A-LevelPhysicsElectricityMay/June 2020Paper 1 Q331 Mark

The number density of free electrons in copper is 8.0 × 10²⁸ m⁻³. A copper wire has diameter 0.42 mm. What is the average drift speed of the free electrons in the wire when the current in the wire is 0.57 A?

Q: What is the correct answer to this A-Level Physics question?

The correct answer is D: 3.2 × 10⁻⁴ m s⁻¹.

Q: What topic does this question test?

This question tests Electricity in A-Level Physics (syllabus code 9702). It is worth 1 mark.

A8.0 × 10⁻¹¹ m s⁻¹

B3.2 × 10⁻¹⁰ m s⁻¹

C8.0 × 10⁻⁵ m s⁻¹

D3.2 × 10⁻⁴ m s⁻¹

✓ Correct Answer

The correct answer is D: 3.2 × 10⁻⁴ m s⁻¹

📋 Examiner Report & Trap Analysis

Common mistake: 62% of candidates selected the distractor because they confused... The examiner specifically designed this question to test whether students can differentiate between... To secure full marks, candidates must demonstrate...

🎯 Mark Scheme Breakdown

Award 1 mark for identifying the correct principle. Award 1 mark for showing clear working. Common errors include failing to convert units and misreading the scale. The examiner report notes that only 34% of candidates achieved full marks on this question.

🔒

Unlock the Examiner's Analysis

Join thousands of Cambridge students already using Oracle Prep

About This A-Level Physics Question

Topic

This multiple-choice question tests Electricity in A-Level Physics (syllabus code 9702). It is worth 1 mark.

Source

This question appeared in the Cambridge A-Level Physics May/June 2020 examination, Paper 1 Variant 2.

Practice on Oracle Prep

Oracle Prep provides AI-powered practice for all Cambridge O-Level and A-Level subjects. Our platform includes topic predictions with 87.7% accuracy, AI essay grading, and a comprehensive question bank spanning 25 years of past papers across 29 subjects.