11 mark
A pupil wants to measure the resistance of a resistor R. Which row describes how the meters must be connected?
Electricity 1 · Practice Test B
N5 Physics · Electricity 1 — Circuits and Resistance
Practice Test B
Answer everything, then mark it in one go.
25marks
35 minsuggested
10questions
Have your jotter and a pen beside you. Do every calculation in your jotter, the way you would in the real test — this page asks only for the relationship you used and your final answer with its unit.
Powers of ten can be typed any way you like — 2.5e4, 2.5*10^4, 2.5x10^4 or 2·5 × 10⁴ are all read the same.
Nothing is timed and nothing is sent anywhere — your answers stay on this device, so you can close the tab and come back.
Relationships you may need
| Quantity | Relationship |
|---|---|
| Voltage, current, resistance | V = IR |
| Resistors in series | RT = R1 + R2 + … |
| Resistors in parallel | 1 / RT = 1 / R1 + 1 / R2 + … |
| Power | P = IV |
Resistor colour-band reference
| Colour | Digit | Multiplier | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| black | 0 | ×1 | — |
| brown | 1 | ×10 | ±1% |
| red | 2 | ×100 | ±2% |
| orange | 3 | ×1000 | — |
| yellow | 4 | ×10 000 | — |
| green | 5 | ×100 000 | — |
| blue | 6 | ×1 000 000 | — |
| violet | 7 | — | — |
| grey | 8 | — | — |
| white | 9 | — | — |
| gold | — | — | ±5% |
| silver | — | — | ±10% |
Working goes in your jotter. On this page you give the relationship and the final answer only — the mark scheme at the end shows the substitution you should have written down.
Warm-up
5 marksEveryone should aim for full marks here. One step, no rearranging.
21 mark
The voltage of an electrical supply is a measure of the
31 mark
Two resistors are connected as shown. The total resistance between P and Q is
41 mark
A 56 Ω resistor carries a current of 0·15 A. The voltage across the resistor is
51 mark
A metal wire is connected across a supply of constant voltage. The temperature of the wire rises. Which row describes the resistance of the wire and the current in it?
Core
13 marksThe demand of the real test — one rearrangement, one conversion or one intermediate step.
64 marks
A pupil sets up the circuit shown.
(a) Calculate the total resistance of the circuit.1
(b) Calculate the reading on the ammeter.3
74 marks
A resistor is taken from the school stock box. Its colour bands are shown below.
(a) State the resistance of this resistor, in kΩ.1
(b) Calculate the minimum resistance this resistor could have and still be within its stated tolerance.2
(c) The resistor is measured with an ohmmeter, which reads 88·0 kΩ. State whether the resistor is within its stated tolerance. You must justify your answer.1
85 marks
Two resistors are connected in parallel across a 24 V supply, as shown.
(a) Determine the total resistance of the circuit.3
(b) Determine the current in the 120 Ω resistor.2
Push
7 marksTwo or more steps, an unfamiliar context, and a judgement to justify.
95 marks
A technician tests a heating element. The element is connected in series with a 220 Ω protection resistor across a 24 V supply. A voltmeter across the protection resistor reads 4·4 V.
(a) Determine the current in the circuit.2
(b) Determine the resistance of the heating element.3
102 marks
The technician now fits a different heating element, one with a lower resistance than the first. The 220 Ω protection resistor and the 24 V supply are unchanged.
State what happens to the reading on the voltmeter, and justify your answer.
Your result
0out of 25
0%percentage
—indicative band
Bands are indicative only — they are a guide to where you are, not a grade.
Sources & credits: questions are adapted from National 5 Physics past papers, reproduced and adapted for educational use — past papers and marking instructions © Qualifications Scotland (SQA). Numbers, contexts and circuits have been changed; the resistor colour-code question is original. Circuit diagrams and graphs drawn for this site © R Stewart, 2026.