Knowledge Organiser – Electricity - Current, Voltage and Resistance

Key Terms Definitions Static electricity

electrons tiny particles which carry a negative charge All substances are made of atoms. These are often called particles. An atom is electrically
current flow of charge neutral - has no overall electrical charge. However, each atom contains even smaller particles
called electrons. Electrons can move from one substance to another when objects are rubbed
series A circuit with one loop together
parallel A circuit with more than one loop
electric field the area where other objects feel an electrostatic force
voltage energy shifted from the battery to the moving charge, or
from the charge to circuit components
resistance a measure of how difficult it is for current to flow When two objects are rubbed together, electrons are transferred from one object to the other.
One object becomes positive and the other negative. A non-contact force exists between charged
conductor materials that allow current to flow easily objects. A charged object creates an electric field. You cannot see an electric field, but it surrounds
insulator materials that do not allow current to flow easily the charged object. If another charged object is moved into the electric field, a force acts on it.

Symbols Series circuits

Always using the same standard circuit symbols allows circuit diagrams to be understandable to In a television series, you get several episodes, one after the other. A series circuit is similar. You
scientists and engineers across the world. get several components one after the other.

If you follow the circuit diagram from one side of the cell to the other, you should pass through
all the different components, one after the other, without any branches.
 Knowledge Organiser – Electricity - Current, Voltage and Resistance

Parallel circuits Resistance

In a parallel circuit, different components are connected
on different branches of the wire. If you follow the circuit
diagram from one side of the cell to the other, you can
only pass through all the different components if you
follow all the branches.
The wires and the other components in a circuit reduces the flow of charge through them. This
is called resistance.
The unit of resistance is the ohm, and it has the symbol Ω (an uppercase Greek letter omega).
For example, a 2 Ω component has a greater resistance than a 1 Ω component, and will reduce
the flow of charge through it more effectively.
Calculating resistance

Parallel circuits are useful if you want everything to work, To find the resistance of a component, you need to measure:
even if one component has failed. This is why our homes
are wired up with parallel circuits. •the potential difference across it

•the current flowing through it

The resistance is the ratio of potential difference to current. Resistance = voltage ÷ current

Circuit models Conductors and insulators of electricity

You can easily find out which materials are conductors and which are insulators using a simple
The person pulling the rope is circuit. You set up a series circuit with a cell, lamp and wires. Leave a gap in the circuit between
transferring energy this two of the wires. Then connect the two wires using pieces of each material and see if the lamp
represents the voltage, the lights up:
movement of the rope
represents the current, your Conductors Insulators
hand getting hot represents the
energy transferred to the bulb Metal elements Most non-metal elements, e.g. sulfur, oxygen
due to friction Graphite (a form of carbon, a non-metal Diamond (a form of carbon, a non-metal
element) element)
Mixtures of metals, e.g. brass, solder Plastic
Salt solution Wood
Liquid calcium chloride Rock