colour insulation covers the live wire in a UK mains cable?

    • Black
    • Blue
    • Green and yellow
    • Brown
  3. What colour insulation covers the neutral wire in a UK mains cable?

    • Blue
    • Brown
    • Green and yellow
    • Red
  4. What colour insulation covers the earth wire in a UK mains cable?

    • Solid green
    • Brown and blue
    • Black and white
    • Green and yellow
  5. What is the primary function of the earth wire in a mains appliance?

    • Completes the circuit
    • Carries live current
    • Prevents live casing
    • Increases resistance
  6. What is the potential difference between the live wire and earth?

    • About 0 V
    • About 400 V
    • About 115 V
    • About 230 V
  7. At what potential is the neutral wire in a UK mains circuit?

    • 230 V
    • Close to 0 V
    • 110 V
    • 400 V
  8. Why can a live wire remain dangerous when the circuit switch is open?

    • It reverses polarity
    • It stays at 230 V
    • It becomes neutral
    • It drops to 0 V
  9. Why is a direct connection between the live wire and earth dangerous?

    • Reverses the current
    • Stops all power
    • Creates large current
    • Lowers the voltage
  10. What happens if a fault connects the live wire to an earthed metal casing?

    • Battery dies
    • Fuse blows
    • Bulb brightens
    • Switch closes
  11. What current does the earth wire carry under normal operating conditions?

    • A steady 5 A
    • Zero current
    • Maximum mains current
    • Alternating 50 Hz
  12. Which wire returns current to the supply under normal operation?

    • Live
    • Earth
    • Brown
    • Neutral
  13. What is the normal potential difference of the neutral wire in a mains circuit?

    • 0 V
    • 400 V
    • 50 V
    • 230 V
  14. What is the potential difference across the earth wire under normal conditions?

    • 230 V
    • 0 V
    • 115 V
    • 50 V
  15. What is the approximate potential difference of the neutral wire relative to earth?

    • About 230 V
    • About 50 V
    • About 0 V
    • About 115 V
  16. Which wire carries fault current to the earth to protect the appliance user?

    • Neutral wire
    • Switch wire
    • Earth wire
    • Live wire
  17. Which wire carries the alternating potential difference from the mains supply?

    • Neutral wire
    • Core wire
    • Earth wire
    • Live wire
  18. Why can an appliance still be hazardous even when switched off?

    • Earth wire disconnected
    • Live wire connected
    • Fuse melted
    • Neutral wire active
  19. What is the primary safety purpose of connecting the earth wire to a metal casing?

    • Increases appliance power
    • Reduces electrical noise
    • Completes standard circuit
    • Prevents casing shocks
  20. When does current normally flow through the earth wire of an appliance?

    • Never
    • When switched on
    • Always
    • Only during faults

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