Free worksheet and solutions · AQA GCSE · 8463 / 8464
AQA GCSE Physics Power and Efficiency Calculations Worksheet
Practise GCSE power and efficiency calculations with hoists and pumps. Includes useful and input energy, device comparisons, a PDF worksheet and worked answers.
What is covered
Questions and skills covered
The worksheet contains 8 pages of printable questions. A separate 8-page solutions PDF makes it easy to mark, review or share answers after the activity.
- Power and Efficiency Calculations
- Foundation: printed core pathway. Higher: Q6 improving efficiency replaces1(c,d,f).
- A canal-maintenance team compares two hoists doing equal lifts and chooses a water pump for a deadline and input-energy budget. Pupils calculate power, energy, time, useful outputs and efficiencies, account for dissipated energy, and identify an impossible efficiency claim. A labelled Higher section asks how to increase efficiency without confusing efficiency with useful power.
About this activity
A canal-maintenance team compares two hoists doing equal lifts and chooses a water pump for a deadline and input-energy budget. Pupils calculate power, energy, time, useful outputs and efficiencies, account for dissipated energy, and identify an impossible efficiency claim. A labelled Higher section asks how to increase efficiency without confusing efficiency with useful power.
Before you start
Foundation: printed core pathway. Higher: Q6 improving efficiency replaces1(c,d,f).
A question from the worksheet
Original question from this worksheet
Two pumps must each provide3000J of useful lifting energy. PumpX has100W input power and efficiency0.30; pumpY has180W input power and efficiency0.40. Which can finish within45s using at most8000J input?
Show the answer
X has30W useful power, takes100s and needs10000J input. Y has72W useful power, takes about42s and needs7500J. ChooseY: it meets both limits. Its greater input power does not mean it uses more energy for this task.
Common error: Check units, the stated model and the course/tier labels before choosing the physics.
Specification fit
AQA GCSE Physics Worksheets
8463 and 8464 · 4.1.1.4, 4.1.2.1, 4.1.2.2, 4.1.1.2, 6.1.1.4, 6.1.2.1, 6.1.2.2, 6.1.1.2
- 8463: 4.1.1.4, 4.1.2.1, 4.1.2.2, 4.1.1.2
- 8464: 6.1.1.4, 6.1.2.1, 6.1.2.2, 6.1.1.2
Choose the correct pathway: Foundation: printed core pathway. Higher: Q6 improving efficiency replaces1(c,d,f).
Classroom use
Use the worksheet for class practice, homework, intervention, cover work or revision. Keep the PhysicsUK attribution intact when sharing copies with pupils.