Accelerating voltage becomes electron kinetic energy
An electric potential difference transfers energy to a charged particle. If other energy transfers are negligible, the work changes its kinetic energy.
Follow the reasoning
- Identify the particle’s charge and the accelerating potential difference.
- Calculate the transferred energy in joules.
- Add any initial kinetic energy before finding the final speed.
Try it in a past paper 6
Open the question, then use its mark scheme to check your work.
Question 6
Use photon energy and work function to find photoelectron kinetic energy.
Build the supporting skills. Practise Kinetic and potential energies before exploring this connection. This question has not been checked as a combined example of the connection.
Question 11
Relate a falling object’s speed to its change in height.
Build the supporting skills. Practise Kinetic and potential energies before exploring this connection. This question has not been checked as a combined example of the connection.
Question 14
Identify the velocities after an elastic collision between identical particles.
Build the supporting skills. Practise Kinetic and potential energies before exploring this connection. This question has not been checked as a combined example of the connection.
Question 18
Calculate current for a cell with internal resistance.
Build the supporting skills. Practise E.m.f. and potential difference before exploring this connection. This question has not been checked as a combined example of the connection.
Show 2 more paper references
Question 4(a)
Compare the energy-transfer definitions of e.m.f. and potential difference.
Build the supporting skills. Practise E.m.f. and potential difference before exploring this connection. This question has not been checked as a combined example of the connection.
Question 4(b)
Design a potentiometer experiment to compare cell e.m.f.s.
Build the supporting skills. Practise E.m.f. and potential difference before exploring this connection. This question has not been checked as a combined example of the connection.
A curated collection checked against the question papers and mark schemes; not a complete past-paper catalogue. Links open official OCR PDFs in a new tab.
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Specification outcomes (3)
- 4.2.2(d) Use energy transfer equations W = VQ and W = EQ.
- 4.2.2(e) Use energy transfer for charged particles: eV = ½mv² for electrons and other charged particles.
- 3.3.2(a) Define and calculate kinetic energy, Ek = ½mv², and derive it from first principles.