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From The Exam Guidelines

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8 views1 page

From The Exam Guidelines

Uploaded by

rapolailesego3
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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FROM THE EXAM GUIDELINES

Electric Circuits
Terminal potential difference and emf
• Define potential difference across the ends of a conductor as the energy transferred per unit
𝑊
electric charge flowing through it. In symbols: V = 𝑄
Potential difference is measured in volts (V).
• Define emf as the work done per unit charge by the source (battery). It is equal to the potential
difference measured across the terminals of a battery when no charges are flowing in the circuit.
• Define terminal potential difference as the voltage measured across the terminals of a battery
when charges are flowing in the circuit.
• Do calculations using V =W/Q
Current
• Define current strength, I, as the rate of flow of charge. It is measured in ampere (A), which is the
same as coulomb per second.
• Calculate current strength in a conductor using the equation I =Q/t
Q is the symbol for electric charge measured in coulomb (C).
One coulomb is defined asthe charge transferred in a conductor in one second if the current is one
ampere.
• Indicate the direction of conventional current (from positive to negative) in circuit diagrams using
arrows.
Measurement of potential difference and current
• Draw a diagram to show how to correctly connect an ammeter to measure the current through a
given circuit element. An ammeter is connected in series and has a very low resistance.
• Draw a diagram to show how to correctly connect a voltmeter to measure the potential difference
across a given circuit element. A voltmeter is connected in parallel and has a very high resistance.
Resistance
• Define resistance as the ratio of the potential difference across a resistor to the current in the
resistor.
• Explain that resistance is the opposition to the flow of electric charges.
• Define the unit of resistance: One ohm (Ω) is equal to one volt per ampere.
• Give a microscopic description of resistance in terms of electrons moving through a conductor
colliding with the particles of which the conductor (metal) is made and transferring kinetic energy.
• State and explain factors that affect the resistance of a given material, i.e. temperature, length and
thickness.
• Explain why a battery in a circuit goes flat eventually by referring to the energy transformations
that take place in the battery and the resistors in a circuit.
Resistors in series
• Know that current is the same through each resistor in a series circuit.
• Describe series circuits as potential difference dividers because the total potential difference is
equal to the sum of the potential differences across all the individual components.
• Calculate the equivalent (total) resistance of resistors connected in series using Rs = R1 + R2 + …
Resistors in parallel
• Know that potential difference is the same across resistors connected in parallel.
• Describe parallel circuits as current dividers because the total current in the circuit is equal to the
sum of the branch currents.
• Calculate the equivalent (total) resistance of resistors connected in parallel
1 1 1 1
using = + +
𝑅𝑝 𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅3

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