AQA GCSE Physics Physics Paper 1 (Foundation), November 2020: Question 1

10 marks · Standard Demand difficulty · Short Answer

Analyze aspects of the National Grid, energy resources including gas-fired and renewable generation, and power output comparisons of offshore versus land wind farms.

Practise this question

Question

A multi-part physics exam question about the National Grid and energy resources. Figure 1 shows a power station connected via a step-up transformer K, transmission cables L, and a step-down transformer M to consumers. Figure 2 is a bar chart showing the percentage of electricity generated by gas-fired power stations from 2014 to 2018. Subsequent parts ask to calculate the increase, explain environmental effects, define renewable energy resources via multiple-choice checkboxes, and compare offshore versus land wind farm power outputs from Figure 3.
Question text

01 Figure 1 shows how the National Grid connects power stations to consumers.

Figure 1

01.1 Name the parts of the National Grid labelled K, L and M.

[3 marks]

K =

L =

M =

Figure 2 shows how the percentage of electricity generated by gas-fired power

stations changed in the UK over 5 years.

Figure 2

01.2 Calculate how many times greater the percentage of electricity generated by gas-fired

power stations was in 2018 than in 2014.

[2 marks]

Number of times greater =

01.3 Explain one environmental effect of generating electricity using a gas-fired power

station.

[2 marks]

01.4 The UK government wants more electricity to be generated using renewable energy

resources.

What is a renewable energy resource?

[1 mark]

Tick ( ) one box.

An energy resource that can be burned

An energy resource that can be recycled

An energy resource that can be replenished quickly

An energy resource that can be reused4

01.5 An offshore wind farm is a group of wind turbines that are placed out at sea.

Figure 3 shows the power output of an offshore wind farm compared with a wind farm

on land for a 24-hour period.

Figure 3

Give two advantages of the offshore wind farm compared with the wind farm on land.

Use information from Figure 3.

[2 marks]

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme The mark scheme for Question 1, detailing answers and allocations for each sub-question: 01.1 awards 3 marks for labeling K as step-up transformer, L as transmission cables, and M as step-down transformer. 01.2 awards 2 marks for calculating 4 times greater from bar chart values 8% and 32%. 01.3 awards 2 marks for stating burning gas releases carbon dioxide causing global warming. 01.4 awards 1 mark for selecting energy resource replenished quickly. 01.5 awards 2 marks for higher power output and lower variation in power output for offshore wind farms.

Question 1

AO /

Question Answers Extra information Mark

Spec. Ref.

01.1 K = step-up transformer 1 AO1

4.2.4.3

L = transmission cables allow power cables 1

ignore wires

M = step-down transformer 1

allow 1 mark if K and M are

labelled transformer but step-up

and step-down labels are

incorrect or not present

01.2 8 (%) and 32 (%) both required 1 AO2

4.1.3

Number of times = 4 1

01.3 (burning gas) releases carbon 1 AO1

dioxide 4.1.3

which causes global warming allow greenhouse effect or 1

climate change

01.4 An energy resource that can be 1 AO1

replenished quickly. 4.1.3

01.5 higher power output allow more electricity generated 1 AO3

4.1.3

lower variation in power output 1

Total 10

How to answer it

The National Grid & Energy Resources

What this question tests

This question assesses your knowledge of the National Grid components (transformers and cables), data interpretation from bar charts and line graphs, environmental impacts of fossil fuels, the definition of renewable energy, and comparing the reliability and output of offshore versus onshore wind farms.

Part 01.1 - The National Grid

Name the parts labelled K, L, and M (3 marks)

✅ Correct Answers

  • K = step-up transformer
  • L = transmission cables (allow 'power cables')
  • M = step-down transformer

💡 Key Knowledge

  • Step-up transformers (K): Increase potential difference and decrease current to reduce energy loss in cables.
  • Transmission cables (L): Carry electricity across the country.
  • Step-down transformers (M): Decrease potential difference to safe levels for domestic use.

🧠 Exam Technique

Be precise! Writing just "transformer" for K and M is not enough to secure full marks unless specified, but the mark scheme does award 1 mark if both are identified as transformers even if step-up/step-down labels are swapped or missing.

❌ Common Errors

Calling L "wires" is too vague—always use the proper scientific term transmission cables.

Part 01.2 - Data Calculation

Calculate how many times greater the percentage of electricity generated by gas in 2018 was than in 2014 (2 marks)

📐 Step-by-Step Calculation

  1. Find value for 2018: Read bar chart → 32%
  2. Find value for 2014: Read bar chart → 8%
  3. Divide the larger by the smaller: 32 / 8 = 4

Final Answer: 4

🧠 Exam Technique

Both data values (32 and 8) must be clearly identified to access the first mark. Double-check your reading of chart axes before performing division.

Part 01.3 - Environmental Impact

Explain one environmental effect of generating electricity using a gas-fired power station (2 marks)

✅ Correct Answers

  • (Burning gas) releases carbon dioxide (1 mark)
  • Which causes global warming / greenhouse effect / climate change (1 mark)

❌ Common Errors

Students often lose the second mark by writing vague statements like "it causes pollution" or "destroys the ozone layer". You must specifically link carbon dioxide to global warming or the greenhouse effect.

Part 01.4 - Renewable Energy Definition

What is a renewable energy resource? (1 mark)

✅ Correct Answer

Tick the box: An energy resource that can be replenished quickly.

💡 Key Knowledge

Renewable means the resource will not run out because it is naturally replaced on a human timescale. Avoid confusing this with being recycled or reused.

Part 01.5 - Graph Interpretation

Give two advantages of the offshore wind farm compared with the wind farm on land (2 marks)

✅ Correct Answers (Any two)

  • Higher power output (allow 'more electricity generated')
  • Lower variation in power output (more consistent/stable)

🧠 Exam Technique

Always refer directly to the provided graph (Figure 3). The solid line (offshore) stays higher up the y-axis (higher power) and fluctuates less than the dashed line (land).

Topics

Physics · P1: Energy · P7: Magnetism and Electromagnetism

Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Physics examination, Physics Paper 1 (Foundation), November 2020. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.