Edexcel IAL · Physics · WPH12 · A Level

WPH12 Electric Circuits Topic Questions

Every WPH12 Electric Circuits topic question from the 2018–current syllabus, drawn from 22 papers (2019–2026) and grouped by syllabus point. Each row opens a page listing the exact question numbers, marks and a direct link into the paper. These are questions by topic, not full papers, so you can revise one topic at a time.

WPH12 18 subtopics 268 topic questions 22 papers 634 tagged marks

Back to Electric Circuits All paper codes

Core finding

77 know the definition of electromotive force (e.m.f.) and understand… is the most frequently assessed subtopic in Electric Circuits, with 43 topic questions and 106 marks across 21 papers. 69 be able to use the equations …, … and be able to derive… follows with 42 topic questions and 117 marks. The topic contains 18 subtopics, 268 topic questions and 634 marks in total. Rows count only the parts tagged to that subtopic, keep the same colour in both charts and repeat paper count, tagged marks and year range in the native table.

Topic question count and mark distribution

Subtopics are on the vertical axis and sorted from highest to lowest. Only the parts whose knowledge graph matches a subtopic are counted for it, and percentages are each row's share of the tagged total in that chart. A part tagged to several subtopics is counted in each bar, so the bars are not a partition of the topic total.

Questions by subtopic

question items

77 know the definition of electromotive force (e.m.f.) and understand what is meant by internal resistance and know how to distinguish between e.m.f. and terminal potential difference 21 papers

4310.5%

69 be able to use the equations

P = V I

W = V I t

and be able to derive and use related equations, e.g.

P = I^{2} R

and

P = \frac{V ^{2}}{R}

21 papers

4210.3%

68 be able to derive the equations for combining resistances in series and parallel using the principles of charge and energy conservation, and be able to use these equations 20 papers

399.5%

70 understand how to sketch, recognise and interpret current-potential difference graphs for components, including ohmic conductors, filament bulbs, thermistors and diodes 20 papers

307.3%

71 be able to use the equation

R = \frac{ρl}{A}

22 papers

297.1%

73 be able to use

I = n q v A

to explain the large range of resistivities of different materials 22 papers

297.1%

75 understand the principles of a potential divider circuit and understand how to calculate potential differences and resistances in such a circuit 19 papers

286.8%

76 be able to analyse potential divider circuits where one resistance is variable including thermistors and light dependent resistors (LDRs) 18 papers

266.4%

79 understand how changes of resistance with temperature may be modelled in terms of lattice vibrations and number of conduction electrons and understand how to apply this model to metallic conductors and negative temperature coefficient thermistors 18 papers

266.4%

66 understand that resistance is defined by

R = \frac{V}{I}

and that Ohm's law is a special case when

I \propto V

for constant temperature 14 papers

204.9%

64 understand that electric current is the rate of flow of charged particles and be able to use the equation

I = \frac{Δ Q}{Δ t}

15 papers

174.2%

65 understand how to use the equation

V = \frac{W}{Q}

13 papers

174.2%

78 CORE PRACTICAL 8: Determine the e.m.f. and internal resistance of an electrical cell 11 papers

174.2%

67b understand how the distribution of potential differences in a circuit is a consequence of energy conservation 10 papers

133.2%

67a understand how the distribution of current in a circuit is a consequence of charge conservation 10 papers

122.9%

80 understand how changes of resistance with illumination may be modelled in terms of the number of conduction electrons and understand how to apply this model to LDRs. 8 papers

82.0%

74 understand how the potential along a uniform current-carrying wire varies with the distance along it 7 papers

71.7%

72 CORE PRACTICAL 7: Determine the electrical resistivity of a material 4 papers

61.5%

Marks by subtopic

marks

68 be able to derive the equations for combining resistances in series and parallel using the principles of charge and energy conservation, and be able to use these equations 20 papers

11810.9%

69 be able to use the equations

P = V I

W = V I t

and be able to derive and use related equations, e.g.

P = I^{2} R

and

P = \frac{V ^{2}}{R}

21 papers

11710.8%

77 know the definition of electromotive force (e.m.f.) and understand what is meant by internal resistance and know how to distinguish between e.m.f. and terminal potential difference 21 papers

1069.8%

71 be able to use the equation

R = \frac{ρl}{A}

22 papers

847.8%

76 be able to analyse potential divider circuits where one resistance is variable including thermistors and light dependent resistors (LDRs) 18 papers

837.7%

75 understand the principles of a potential divider circuit and understand how to calculate potential differences and resistances in such a circuit 19 papers

817.5%

706.5%

70 understand how to sketch, recognise and interpret current-potential difference graphs for components, including ohmic conductors, filament bulbs, thermistors and diodes 20 papers

676.2%

73 be able to use

I = n q v A

to explain the large range of resistivities of different materials 22 papers

656.0%

66 understand that resistance is defined by

R = \frac{V}{I}

and that Ohm's law is a special case when

I \propto V

for constant temperature 14 papers

555.1%

78 CORE PRACTICAL 8: Determine the e.m.f. and internal resistance of an electrical cell 11 papers

474.4%

64 understand that electric current is the rate of flow of charged particles and be able to use the equation

I = \frac{Δ Q}{Δ t}

15 papers

393.6%

67b understand how the distribution of potential differences in a circuit is a consequence of energy conservation 10 papers

343.2%

67a understand how the distribution of current in a circuit is a consequence of charge conservation 10 papers

323.0%

65 understand how to use the equation

V = \frac{W}{Q}

13 papers

312.9%

80 understand how changes of resistance with illumination may be modelled in terms of the number of conduction electrons and understand how to apply this model to LDRs. 8 papers

222.0%

72 CORE PRACTICAL 7: Determine the electrical resistivity of a material 4 papers

211.9%

74 understand how the potential along a uniform current-carrying wire varies with the distance along it 7 papers

70.6%

Subtopic comparison matrix

Curriculum order is by syllabus number, then alphabetically. Every row links to the matching past-paper question list.

Subtopic	Topic questions	Papers	Marks	Years
64 understand that electric current is the rate of flow of charged particles and be able to use the equation $I = \frac{Δ Q}{Δ t}$	17	15	39	2019–2026	Open topic questions
65 understand how to use the equation $V = \frac{W}{Q}$	17	13	31	2019–2026	Open topic questions
66 understand that resistance is defined by $R = \frac{V}{I}$ and that Ohm's law is a special case when $I \propto V$ for constant temperature	20	14	55	2020–2026	Open topic questions
67a understand how the distribution of current in a circuit is a consequence of charge conservation	12	10	32	2020–2025	Open topic questions
67b understand how the distribution of potential differences in a circuit is a consequence of energy conservation	13	10	34	2020–2025	Open topic questions
68 be able to derive the equations for combining resistances in series and parallel using the principles of charge and energy conservation, and be able to use these equations	39	20	118	2019–2026	Open topic questions
69 be able to use the equations $P = V I$ , $W = V I t$ and be able to derive and use related equations, e.g. $P = I^{2} R$ and $P = \frac{V ^{2}}{R}$	42	21	117	2019–2026	Open topic questions
70 understand how to sketch, recognise and interpret current-potential difference graphs for components, including ohmic conductors, filament bulbs, thermistors and diodes	30	20	67	2019–2026	Open topic questions
71 be able to use the equation $R = \frac{ρl}{A}$	29	22	84	2019–2026	Open topic questions
72 CORE PRACTICAL 7: Determine the electrical resistivity of a material	6	4	21	2019–2025	Open topic questions
73 be able to use $I = n q v A$ to explain the large range of resistivities of different materials	29	22	65	2019–2026	Open topic questions
74 understand how the potential along a uniform current-carrying wire varies with the distance along it	7	7	7	2021–2026	Open topic questions
75 understand the principles of a potential divider circuit and understand how to calculate potential differences and resistances in such a circuit	28	19	81	2019–2026	Open topic questions
76 be able to analyse potential divider circuits where one resistance is variable including thermistors and light dependent resistors (LDRs)	26	18	83	2019–2026	Open topic questions
77 know the definition of electromotive force (e.m.f.) and understand what is meant by internal resistance and know how to distinguish between e.m.f. and terminal potential difference	43	21	106	2019–2026	Open topic questions
78 CORE PRACTICAL 8: Determine the e.m.f. and internal resistance of an electrical cell	17	11	47	2019–2026	Open topic questions
79 understand how changes of resistance with temperature may be modelled in terms of lattice vibrations and number of conduction electrons and understand how to apply this model to metallic conductors and negative temperature coefficient thermistors	26	18	70	2019–2026	Open topic questions
80 understand how changes of resistance with illumination may be modelled in terms of the number of conduction electrons and understand how to apply this model to LDRs.	8	8	22	2019–2026	Open topic questions

Browse every topic question

Topic question rules and edge cases

How many subtopics does Electric Circuits contain?: This page lists 18 subtopics tagged to the current syllabus. They are ordered by syllabus number, then alphabetically, and each row opens a page of matching past-paper questions.
How are the subtopic question and mark totals calculated?: A multiple-choice question contributes one item and its marks to every subtopic it is tagged with. A structured question contributes one item per tagged part, and that part’s marks; untagged parts of the same question are not counted here. A part tagged to several subtopics therefore appears under each of them.
Why do some subtopics have no numbered prefix?: Practical-skills statements and some syllabus bullets are unnumbered. Numbered statements come first; unnumbered statements and ties are sorted alphabetically.
Is the LaTeX rendered without JavaScript?: Yes. Subtopics that contain formulas are converted to static KaTeX HTML during the build, and the KaTeX stylesheet is served from the same site.

WPH12 Electric Circuits Topic Questions

Topic question count and mark distribution

Questions by subtopic

Marks by subtopic

Subtopic comparison matrix

Browse every topic question

Other topics in WPH12

Topic question rules and edge cases