Circuit symbols
- Cells: has a potential difference - this pushes charge (electrons) around the circuit
- Batteries: two or more cells
- Open switch: off
- Closed switch: on
- Ammeter: measures current (connect in series).
- Voltmeter: measures potential difference (connect in parallel).
- Fixed resistor: controls current
- Variable resistor: also controls current - allows you to change the current
- Diode: prevents current from flowing in reverse
- Thermistor: temperature dependent resistor - as temperature increases, resistance decreases automatically (thermostats)
- LDR: light dependent resistor - as light intensity increases, resistance decreases automatically (street lamps)
Important equations
- Current: Q/t = current is the rate of flow of charge
- Q = It
- Q: charge (C), I: current (A), t: time (s)
- V = IR
- V: potential difference (V), I: current (A), R: resistance (Ω)
I-V graphs
- In a fixed resistor, the I-V graph is a straight line - this shows the resistance remains constant.
- In a diode, the I-V graph does not go down - this shows that current cannot flow backwards.
- In a filament lamp, as potential difference increases,
- current increases
- temperature increases
- resistance increases
- current stops increasing
Series circuits
- current is the same everywhere
- p.d of each component adds up the p.d. of the cell or battery
- resistance of each resistor adds up to the total resistance of the circuit
- ratios of resistance in each component is the same as the ratio of p.ds
Parallel circuits
- current from each branch adds up
- p.d. is the same everywhere
- adding more resistors decreases the circuit's total resistance as there would be more branches for the current to flow through
Wires
- live wire - 230 v - carries the p.d
- earth wire - 0 V - safety circuit
- neutral wire - 0 V - connects the circuit