8463/1H June 2021

  • i-​​ During one year, 1.25 × 1018​​ J of energy was transferred from the National Grid.

number of seconds in 1 year = 3.16 × 107

Calculate the mean energy transferred from the National​​ Grid each second.

Give your answer to 3 significant figures.

[2 marks]

SOLUTION​​ 

Emean= energy tranferred in a yearnumber of second in a year

E= 1.25×10183.16×107

E=3.96×1010 J

ii- Figure 5​​ shows a house with a solar power system.​​ 

The solar cells generate electricity.​​ 

When the electricity generated by the solar cells is not needed, the energy is​​ stored in a large battery.

 

ii-​​ The charge flow through the cable between the solar cells and the battery in 24 hours was 27 000 coulombs.

Calculate the mean current in the cable.

[4 marks]

SOLUTION​​ 

Use the formula of current.

I=Qt

I=2700024×60×60

I=0.313 A

iii-​​ At one time, the​​ total power input to the solar cells was 7.8 kW.​​ 

The efficiency of the solar cells was 0.15.

Calculate the useful power output of the solar cells.​​ 

[3 marks]

SOLUTION​​ 

efficiency=usefulpoweroutputtotalpowerinput

usefulpoweroutput=efficiency×totalpowerinput

usefulpoweroutput=0.15×7800

usefulpoweroutput=1170W

Don’t forget to convert KW into W. you take the helo from the following table.

 

iv-​​ It is unlikely that all of the electricity that the UK needs can be generated by solar power systems.

Explain why.

[2 marks]

SOLUTION​​ 

A large area is required for all solar panels to be installed due to their very low efficiency (0.15 as provided in the question).