Electricity Revision Summary

Equations
Write down the equation and the units for each of these quantities:
Equation Units
Charge

Potential Difference

Power

Power

Energy Transferred

Static Electricity (Physics Only)

Name the 3 particles in an
atom and the charge on
each particle

Describe how static charge

(static electricity) can build
up on an object

Describe the force that

will act between these
combinations of particles:

Circuits
What is electrical current?

What is potential
difference (voltage)?

What is resistance?

What is a series circuit?

What is a parallel circuit?

Write down the current
laws for series and parallel
circuits.

Write down the voltage

laws for series and parallel
circuits.

What is Ohm’s law?

Calculate the 3 missing

voltages and the
resistance of the motor.

How do you calculate the

total resistance of 2
resistors in series?

How do you calculate the

total resistance of 2
resistors in parallel?

I I I
Sketch the shape of the IV
(current/voltage) graphs
for a resistor, a filament V V V
bulb and a diode

Resistor Filament Bulb Diode

What is an LDR?

What is a Thermistor?
 Mains Electricity
Name the 3 wires found
inside most electrical
cables

List the colour of each

wire

What is the voltage of the

neutral wire?

What is the purpose of the

Earth wire?

Label this diagram of a

plug.

What is the purpose of a

fuse?

What is the difference

between Alternating
Current (AC) and Direct
Current (DC)

What produces AC?

What produces DC?

What is the UK mains

supply voltage?
What is the frequency of
the UK mains supply?

A current of 0.25A flows

through a motor with
resistance 250Ω. Calculate
the power of the motor.

A bulb uses a current of

0.5A when plugged into
the mains (230V) supply.
Calculate the power of the
bulb

If a kettle operates with an

electrical current of 4.3A
what fuse should you use?
You can choose from fuses
of 3A, 5A, and 13A.

What is the National Grid?

Why is a high voltage used

between pylons in the
national grid?

What are the benefits of

having a National Grid?
 Electricity Revision Summary
Equations
Write down the equation and the units for each of these quantities:
Equation Units
Charge
Charge = current x time Coulombs
Potential Difference
PD = current x resistance Volts
Power
Power = current x voltage Watts
Power
Power = current2 x resistance Watts
Energy Transferred
Energy = PD x charge Joules

Static Electricity (Physics Only)

Name the 3 particles in an Proton = positive
atom and the charge on Electron = negative
each particle Neutron = no charge

Describe how static charge

(static electricity) can build Friction between 2 objects can cause electrons to move from
up on an object one object to another. If the objects are insulators, the charges
(electrons) remain (static) on the object.
Both objects will then be charged. The object gaining electrons
will be negative and the object losing them will be positive.
Describe the force that
will act between these + and + repel
combinations of particles: + and – attract
- and - repel

Circuits
What is electrical current?
Electrons flowing through the wires in a circuit

What is potential
difference (voltage)? The difference in charge that “pushes” the electrons around the
circuit.

What is resistance?
Opposition to the flow of current through a component.

What is a series circuit?

A circuit with only one path around it

What is a parallel circuit?

A circuit with more than one path around it.
Write down the current
laws for series and parallel
circuits.
Write down the voltage
laws for series and parallel
circuits.
What is Ohm’s law?
Calculate the 3 missing
voltages and the
resistance of the motor.
How do you calculate the
total resistance of 2
resistors in series?
How do you calculate the
total resistance of 2
resistors in parallel?
Sketch the shape of the IV
(current/voltage) graphs
for a resistor, a filament
bulb and a diode
What is an LDR?
What is a Thermistor?
 In a series circuit, the current will be the same no matter
where you measure it
 In a parallel circuit, the current divides between the
branches in the circuit
 In a series circuit, the voltage will divide between the
components in the circuit
 In a parallel circuit, each branch will receive the same
voltage
Current is directly proportional to voltage (if temperature is
constant). V= I x R
V1 = 4.8V V2 = 1.2V V3 = 6V
R = 20 Ω
Total resistance = R1 + R2
Total Resistance = (R1 x R2) ÷ (R1 + R2)
I I I
V V V
Resistor Filament Bulb Diode
Light Dependant Resistor. The resistance decreases as light
increases
A temperature dependant resistor. Resistance decreases as
temperature increases
 Mains Electricity
Name the 3 wires found
inside most electrical Live, Neutral, Earth
cables
List the colour of each Live – Brown
wire Neutral – Blue
Earth – Green and Yellow
What is the voltage of the
neutral wire? 0V

The Earth wire is connected to exposed metal parts of the

What is the purpose of the device. If the live wire touched the metal case, the current
Earth wire? would flow through the earth wire
A large current flows and breaks the fuse. This prevents
electrocution from touching the device

Label this diagram of a

plug.

What is the purpose of a A fuse contains a thin piece of wire which will melt if the current
fuse? gets too high. This stops current flowing through the device and
prevents the appliance being damage from a current surge.
What is the difference
between Alternating
Current (AC) and Direct
Current (DC) Alternating current changes direction repeatedly. Direct current
flows in one direction only

What produces AC?

Generators (rotating magnet in coil of wire)

What produces DC? Batteries (chemical reaction causing positive/negative charge at

opposite ends of the battery/cell)
What is the UK mains
supply voltage?
230V

What is the frequency of

the UK mains supply?
50Hz

A current of 0.25A flows

through a motor with
resistance 250Ω. Calculate
the power of the motor. P = I 2R
P = 0.252 x 250
P = 15.6 W

A bulb uses a current of

0.5A when plugged into
the mains (230V) supply.
Calculate the power of the P= IV
bulb P = 0.5x230
P= 115W

If a kettle operates with an

electrical current of 4.3A
what fuse should you use?
You can choose from fuses
of 3A, 5A, and 13A.
5A

What is the National Grid?

A network connecting all the power stations in the UK to supply

electricity to consumers

Why is a high voltage used

between pylons in the
national grid? High voltage is used so that current remains low, so that less
energy is lost through heat (high voltage = low current at
constant power [P=IV])

What are the benefits of

having a National Grid?
 Supply matched to demand
 Less power cuts as areas are not relying on a local power
station