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Electric motors - Exam Questions.docx

Built from the lesson script on 30 September 2026.

AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 2 · HIGHER TIER ONLY

Exam Practice: Electric motors

Electric motors · Magnetism and electromagnetism · Lesson 4 of 8 · 14 marks · 15 minutes

Name

Date

 

Instructions

• Answer all the questions.

• Write your answers in the spaces provided.

• The marks for each question are shown in brackets - use this as a guide to how much to write.

• The answers are on separate pages at the back. Attempt every question before you look at them.

• Answer all questions. Use the mark allocation as a guide to how much to write.

Question 1 STATE (2 marks)

State two ways of increasing the speed of rotation of a d.c. motor.

(Total for Question 1 = 2 marks)

Question 2 EXPLAIN (3 marks)

Explain why the coil in a d.c. motor turns when a current flows through it.

(Total for Question 2 = 3 marks)

Question 3 EXPLAIN (3 marks)

Explain the purpose of the split-ring commutator in a d.c. motor.

(Total for Question 3 = 3 marks)

Question 4 EXPLAIN (2 marks)

The battery in a d.c. motor is connected the other way round. Describe and explain the effect.

(Total for Question 4 = 2 marks)

Question 5 EXPLAIN (4 marks)

A motor rotates slowly. Explain two changes that would make it rotate faster.

(Total for Question 5 = 4 marks)

TOTAL FOR PAPER = 14 MARKS

 

Answers and mark scheme

Check your answer only once you have written one.

Question 1 (2 marks)

Increase the current. Use stronger magnets. Use more turns. (any two)

• One way 1 mark

• Another way 1 mark

Question 2 (3 marks)

The current in the coil is at right angles to the magnetic field so each long side of the coil experiences a force. The current in the two sides is in opposite directions, so the forces are in opposite directions and turn the coil.

• Coil in a field carrying a current experiences forces 1 mark

• Current in opposite directions in the two sides 1 mark

• Opposite forces turn the coil 1 mark

Question 3 (3 marks)

It reverses the direction of the current in the coil every half turn so that the forces keep turning the coil in the same direction, giving continuous rotation.

• Reverses the current 1 mark

• Every half turn 1 mark

• Keeps the coil turning the same way 1 mark

Question 4 (2 marks)

The current in the coil is reversed, so the forces are reversed and the motor turns in the opposite direction.

• Turns in the opposite direction 1 mark

• Current (forces) reversed 1 mark

Question 5 (4 marks)

Increase the current, which increases the force on the coil. Use stronger magnets, which increases the magnetic flux density so the force is larger. More turns also increase the force.

• Increase the current 1 mark

• Larger force 1 mark

• Stronger magnets or more turns 1 mark

• Larger force or flux density 1 mark