ELECTRICITY: Metal atoms (ions) in a wire have delocalised

BY: ADNAN PATEL electrons which are free to move and carry the
electric current around the circuit.
Current is the flow of charge. The size of the current is the rate of flow of The electrons moving around the circuit collide
electric charge. with the ions. This is called resistance.
I = Q I = current in amperes (amps), A A
Q = charge in coulombs, C Components with high resistance (e.g. filament
t
t = time in seconds, s bulbs) often get hot. This is because when the
electrons collide with the ions they transfer
Current is measured using an Ammeter in series with the circuit. +- -+ - + +- -+ - +- -+ - +
+- +- +- -+ - + + +-
energy as heat (and light), this then causes the
In a series circuit the current is the same everywhere. A - - ions to vibrate more increasing the resistance by
+ + - + + +- +- + - +
In a parallel circuit the current is split when it reaches a branch. - - - -
+- + - + +- + - + + +- making it harder for the electrons to pass through
The circuit needs to be complete for the current to flow. - -
without collisions.

Potential difference (voltage) is measured between two points and is the work done (energy transferred) per coulomb of charge that passes between the points.
V = potential difference in volts, V V 6V
V = W Q = charge in coulombs, C
Q W = work done in joules, J
3V 3V
Potential difference is measured using a voltmeter connected in parallel across a component.
X M
The sum of potential difference across one branch is equal to the sum of the potential difference of the cells or battery.
V V
In a parallel circuit the potential difference across a single component in a branch is equal to the potential difference of the cell. 2V 4V

Potential difference, current and resistance are all The current through a resistor
related by the equation; (at a constant temperature) is An LED (light emitting diode)
directly proportional to the emits light when a current
V = I x R V = potential difference in volts, V
potential difference across a flows in the forward direction
I = current in amps, A
R = resistance in ohms, resistor.

The total resistance in a The resistance of a bulb An LDR (light-dependent resistor)

circuit is the sum of the increases as the resistance decreases as light intensity
resistors in the circuit temperature of the increases. (DARK = high resistance,
6 ohms 10 ohms filament increases low current, LIGHT = low resistance,
e.g. 6 ohms + 10 ohms = 16 ohms high current)

A variable resistor can alter the The current through a diode A thermistor’s resistance decreases
resistance in a circuit and is useful flows in one direction. It as the temperature increases.(
for things like controlling volume or has a very high resistance in HIGH TEMP = low resistance, high
light dimmer switches the opposite direction. current, LOW TEMP = high
resistance, low current)
ELECTRICITY: Household electricity has a potential difference of around 230V and a frequency of 50 Hz (Hertz), so
BY ADNAN PATEL changes direction 50 times in a second.

Current in a simple circuit is direct (dc) because it only flows in The period of an AC supply is the time taken for one complete oscillation. You can find this by
one direction, whereas current from the mains supply is looking at the time between one peak and the next.
alternating current (ac) because it alters direction. e.g. In the oscilloscope trace, one horizontal division represents 5 ms (five milliseconds).
There are four divisions between two adjacent peaks, so the period is: 4 × 5 = 20 ms

The frequency of an AC supply is the number of oscillations per second. You can find it from the
period: Frequency = 1 ÷ period
(Remember to convert to seconds if needed. In this example, 20 ms = 20 ÷ 1000 = 0.020 s.)
dc- one direction ac- alternating direction Frequency = 1 ÷ 0.020 = 50 Hz

The live terminal (pin)
potential difference
varies between a high
positive value and low
positive value.
The neutral terminal
(pin) has a potential
difference close to
earth which is zero.
In a plug and cable;
Blue is neutral and goes on the left
Striped is Earth and goes to the top
Brown is live and goes to the right
This is the symbol for a fuse.
A fuse will melt when the current is too high
A plug is designed with the following;
•Plastic casing outside is an insulator
•Brass pins are good conductors
•Fuse melts if the current is too high (thus
breaking the circuit)
•Cables are made of copper because they are
bendy and good conductors
•Cables have plastic coating because they are
good insulators

The circuits in your house are earthed Circuit breakers When an electrical charge flows through a resistor, the
outside switch off the resistor gets hot.
current when A lot of energy is wasted in filament bulbs as heat.
Appliances with metal cases need to there is a fault Less energy is wasted in power-saving lamps such as
be earthed inside the case. When the switch is Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs).
open it stays open There is also a choice when buying new appliances
This is just in case a live wire comes until it is reset in how efficiently they transfer energy.
loose- the current will then pass through
the earth wire and not you when you The rate at which energy is transferred by an appliance called the power
touch it Residual current
P = E P = power in watts, W P = power in watts, W
circuit breakers t E = energy in joules, J P = I x V I = current in amps, A
Appliances with plastic casings sometimes only have 2 (RCCB) work faster t = time in seconds, s V = potential difference in volts, V
cables (no Earth) as they are double insulated and have because they cut
off current in a live
been designed so that the live wire cannot touch the Energy transferred, potential difference and charge are all related by..
wire when it is
casing. This is because different from E = energy in joules, J
the plastic acts as an insulator so the chance of current in a neutral E = V x Q V = potential difference in volts, V
electric shock is minimal. wire. Q = charge in coulombs, C