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Leaving Cert Physics: Current electricity

How often Current electricity comes up on the Physics papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 6 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

OL Asked on 6 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

June 2027 is the first exam on the new Physics course. These come from the 2016–2026 papers, so read them as a guide.

Current electricity, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Current electricity.

(a)Define electric current.
  1. The energy given to each coulomb of charge
  2. The rate of flow of charge
  3. The opposition to the flow of charge
(b)Charge that passes when a current of 2.0 A flows for 30 s?
  1. 0.067 C
  2. 15 C
  3. 60 C
(c)What carries the electric current in a metal?
  1. Free electrons
  2. Protons
  3. Positive ions
Show the answers

(a) The rate of flow of charge

(b) 60 C

(c) Free electrons

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Current electricity.

Higher Level

Asked on 6 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q6(i)
2025Not asked
2024Q6(i), Q9
2023Q6(g)
2022Q5
2021Q5
2019Not asked
2018Q4, Q5(h)
2017Not asked
2016Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Current electricity questions

Current electricity, 3 marks

Define potential difference.

  1. The amount of charge that flows past any point in the circuit each second
  2. The energy given to the whole circuit by the battery in each second
  3. The work done in moving one coulomb of charge from one point to the other
Show the answer

The work done in moving one coulomb of charge from one point to the other

V = W/Q, measured in volts, and 1 V = 1 J C⁻¹. Rate of flow of charge is current.

Current electricity, 2 marks

The volt is equivalent to which combination of units?

  1. One coulomb per joule
  2. One joule per coulomb
  3. One joule per second
Show the answer

One joule per coulomb

V = W/Q, so 1 V = 1 J C⁻¹. A joule per second is a watt, the unit of power.

Current electricity, 2 marks

In which direction does conventional current flow in the circuit outside a battery?

  1. From the positive terminal to the negative terminal
  2. From the negative terminal to the positive terminal
  3. Back and forth fifty times each second
Show the answer

From the positive terminal to the negative terminal

Conventional current was defined as the flow of positive charge, from + to −, before electrons were discovered. Electrons actually move the other way.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 6 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q6(j), Q10
2025Q6(d)
2024Not asked
2023Q6(e), Q11
2022Q5, Q11
2021Not asked
2019Not asked
2018Not asked
2017Q5(c), Q5(h)
2016Q4, Q8

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Current electricity questions

Current electricity, 3 marks

A charge of 120 C passes a point in one minute. The current?

  1. 120 A
  2. 7200 A
  3. 2 A
Show the answer

2 A

I = Q ÷ t = 120 ÷ 60 = 2 A. Time must be in seconds: one minute = 60 s.

Current electricity, 2 marks

SI unit of electric current?

  1. Coulomb (C)
  2. Ampere (A)
  3. Volt (V)
Show the answer

Ampere (A)

Current is the rate of flow of charge, so 1 A = 1 C s⁻¹. The volt measures potential difference and the coulomb measures charge.

Current electricity, 2 marks

Which instrument measures current, and how is it connected?

  1. An ammeter, in series
  2. An ammeter, in parallel
  3. A voltmeter, in parallel
Show the answer

An ammeter, in series

The current must flow through the ammeter, so it goes in series. A voltmeter goes in parallel, but it measures potential difference.

Other Physics topics

All of Leaving Cert Physics