Learning Focus:

Can I recall information about electricity?

Key Terms:
Series, parallel, resistance, current, charge, potential difference.

Learning Outcomes:

I can define current, potential difference, resistance and charge.

I can describe the rules of potential difference, current and resistance in series and
parallel.
I apply ohms law and give exceptions to it.
Electricity

You have 1 minute

to memorise as
many as you can
Electricity

On whiteboards – 1 2 3
how many can you
remember?
4 5 6

7 8 9

10 11 12
Electricity

• In metals electrons are delocalised. They

are not attached to any ion.

• The delocalised electrons are the charge that

flow through a circuit.

• Current is the rate of flow of charge – how

many charges pass a certain point in a circuit
per second.

• The current flows when a potential difference

pushes charge around a circuit.
Electricity

• The charge of each electron is so small

we measure charge using the unit coulombs.

• A coulomb is the charge in a set number of

electrons. (6250000000000000000 electrons!)

• One coulomb is the total charge if you add up all

the charges of 6.25x1018 electrons.

• We can think of a coulomb as the charge in a

bucket of electrons.
Rehearsal

1. Which subatomic particles carry charge in a wire?

Electrons
2. Why can charges move in wires?
Charges can move because electrons are delocalised (not attached to any ion).
3. What are the units we measure charge in?
Charge is measured in coulombs.
4. Why do we use this unit for charge?
We use the unit of coulombs because the charge in each electron is so small.
5. What is a coulomb of charge?
A coulomb of charge is the charge in a set number of electrons.
Charge
• We work out charge, Q, in coulombs using the formula:

Charge, Q = Current, I x time, t

• Where:
- Charge, Q is measured in coulombs (C)
- Current, I is measured in amperes (A)
- time, t is measured in seconds (s)

• There is more charge when a larger current flows.

• There is more charge when a current flows for a longer time.
Rehearsal
Calculate the charge when a current of 3A flows for 10 seconds.

Step 1: Write down the formula. Charge = current x time.

Step 2: Converted to the correct units. We don't need to do this here.
Step 3: Add the numbers to the formula Charge = 3 x 10

Step 4: Work out the answer with a calculator Charge = 30C

Step 3: Add the units

Rehearsal
Calculate the charge when a current of 0.75A flows for 5 minutes.

Step 1: Write down the formula. Charge = current x time.

Step 2: Converted to the correct units. 5 minutes = 5 x 60 = 300 seconds
Step 3: Add the numbers to the formula Charge = 0.75 x 300

Step 4: Work out the answer with a calculator Charge = 225C

Step 3: Add the units

Rehearsal
1. Calculate the time it takes for a current of 2A to move 16C of charge.

Step 1: Write the formula: time = charge ÷ current

Step 2: Add the numbers from the question. time = 16 ÷ 2
Step 3: Work out the answer with a calculator Time = 8C
Step 4: Add the units.
2. Calculate the current if 30C of charge flows in 0.5 seconds.

Step 1: Write the formula: current = charge ÷ time

Step 2: Add the numbers from the question. current = 30 ÷ 0.5
Step 3: Work out the answer with a calculator current = 60A
Step 4: Add the units.
Electricity

• Potential difference is the amount of energy each coulomb of charge has.

• Each charge is given energy from a cell or battery.

• Charges transfer energy to electrical components through the electrical pathway.

Electricity

• Potential difference can be modelled as a push from a cell or battery given to each
coulomb of charge.

• We measure Potential difference in volts using a voltmeter.

• A voltmeter measures the energy transferred to a component. It needs to work out the
difference between the energy in and out of a component.

• To find the difference in energy each side of a component a voltmeter needs to

be connected in parallel.
Electricity
• Current is the rate of flow of charge in a circuit.

• Current is measured in amperes.

• We use an ammeter to measure current.

• One ampere is one coulomb of charge passing a point in the circuit each second.

• To measure current we use an ammeter in series.

Electricity
• Resistance is a property of a material or component that makes it difficult for charge to pass through.

• Resistance is caused by free electrons colliding with ions in a fixed position.

• If electrons collide with more ions the resistance will be greater.

• Resistance is measured in ohms, Ω.

• Resistance is effected by:

• The material – different materials have different resistances.

• The length - a longer wire will have more resistance than a shorter wire.
• The thickness – a thicker wire will have less resistance than a thinner wire.
• A hotter wire will have more resistance than a cooler wire.
Electricity

• We can then use the formula below to calculate resistance.

Resistance = Potential difference ÷ current

• Resistance, R is measured in ohms, (Ω)

• Potential difference, V is measured in volts (V)

• Current, I is measured in amperes (A)

Resistance

Ohm’s law:
Resistance = Potential difference ÷ current

• At a constant temperature.

• If you double the potential difference you double the current.

• If you double the resistance you halve the current.

Rehearsal
Calculate the resistance if a 10mA flows with a potential difference of 1.2V

Step 1: Write the formula: Resistance = potential difference ÷ current

To convert from mA the A we divide by
Step 2: Convert units.
1000 so 10mA ÷ 1000 = 0.01A
Step 2: Add the numbers from the question. Resistance = 1.2 ÷ 0.01

Step 3: Work out the answer with a calculator Resistance = 120 Ω

Step 4: Add the units.

Rehearsal
Calculate the current if a voltmeter measured 12V across a 7mΩ resistor.
Give youranswer to 2 s.f.
Step 1: Write the formula: current = potential difference ÷ resistance
1Ω = 1000mΩ, so 7mΩ = 7÷1000 = 0.007Ω
Step 2: Convert units.

Step 2: Add the numbers from the question. current = 12 ÷ 0.007

Step 3: Work out the answer with a calculator current = 1700 A

Step 4: Add the units.

Rehearsal
Calculate the potential difference if a voltmeter measured 6A flows through an 9Ω resistor.

Step 1: Write the formula: potential difference = current x resistance

we don't need to do this.
Step 2: Convert units.

Step 2: Add the numbers from the question. Potential difference = 6 x 9

Step 3: Work out the answer with a calculator Potential difference = 54 V

Step 4: Add the units.

Electricity
Task 4:
A student needs to find the resistance of a lamp. Complete task 4.
a) Add a voltmeter to the circuit below that could be used to find
the potential difference across the lamp.

V
b) Calculate the resistance of the lamp when the ammeter read 1.3A and the voltmeter
reads 4.2V. R = V / I = 4.2 / 1.3 = 3.2Ω
c) What would happen to the resistance of the bulb if it got hotter?
The resistance would increase.
Electricity

Ohm’s law:
Resistance = Potential difference ÷ current

Plotting a graph of I-V graph for a conductor that follows Ohms law you get:

The relationship is
directly proportional.

The gradient tells us

the resistance.

Increase the PD you

increase the current.
Electricity

Not all conductors follow Ohm’s law:

For a lamp, the temperature increases – this increases resistance.

As the temperature increases

the resistance increases.

No more current will flow when

you increase the potential
difference.
Electricity

Not all conductors follow Ohm’s law:

For a diode, resistance is high in one direction and low in the other direction.

In one direction - increasing PD doesn’t

increase the current.

In the opposite direction - increasing PD

increases the current. (Resistance is
low).
Series and Parallel circuits

• Current in series circuits is the same everywhere.

• Potential difference is shared by components in series

circuits.

• Current in parallel circuits splits between each branch.

• Potential difference is the same in each branch of a

parallel circuit.

• You will be investigating the rules of series and

parallel circuits.
Electricity

• Adding components in series causes the total

resistance of the circuit to increase.

• The total resistance of a series circuit RT is the

sum of the individual resistances added
together.

• We can say: RT = R1 + R2 + R3 ...

Electricity

• Adding components in parallel causes the total

resistance of the circuit to decrease.

• This is because the charge has more paths

to travel through.
Rehearsal
All the resistors are 6Ω.

1. Which circuit has the greatest resistance?

The series circuit has higher resistance.

2. What would
Thehappen if you added
total resistance another
would resistor in parallel?
be less.
3. What would happen if you added another resistor in series?
The total resistance would increase.
4. What is the total resistance of the series circuit?
RT = 6 + 6 + 6 = 18Ω

5. R3 in the series circuit is replaced. The total resistance of the

circuit
20 = 6 is+ 20Ω,
6 + R what
, R is the resistance of R3?
3 3
Rehearsal
Task 6: Complete the table below to describe how current, Complete task 6.
resistance and voltage behave in series and parallel.
Current Potential Resistance.
difference
Series The same everywhere. Shared between Total resistance = sum
components. Sum of of individual
pd across components resistance.
= pd supplied by cell. Adding resistors in
series increases
overall resistance.
Parallel Shared between branches. The same through Adding resistors in
Current before branch – sum of each loop. parallel reduces total
currents through each branch. resistance of the
Current joins up after branches. circuit.
Rehearsal
• Complete the exam questions.

Series circuits have only one loop.

Parallel circuits have more than one loop.
Rehearsal
• Complete the exam questions.

X
Rehearsal
• Complete the exam questions.

RT = 10 + 15 = 25Ω

Series circuit – PD is shared.

PD = 6V / 3 = 2V
Rehearsal
• Complete the exam questions.
Rehearsal

The current in I2 is equal to current I3.

Current I1 is equal to the sum of I2 + I3.
Electricity.
What does the picture below show? Give as much detail as you can.