Electric circuits

under construction

The various syllabus statements cover very different quantities of material. I'm sorry there aren't any pictures yet. You need to read this page in conjunction with block 2 of the syllabus specification.  xxx  represents a page number in England, (3rd edition).

Click  here  for a really important note about vocabulary.

1

use the following units: ampere (A), coulomb (C), joule (J), ohm (Ω), second (s), volt (V), watt (W)     221-251

2

recall the hazards of electricity including frayed cables, long cables, damaged plugs, water around sockets, and pushing metal objects into sockets      244-245

3

describe the uses of insulation, double insulation, earthing, fuses and circuit breakers in a range of domestic appliances.      244-245

4

know some of the different ways in which electrical heating is used in a variety of domestic contexts      236-237

5

understand that a current in a resistor results in the electrical transfer of energy and an increase in temperature      236-241

6

recall and use the relationship

power = current × voltage

P = I × V

and apply the relationship to the selection of appropriate fuses

 236-241

7

use the relationship between energy transferred, current, voltage and time:

energy transferred = current × voltage × time

E = I × V × t

 236-237

8

recall that mains electricity is alternating current (a.c.) and understand the differencebetween this and the direct current (d.c.) supplied by a cell or battery     242-243

9

explain why a series or parallel circuit is more appropriate for particular applications, including domestic lighting      242-243

10

understand that the current in a series circuit depends on the applied voltage and the number and nature of other components      242-243

11

describe how current varies with voltage in wires, resistors, metal filament lamps and diodes, and how this can be investigated experimentally       234-235, 286 

12 describe the qualitative effect of changing resistance on the current in a circuit

 234-235

13

describe the qualitative variation of resistance of LDRs with illumination and of thermistors with temperature       234-235, 286 

14

recall and use the relationship between voltage, current and resistance:

voltage = current × resistance

V = I × R

 231 

15 understand that current is the rate of flow of charge     224-225 
16

recall and use the relationship between charge, current and time :

charge = current × time

Q = I × t

 228 

17

recall that electric current in solid metallic conductors is a flow of negatively charged electrons       224-225 

18

recall that:

• voltage is the energy transferred per unit charge passed

• the volt is a joule per coulomb

 228-230 

19

identify common materials which are electrical conductors or insulators, including metals and plastics
20 recall that insulating materials can be charged by friction    220-221
21 loss and gain of electrons      220-221
22

recall that there are forces of attraction between unlike charges and forces of repulsion between like charges      220-221

23 explain electrostatic phenomena in terms of the movement of electrons      220-223
24

recall the potential dangers of electrostatic charges, e.g. when fuelling aircraft and tankers      220-223

25 recall some uses of electrostatic charges, e.g. in photocopiers and inkjet printers      220-223