ELECTRICTY & MAGNETISM

1.0 Understanding Electricity

Some sources of electrical energy are the solar cell, dry cell, wet cell, power generator,
lithium ion battery and cadmium battery.
Electrical conductor allows electrons or electric current to flow through it. Ex: Metals
like iron, steel, copper, gold.
Electrical insulator does not allow electrons or an electric current to flow through it. Ex:
Plastic, paper, ceramic.
An electric current (I), is defined as the rate of flow of electrons/electrical charges.
Voltage (V) is the difference of energy of electrical charges at the two terminals. Voltage
also means the electrical force needed to move electrons between two points.
Resistance (R) is property of a material that opposes the flow of electric charges.
2.0 Measuring Electricity

Current
Unit measurement of current is ampere (A)
Current is measured using ammeter. Ammeter need to be connected in series in an
electrical circuit.
Flow of current will only exist if there is voltage between the two points.

Voltage
Unit measurement for voltage is volt (V).
Voltage is measured using voltmeter. Voltmeter need to be connected in parallel in the
circuit.

Resistance
Unit for resistance is Ohm ().
There is no specific device needed to measure resistance. Resistance can be known from
the value of voltage and current in the circuit.
As resistance increase, electric current flowing through a circuit decreases.
Rheostat: apparatus to vary resistance. It can be used to control electric current in a
circuit.
Resistance of wire depends on the length, diameter, type of metal and temperature.
Resistance increase when:
Length increase.
Diameter decrease.
Temperature increase.
3.0 Relationship between current, voltage and resistance.

A circuit was set up as diagram above.

The ammeter will measure the current flowing through the resistor.
The voltmeter will measure the potential energy of the resistor.
The rheostat will control the current flow in the circuit.
Results obtained were plotted into a graph.

A straight line graph was obtained and

it passed through the origin.

Current is directly proportional to the

voltage for a fixed resistance.

The gradient of the graph represents

the resistance of the resistor.

=


=

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Ohms Law: Current is directly proportional to the voltage for fixed resistance in series
circuit.
Current is inversely proportional to the resistance for a fixed voltage.
4.0 Concept of Parallel & Series circuit
There are two types of electric circuits:

a) Series Circuit

Current flowing through each resistor is the same in a series circuit.

Voltage across each resistor depends on the quantity of the resistance.
Total voltage is the sum of each voltage across respective resistance.
Gives the same brightness to all the similar bulbs in the circuit.
A break in any part of the circuit, will make the circuit incomplete.
b) Parallel Circuit

Voltage across each resistance is the same.

Current flows through every part of parallel circuit depend on the quantity of the
resistance.
Total current is the sum of current flowing in each branch circuits.
When dry cells are connected in parallel, total voltage is that of only one dry cell.
When one part of the cell breaks, the other parts are not affected.
5.0 Magnetism
Magnets: Objects that have magnetic attracting forces.
The characteristics of a magnet are:
o A magnet has two poles the north and the south poles.
o Same poles will repel each other and opposite poles will attract.
o A free hanging magnet always points in the north-south direction.
o Iron, steel, nickel, and cobalt are examples of magnetic substances & are
attracted by a magnet.
Magnetic field: area around magnet where magnetic force can be felt.

The lines are magnetic field lines.

North out & South in
The part of north and south do not
cross each other.
Strong magnetic field will have closer
lines of force.

Neutral point: no magnetic

effect.
6.0 Electromagnetism
An electromagnet is a temporary magnet formed when an electric current is passed
through a coil of conductor wire.
The current that flows through the conductor produces a magnet field around it.
Electromagnetism from a straight wire can be determined using Right Hand Grip Rule:
o Thumb Direction of current
o Curved fingers direction of magnetic field.
o Magnetic field is made up of circles around the conductor.

Electromagnetism in solenoid:
o Solenoid electrical conductor wound as cylindrical coil.
o When current flow through it it acts as bar magnet.
o The magnetic field of solenoid follows the magnetic field of bar magnet.
The strength of a solenoid magnetic field can be increased by
o increasing the number of turns in the coiled wire.
o Inserting a laminated iron bar into the solenoid.
o Increasing the current flow.
 Electromagnets are used in loud speakers, electric bells, telephone receivers and telegraph
machines.
Electromagnets are more suitable in many devices compared to permanent magnets because of
the temporary properties.

When the current flows through the

circuit, the electromagnet becomes
magnetized.
The electromagnet attracts the soft-iron
armature and at the same time pulls the
hammer to strike the gong.
As soon as the hammer strikes the gong,
the circuit is broken.
The current stops flowing and the
electromagnet lose its magnetism.
This causes the spring to pull back the
armature and reconnect the circuit
again.
When the circuit is connected, the
electromagnet regain its magnetism and
pull the armature and hence the
hammer to strike the gong again.
This cycle repeats and the bell rings
continuously.
REVISION SHEET
Name :____________________________________________

Class:_____________________________________________

Complete the tables according to what you have learnt.

Electrical Current Voltage Resistance

Definition

Measuring
instrument

Symbol

Unit

Simple circuit

Resistance of wire
depends on:
Method of *
connection *
*
*
Series Circuit Difference in term Parallel Circuit

Method of connection

Number of channels

If one bulb burns out

Amount of current

Amount of voltage

Amount of resistance

Lifespan

Current
Determine the following quantities for each of the two circuits shown below

i. the equivalent resistance,

ii. the total current from the power supply,
iii. the current through each resistor,
iv. the voltage drop across each resistor

a.

b.