Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · PHYSICS · Section
Supply and demand
16 practice questions
Practice questions
1–10 of 16
Question 1
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →State one reason why hydroelectric power stations are able to respond quickly to sudden increases in electricity demand.
Question 2
1 mark · Easy
Answer and check →Which type of power station is best for meeting a sudden, short-term increase in electricity demand?
- A.Coal-fired power station
- B.Hydroelectric power station
- C.Nuclear power station
- D.Wind farm
Question 3
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Explain why nuclear power stations cannot be used to meet rapid, unexpected increases in electricity demand.
Question 4
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Electricity suppliers must match supply exactly to demand to avoid power cuts.
(a)[1 mark]State one way electricity demand can change suddenly.
(b)[1 mark]Name a type of power station that is usually used to deal with these sudden changes.
Question 5
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →The demand for electricity in a country increases significantly during cold winters.
(a)[1 mark]Explain one reason for this increase.
(b)[1 mark]Name one type of power station that cannot respond quickly to increases in demand.
(c)[1 mark]Describe what the electricity grid operators do to make sure enough electricity is available at cold times.
Question 6
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A table gives the start-up times for different types of power station: | Type | Start-up time | |------------------|--------------| | Nuclear | 24 hours | | Coal-fired | 6 hours | | Gas-fired | 30 minutes | | Hydroelectric | 2 minutes | Which type of power station(s) could be used to deal with a sudden demand for electricity during a football match interval? Give a reason for your answer.
Question 7
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Electricity generation must match supply to demand at all times.
(a)[1 mark]Name two factors that affect the demand for electricity throughout a typical day.
(b)[1 mark]Describe one way the National Grid prepares for predictable changes in demand.
Question 8
1 mark · Easy
Answer and check →Which of the following best describes why wind farms cannot be relied on to meet sudden increases in electricity demand?
- A.They take many hours to start up.
- B.They are very expensive to run.
- C.Wind speed and direction are unpredictable.
- D.They produce dangerous waste.
Question 9
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →The demand for electricity changes at different times of day.
(a)[1 mark]State one time of day when electricity demand is likely to be at its highest and explain why.
(b)[2 marks]Name a type of power station that responds quickly to sudden increases in electricity demand. Explain why it can do this.
Question 10
1 mark · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Which of these power stations is LEAST able to meet sudden increases in electricity demand?
- A.Coal-fired power station
- B.Gas-fired power station
- C.Hydroelectric power station
- D.Wind farm