GCSE Physics (AQA) chapter 2: Electricity MCQs with answers

By Team Megalecture · Updated 4 Nov 2026

41 exam-style questions on Electricity, each with the answer and a short explanation. Ten of them are below to try. The chapter test draws ten fresh questions each time and is marked the moment you finish, with your score by topic.

41 questions · 4 topics · 10 per test

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What chapter 2 covers

Ten Electricity questions with answers

Try each one, then open the answer. These ten stay the same; the test draws new ones every time.

1. The potential difference across a resistor is 6.0 V and the current through it is 0.25 A. What is its resistance?

  1. A
    1.5 Ω
  2. B
    0.042 Ω
  3. C
    6.25 Ω
  4. D
    24 Ω
Show answer

Answer: D. R = V ÷ I = 6.0 ÷ 0.25 = 24 Ω. Multiplying gives 1.5; dividing the wrong way round gives 0.042.

2. Which describes the UK mains electricity supply?

  1. A
    direct current, 50 Hz, about 230 V
  2. B
    alternating current, 50 Hz, about 230 V
  3. C
    alternating current, 230 Hz, about 50 V
  4. D
    alternating current, 60 Hz, about 120 V
Show answer

Answer: B. UK mains is an ac supply with a frequency of 50 Hz and a p.d. of about 230 V. A direct supply does not have a frequency.

3. A circuit symbol is a rectangle with a diagonal arrow drawn through it. Which component is this?

  1. A
    fixed resistor
  2. B
    variable resistor
  3. C
    light dependent resistor
  4. D
    thermistor
Show answer

Answer: B. An arrow through a resistor rectangle shows its resistance can be changed: a variable resistor. An LDR has two arrows pointing in towards it inside a circle.

4. A 10 Ω resistor and a 20 Ω resistor are connected in parallel. What can be said about their total resistance?

  1. A
    it is 30 Ω
  2. B
    it is 15 Ω
  3. C
    it is between 10 Ω and 20 Ω
  4. D
    it is less than 10 Ω
Show answer

Answer: D. Adding a resistor in parallel gives the current another path, so the total resistance falls below the smallest individual resistance (here it is about 6.7 Ω).

5. The current through a resistor at constant temperature is 0.30 A when the potential difference across it is 4.5 V. What is the current when the potential difference is 12 V?

  1. A
    0.11 A
  2. B
    0.80 A
  3. C
    0.30 A
  4. D
    3.6 A
Show answer

Answer: B. R = 4.5 ÷ 0.30 = 15 Ω, and it stays constant (ohmic conductor). I = V ÷ R = 12 ÷ 15 = 0.80 A. Current is directly proportional to p.d.

6. After the polythene rod has gained electrons from the cloth, what is the charge on the cloth?

  1. A
    positive, because it has lost electrons
  2. B
    negative, the same as the rod
  3. C
    zero, because the cloth is a conductor
  4. D
    positive, because it has gained protons
Show answer

Answer: A. The cloth has lost electrons, so it has more protons than electrons and is positively charged. It carries an equal and opposite charge to the rod.

7. A student investigates how the resistance of a wire depends on its length. Which should be kept the same?

  1. A
    the length of the wire
  2. B
    the potential difference reading
  3. C
    the material and diameter of the wire
  4. D
    the resistance of the wire
Show answer

Answer: C. Length is the independent variable and resistance is the dependent variable. Material and thickness also affect resistance, so they must be controlled.

8. A polythene rod becomes negatively charged when rubbed with a cloth. How does this happen?

  1. A
    protons move from the rod to the cloth
  2. B
    electrons are created on the rod by friction
  3. C
    electrons move from the cloth to the rod
  4. D
    positive charges are destroyed on the rod
Show answer

Answer: C. Only electrons move when insulators are rubbed. The rod gains electrons from the cloth, so it becomes negative. Charge is never created or destroyed.

9. Two lamps are connected in series with a 6.0 V battery. The potential difference across one lamp is 2.5 V. What is the potential difference across the other lamp?

  1. A
    2.5 V
  2. B
    3.5 V
  3. C
    6.0 V
  4. D
    8.5 V
Show answer

Answer: B. In series the supply p.d. is shared: 6.0 − 2.5 = 3.5 V.

10. A 6.0 Ω resistor and a 4.0 Ω resistor are connected in separate parallel branches across a 12 V battery. What is the current through the battery?

  1. A
    1.2 A
  2. B
    2.0 A
  3. C
    5.0 A
  4. D
    3.0 A
Show answer

Answer: C. Each branch has the full 12 V across it: 12 ÷ 6.0 = 2.0 A and 12 ÷ 4.0 = 3.0 A. Total = 2.0 + 3.0 = 5.0 A. Treating them as series gives 1.2 A.

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Ways to practise this chapter

Electricity: questions students ask

How many Electricity MCQs are there?

41, each with the answer and a short explanation, across 4 topics: Current, potential difference, resistance and I–V characteristics (AQA 4.2.1), Series and parallel circuits (AQA 4.2.2), Mains electricity, power and the National Grid (AQA 4.2.3–4.2.4), Static electricity and electric fields (AQA 4.2.5). Every chapter test draws ten of them, so you can take it many times.

Is the GCSE Physics (AQA) chapter 2 test free?

Yes. The test, the answers and the explanations are free and need no sign-up. Sign in only if you want your scores kept across devices.

How is the chapter test marked?

The moment you press Finish: your score, the right answer and an explanation for every question, and the ones you got wrong saved in My mistakes to retry.

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