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Physics (GCSE) Revision (Electricity)

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A current will flow through an electrical component only if there is . . .   a VOLTAGE or POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE (p.d.) across its ends.   Potential difference makes charges flow  
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The bigger the potential difference across a component . . .   The bigger the CURRENT that flows through it.   Think of water flowing downhill - the steeper the hill the faster it flows (usually !)  
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Components resist a current flowing through them. The bigger their resistance . . .   The smaller the current produced by a particular voltage   This is like squeezing a garden hose - it restricts the flow of water  
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The p.d. across a component in a circuit is measured in . . .   VOLTS   1 volt is equal to 1 joule of electrical energy for every 1 coulmob of charge  
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Voltage (p.d.) is measured using . . .   a VOLTMETER connected IN PARALLEL with the component.   Remember: you measure the potential difference between two points in a circuit  
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The CURRENT flowing through a component in a circuit is measured using . . .   an AMMETER connected IN SERIES with the component.   You need to put the ammeter in line with the current so it flows through the meter  
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The unit of current is . . .   the AMPERE (AMP)   It is a rate of flow of charge  
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A current of 1 A is equal to a charge flowing of . . .   1 COULOMB per SECOND   1 coulomb is a really BIG number of electrons  
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In metals, a current is a flow of charged particles called . . .   ELECTRONS   They are the negatively charged parts of atoms  
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In a circuit, we say that CURRENT always flows from . . .   The POSITIVE terminal of a cell, towards the NEGATIVE terminal.   Red is positive - black is negative  
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In metals, electricity is actually carried by NEGATIVELY charged electrons, which flow from . . .   the NEGATIVE terminal towards the POSITIVE terminal of a cell.   This was a mistake made over 100 years ago when they didn't know about electrons !  
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The behaviour of a component in a circuit can best be studied by plotting . . .   a current-voltage graph.   Put voltage on the x-axis and current on the y-axis  
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A resistor at constant temperature has a constant ratio of . . .   current to voltage. Its graph is a straight line.   It should pass through the origin if voltage is directly proportional to current  
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The current-voltage graph for a filament lamp is NOT a straight line. The reason is . . .   Resistance increases as temperature increases.   The graph is a curve - current stops increasing at quickly because it gets harder for it to flow through the higher resistance  
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A diode is a device which . . .   only allows a current to flow one way through it.   The graph shows a sudden rapid rise in current when the p.d. exceeds 0.7 volt ( but in reverse the current is just zero )  
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When components are connected in series . . .   the SAME CURRENT flows through each component.   There is nowhere else for it to go  
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The total resistance of components in series is . . .   equal to the SUM of their separate resistances.   If you keep adding components in series the current will just keep getting less and less  
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The total potential difference in a series circuit is . . .   shared between the individual compoents.   You only have so much pocket money to spend . . .  
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If a p.d. of 12 volts is shared between two equal resistances, each one will get . . .   6 volts.   If the same current flows in each, the voltage is proportional to the resistance  
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If a p.d. of 12 volts is shared between two resistors of 6 ohms and 12 ohms, the bigger resistor will get . . .   8 volts. ( The smaller one gets 4 volts because it has half the resistance of the other one.)   Voltage is directly proportional to resistance according to Ohm's Law  
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When components are connected IN PARALLEL . . .   There is the SAME p.d. across each component.   Think of the rungs on a ladder - they are all connected in parallel between the two uprights  
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The total current in a parallel circuit is equal to . . .   the SUM of the currents through each of the separate components.   Like cars joining (or leaving) a motorway  
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If one lamp is connected to a cell it gets a current of 1 amp. If two identical lamps are connected in parallel (to the same cell) they will get . . .   a current of 1 amp each - that makes the total current 2 amps.   You can put as many lamps in parallel as you like and they will all get 1 amp each  
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If one lamp gets a current of 1A from one cell, two lamps joined in series will get . . .   approximately half as much current ( 0.5A) because they have twice as much resistance.   Three lamps get 1/3 amp, etc.  
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The p.d. provided by cells connected in series is equal to . . .   the SUM of the p.ds. of each cell separately bearing in mind the direction in which they are connected.   If you connect a cell backwards you have to subtract its p.d. from the total  
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How many different p.ds. can you get from 4 cells, each of 1.5volts, connected in series?   THREE ( 6v, 3v, 0v)   What will 5 cells give ?  
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The resistance of a component is measured in   OHMS   1 ohm is 1 volt per amp  
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Potential difference, current and resistance are related by Ohm's Law which states   P.d. = current x resistance   V = IR (if you want to save ink)  
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The resistance of a component is calculated by applying Ohm's law as follows:   R = p.d. / current   R = V / I (always put V on top)  
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If a current of 2A flows in a resistor of resistance 10 ohms, the p.d. across the resistor is . . .   20 volts   V= IR = 2x10 = 20 v  
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What is the current when a p.d. of 12v is applied across a 10 ohm resistor?   1.2 A   I = V/R = 12/10  
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The current through a resistor at constant temperature is . . .   directly proportional to the p.d. across the resistor.   A graph of current against voltage would be a straight line which passes through the origin  
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The resistance of a light dependent resistor . . .   decreases as the light intensity increases.   They are used to switch on street lights at dusk  
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The resistance of a thermistor with a negative temperature coefficient will . . .   decrease as the temperature increases.   Can be used as a thermostat to control central heating  
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As an electric current flows through a circuit . . .   energy is transferred from the battery or power supply to the components in the circuit.   A battery is a source of electrical energy which can easily be converted into more useful forms such as light, heat and sound  
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A lamp converts electrical energy into . . .   light and heat.   More light than heat - especially if energy efficient lamps are used  
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When electric charge flows through a resistor, electrical energy is transferred as . . .   HEAT   Joule showed that heat is always produced when energy is transferred  
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The rate of energy transfer is called . . .   POWER   Power has a special meaning in Physics (see above)  
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Power is measured in watts. 1W is equal to . . .   1 joule per second   1 watt means that 1 joule of energy is transferred EVERY second !  
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In an electric circuit, POWER =   current x potential difference   P = I V ( Pretty Impressive Victory )  
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Energy transferred =   Power x Time   E = P x t ( Eeeeh, Poor Thing ! )  
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CHARGE =   Current x Time   Q = It ( Quit - while you're ahead )  
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The higher the p.d. the greater the energy transferred for a given amount of charge which flows. Energy transferred =   charge x potential difference   E = Q V ( Eastenders Queen Victoria )  
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The letters D.C. stand for . . .   Direct current   What else ?  
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The letters A.C. stand for . . .   Alternating current   It goes back and forth 50 times a second  
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A direct current can be obtained from . . .   a cell or battery ( or dc power supply)   An ac supply can be made into dc by using diodes  
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A direct current is one in which . . .   charge carriers flow in one direction continuously.   For example, in a solution of copper sulphate  
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An alternating current is one which flows . . .   first in one direction then in the opposite direction alternately. It is constantly changing.   It is produced using a dynamo or a generator which has a coil spinning in a magnetic field  
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The frequency of alternating current in the UK is . . .   50 Hertz ( or cycles per second)   It is 60Hz in the USA - which makes it difficult to watch imported DVDs or videos  
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The voltage of the UK mains supply is . . .   About 230 volts (AC)   It used to be 240v but what with inflation . . .  
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In Europe, the colour of the LIVE cable in a 13 amp plug is . . .   BROWN   You'll know what this means if you touch it !  
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In Europe, the earth cable is coloured . . .   GREEN & YELLOW   The colours of springtime . . .  
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In Europe,the neutral wire in a 13A plug is coloured . . .   BLUE   The colour of the summer sky - I'm just wishing I was on holiday !  
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If a fault occurs in an electrical circuit the current is interrupted by a . . .   FUSE (or circuit breaker)   Circuit breakers can be reset - fuses need to be replaced  
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The fuse in a plug is designed to MELT when . . .   the current exceeds the value of the fuse e.g. 5amp.   Don't say fuse 'blows' - it's rude !  
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Fuses and circuit breakers should always be fitted in the . . .   LIVE wire   So that the current is stopped before it enters the appliance  
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An appliance with a metal casing should always be EARTHED because . . .   the current can flow to earth preventing the user from receiving a shock.   If you touch a LIVE metal case, the current will flow through YOU to earth - not nice !  
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It is safe to use an appliance fitted with a 2-pin plug because . . .   there are no metal parts which can become LIVE   e.g. a hairdryer with a plastic case and handle  
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A loudspeaker converts electrical energy into . . .   sound energy.   Don't abbreviate loudspeaker to 'speaker'  
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A microphone converts sound energy into . . .   electrical energy.   Testing, testing . . . 1, 2, 1, 2, etc.  
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A motor converts electrical energy into . . .   kinetic energy.   e.g. an electric drill  
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A dynamo converts kinetic energy into . . .   electrical energy.   On a bicycle  
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The amount of electrical energy transferred from the mains is measured in units called . . .   kilowatt hours   That's kilowatts x hours  
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1 kWh =   1kW x 1hour   1000 W x 3600 seconds = 3 600 000 joules  
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Cost of electricity used =   Number of units (kWh) x cost per unit   Roughly 8p per unit (kWh)  
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If 1 unit of electricity costs 8pence, what would it cost to run a 500W lamp for 6 hours?   Cost = 0.5 x 6 x 8 = 24p   Convert to kilowatts and hours first  
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Metals are good conductors of electricity because . . .   some of their electrons can move freely throughout the metal.   They are 'delocalised' or mobile and not firmly attached to any one atom  
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When a current flows through a solution the process is called . . .   electrolysis   It uses a device called a voltammeter - bad name really as it isn't really either  
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In an electrolyte, current is carried by charged particles called . . .   IONS   An atom which has either gained or lost electrons is called an ion  
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Positve ions move towards the . . .   CATHODE   cat means 'down' in Greek (apparently)  
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Negatively charged ions move towards the . . .   ANODE   an means 'up' in Greek  
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During electrolysis the mass or volume of the substance deposited or released at the cathode depends on . . .   the current and the time for which it flows.   This is Faraday's Law  
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A capacitor is a device which is used to store . . .   electric charge (energy)   Rechargeable batteries derived from electrolytic capacitors  
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A capacitor takes time to charge up or to discharge. This can be used in . . .   a timing circuit   e.g. courtesy or security lights  
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When two different materials are rubbed together . .   electrons are transferred from one to the other   Friction removes electrons  
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Certain materials can be used as electrical insulators. This is because . . .   they do not conduct electricity   Their electrons are tightly bound to the atoms  
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When a substance loses electrons, it becomes . . .   POSITIVELY charged.   Double negative : minus minus equals plus  
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Opposite electric charges will . . .   ATTRACT each other   Life used to be so simple  
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Like charges . . .   REPEL each other   They just can't stand competition !  
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A charged object can be discharged by . . .   connecting it to EARTH with a conductor   The Earth acts like a bank - you can pay in or take out whatever you want  
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In a photocopier, electric charge is used to create an image on . . .   a copying plate which conducts when light shines on it   You need to read up on this  
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Smoke particles can be extracted from the emissions from power stations by means of . . .   an electrostatic precipitator   This is a great idea - make sure you know how it works  
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When walking along a nylon carpet with plastic-soled shoes, you may pick up a static charge. This happens because . . .   electrons are transferred by friction from the shoes to the carpet   It could be the other way round - anyway you get a big charge  
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When you touch a metal door handle you sometimes receive an electric shock because . . .   a charge passes from your body to earth through the door handle   Let's suppose electrons flow from you to Earth - it could be the other way round but it still hurts !  
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When filling a car with petrol, the nozzle should make good electrical contact with the neck of the tank. This is to prevent . . .   a spark which could ignite the fuel.   Aircraft need to be connected to the tanker by a metal bonding line for the same reason  
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Created by: J Thomson
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