CIE Physics IGCSE

Topic 4: Electricity and Magnetism

Summary Notes

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Simple phenomena of magnetism

Magnetic forces are due to interactions between magnetic fields. In a magnet, like poles repel
and opposite poles attract.

● Magnetic materials are materials that are attracted to magnets

and can be magnetised (e.g. iron, steel, cobalt, nickel)
● Non-magnetic materials are materials that are not attracted to
magnets and cannot be magnetised (e.g. glass, plastic)

Induced magnetism:
● Magnetic materials can be magnetised by induced magnetism:
○ They can be magnetised by stroking them with a
magnet, hammering them in a magnetic field, or putting
them inside a coil with a direct current through it.
○ They can be demagnetised by hammering them,
heating them or putting them inside a coil with an
alternating current through it.
● Magnetic materials that can be permanently magnetised are
described as magnetically hard (e.g. steel). Magnetic materials that are only temporarily
magnetised are described as magnetically soft (e.g. soft iron).

Permanent magnets vs electromagnets:

● Permanent magnets are a hard-magnetic material that has been permanently magnetised
whereas electromagnets consist of a coil of wire wrapped around a magnetically soft core
and can be turned on and off.
● Permanent magnets are more useful when they do not need to be turned off such as a
fridge magnet, whereas electromagnets have the ability to be turned on and off so they can
be used for situations such as moving scrap metal.

Magnetic fields:
● Field lines around a bar magnet point from north to south
● The direction of a magnetic field line shows the
direction of the force on a north pole at that point.
● Field strength decreases with distance from the magnet
● Plotting compasses are small compasses which show the
direction and shape of a magnetic field.

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Electrical quantities

Electric charge

Charge is measured in coulombs. There are positive and negative charges; unlike charges
attract and like charges repel.
● Charging a body involves the addition or removal of electrons.
● Conductors allow electrons to flow through them whereas insulators impede the flow of
electrons.
○ Conductors such as metals are used as wires in circuits.
○ When two insulators are rubbed together, electrons move from one to the other and
they become charged. For example, when a rod is rubbed with a cloth, electrons are
transferred from the rod onto the cloth and the rod becomes positively charged.
● Charge can be detected using a gold leaf electroscope.
○ If a positively charged rod is brought close to the
disc on top of the electroscope, electrons are
attracted to the top of the disc, away from the
bottom of the metal stem and the gold leaf. The
gold leaf will then be repelled from the metal stem
because they both become positively charged.
○ If someone then touches the disc, electrons
flow from the ground into the disc as they are
attracted to the rod, and the electroscope now
contains a net negative charge. This is called
charging by induction.

Charges create electric fields (regions in which an electric charge experiences a force); the
direction of an electric field at a point is the direction of the force on a positive charge at
that point.
● Electric field lines point away from positive charges and
towards negative charges.
○ The field lines around a charged conducting
sphere are as if the charge was concentrated at
the centre of the sphere.
○ The field lines between two charged plates go in
straight lines from the positive plate to the
negative plate and are equally spaced apart.

Current

Current I is measured in amps and is the rate of flow of charge at a point in the circuit.
● The current is given by I=Q/t.
● It is measured with an ammeter placed in series.
● In metals, current is due to a flow of electrons. Because electrons are negatively
charged, conventional current (which is the rate of flow of positive charge) is in the
opposite direction to the flow of electrons.

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Electromotive force

The electromotive force (e.m.f) of an electrical source of energy is measured in volts and is the
energy supplied by the source per unit charge in driving the charge round a complete
circuit.

Potential difference

Potential difference V is measured in volts (1 V = 1 JC-1) and is the work done per unit charge in
moving between two points in a circuit.
● It is measured with a voltmeter placed in parallel across the component.
● The higher the potential difference, the greater the current.

Resistance

The resistance of a component is given by the potential difference across it divided by the current
through it. The greater the resistance, the harder it is for current to flow through the component.
● As the length of a resistor increases, the resistance increases.
○ The resistance is directly proportional to the length.
● As the diameter of a resistor increases, the resistance decreases.
○ The resistance is inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area.
In an ohmic conductor, the current is directly proportional to the voltage (i.e. it has constant
resistance). In a non-ohmic conductor (such as a filament lamp), the resistance changes as the
voltage and current change.

As the current increases through a filament lamp, so does the temperature. This means
electrons and ions vibrate more and collide more, increasing resistance.

Electrical working

● Energy is transferred from chemical energy in the battery to electrical energy used by circuit
components and then to the surroundings.
● The power of a component is given by P=IV.
● By using V=IR, this can be shown to be equivalent to P=I2R and P=V2/R.

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Electric circuits

Series:
● Components are connected end to end in one loop
● The same current flows through every component
● The potential difference is shared across each component (i.e. the sum of the p.d.s across
the components is equal to the total p.d. across the supply).
● The total resistance is the sum of the resistances of each component RT = R1 + R2 + …
● The combined e.m.f. of several sources in series is the sum of the individual e.m.f.s

Parallel
● Components are connected to the power supply in separate branches
● The current is shared between each branch (i.e. the sum of the currents in the separate
branches is equal to the current through the source)
● The potential difference is the same across every branch
● The total resistance of two resistors in parallel is less than the resistance of either resistor
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
by itself, and is given by 𝑹 = 𝑹 + 𝑹
𝑻 𝟏 𝟐
● Connecting lamps in parallel is advantageous because if one breaks, current can still pass
through the rest.

A potential divider circuit divides the source voltage

into smaller parts.
● The voltage across a certain component is
𝑅
given by𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑉𝑖𝑛 × 𝑅 where Vin is the
𝑇
source voltage, R is the resistance of the
component and RT is the total resistance.

A thermistor is a resistor whose resistance decreases

as the temperature increases.

A light dependent resistor is a resistor whose

resistance decreases as light intensity increases.

A relay is an electromagnetically operated switch.

When a small current passes through the
electromagnet, it switches on and attracts an iron
arm. This arm rotates about a pivot and pushes the
contacts in another circuit together.
● They are used to switch on a circuit with a
high current using a circuit with a small
current.

The above three components can be used in

conjunction to operate light-sensitive switches
and temperature-operated alarms.

Diodes only allow current to flow in one

direction, because they have a very high
resistance in the other direction. They can be
used as a rectifier (i.e. convert AC into DC).

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Digital electronics
● Analogue signals vary continuously in amplitude, frequency or both.
● Digital signals are a series of pulses with two states, a high state and a low state.
Digital signals carry more information per second and maintain their quality better
over longer distances compared to analogue signals.
○ All signals get weaker as they travel longer distances and need to be
amplified so they can be returned to the original. Noise in analogue signals is
amplified too when the signal is amplified, so the quality is reduced. However,
in digital signals, the noise is normally a lower amplitude than the high/low
states used, so it can be ignored.

Logic gates:

NOT gate AND gate OR gate NAND gate NOR gate

If the input is If both of the If either of the If both of the If either of the
one state, the inputs are high, inputs is high, outputs are inputs is high,
output will be the output will the output will high, the output the output will
the other state. be high; be high; will be low; be low;
otherwise the otherwise the otherwise the otherwise the
output will be output will be output will be output will be
low. low. high. high.

The symbols for the logic gates are shown in the diagram on the page above. Truth tables
show the corresponding output of one or more gates given all possible inputs.

Dangers of electricity
Hazards:

● Damaged insulation – contact with the wire due to gaps in the insulation can cause an
electric shock or pose a fire hazard by creating a short circuit.
● Overheating of cables – high currents passing through thin wire conductors cause the wires
to heat up to very high temperatures which could melt the insulation and cause a fire.
● Damp conditions – water can conduct a current so wet electrical equipment can cause an
electric shock.

Fuses:

● A fuse is a thin piece of wire which overheats and melts if the current is too high, protecting
the circuit.
● Fuses have a current rating which should be slightly higher than the current used by the
device in the circuit. The most common are 3A, 5A and 13A.

Circuit breakers:

● Circuit breakers consist of an automatic electromagnet switch which which breaks the
circuit if the current rises over a certain value.
● This is better than a fuse as it can be reset and used again, and they operate faster.

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Earthing metal cases:

● Earth wires creates a safe route for current to flow through in the case of a short circuit,
preventing electric shocks.
● Earth wires have a very low resistance so a strong current surges through them which
breaks the fuse and disconnects the appliance.

Electromagnetic effects

Electromagnetic induction

● When a wire moves across a magnetic field, an e.m.f. is

induced in it. If it is part of a complete circuit, this causes a
current to flow.
● The induced current flows in such a direction that it
opposes the change that produced it.
● The induced e.m.f. can be increased by moving the wire
more quickly, using a stronger magnetic field, or increasing the length of the wire.
● The direction of the e.m.f. is determined by Fleming’s right hand rule as shown in the
diagram.
● An e.m.f. is also induced if a changing magnetic field links with a conductor. For example,
when a magnet is moved into a coil, the magnetic field through the coil changes and an
e.m.f. is induced in it. The more quickly the magnetic field changes, the greater the e.m.f.

AC generator

● In a direct current, the current only flows in one direction whereas in an alternating current,
the current continuously changes direction.
● An AC generator consists of a coil of wire between two permanent magnets. They
generate AC current because a slip ring commutator is used.
● As the coil rotates, the magnetic field through the coil changes, which induces an
e.m.f. in the coil.
● The magnitude of the e.m.f. is maximum
when the coil is horizontal as the field
lines are cut the fastest, and zero when
vertical as no field lines are being cut.
● The e.m.f. can be increased by increasing
the number of turns on the coil,
increasing the area of the coil, using a
stronger magnet or increasing the speed
of rotation.

Transformer

● A transformer consists of two coils wrapped around a soft iron core and is used to
transform voltages.
● An alternating current in the primary coil creates a changing magnetic field; this
changing magnetic field links with the secondary coil and induces an alternating
e.m.f. in it.

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 ● A step up transformer has more turns on the secondary which means the voltage of the
secondary is greater than that of the primary. A step down transformer has fewer turns on
the secondary which means the voltage of the secondary is less than that of the primary.
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑖𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑝𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑁𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑉
● = = 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑖𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑝𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑁𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑉𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦
● For a 100% efficient transformer, because the power used is constant, 𝐼𝑝 𝑉𝑝 = 𝐼𝑠 𝑉𝑠
● Transformers are used to step up the voltage in power lines which reduces power loss.
This is because a higher voltage means a smaller current and the loss of power due
to P=I2R will be lower.

The magnetic effect of a current

● The right hand grip rule determines the

direction of the magnetic field produced by a
current carrying wire.
● The magnetic field created by a solenoid is
like the field produced by a bar magnet.
● Increasing the current through the wire
increases the strength of the magnetic
field, and reversing the direction of the
current through the wire reverses the
direction of the magnetic field.
● The magnetic effect of current is used in
relays.
Force on a current-carrying conductor
● A force acts on a current-carrying conductor in a
magnetic field. Fleming’s left hand rule shows the
relative directions of the force, field, and current.
○ If a current-carrying wire is fixed in place
between two magnets which rest on a balance,
the wire will exert an equal and opposite force
on the magnets and the reading will change,
showing that a force is acting.
● If the current is reversed or the magnetic field is
reversed, the force will be reversed.
● A force is also exerted on charged particles moving
in a magnetic field (because moving charged particles are current). If a beam of
charged particles moves through a magnetic field, it will be deflected, showing that
there is a force.

DC motors

● DC motors consist of a coil of wire in between two permanent magnets.

● Current flows through the wire and it experiences a turning effect due to the forces exerted
on it in the magnetic field. The turning effect can be increased by:
○ increasing the current
○ using a stronger magnetic field
○ increasing the number of turns on the coil.
● A split ring commutator is used to ensure that the direction that the current flows in
the coil reverses every half turn.

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 Definitions and Concepts for CAIE Physics GCSE

Topic 4: Electricity and Magnetism

Definitions in bold are for extended students only

4.1 Simple Phenomena of Magnetism

Alternating current: Current flow consisting of charges that continually change

direction. These oscillations usually occur at a set frequency.

Bar magnet: Is a rectangular piece of an object that shows permanent magnetic

properties.

Demagnetisation: Process of removing magnetic qualities in a material.

Direct current: Current flow consisting of charges flowing in a single direction

only. Batteries and cells provide direct current.

Electromagnet: A solenoid with an iron core. The magnetism of an electromagnet can

be switched on and off, and the strength changed, through varying the current in the
solenoid.

Induced magnet: A material that becomes a magnet when it is placed in an

existing magnetic field, but loses its magnetism quickly once it is removed.
Induced magnetism always produces attractive forces.

Magnet : A magnet is a material or object that produces a magnetic field.

Magnetisation: Process of inducing magnetic qualities in a material.

Magnetic field: The region around a magnet in which another magnet or

magnetic material will experience a force.

Magnetic field lines: Lines that show the strength and direction of a magnetic field.
The lines point from North to South and their concentration represents the magnitude
of the field

Magnetic materials: Iron, steel, cobalt and nickel.

Non-magnetic materials: Materials which are not attracted by a magnet.

Permanent magnet: A magnet that produces its own magnetic field.

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4.2 Electrical Quantities

4.2.1 Electric Charge

Charging by induction: Is a method used to charge an object without actually

touching the object to any other charged object.

Conductor: A material that allows electrical charge to flow easily. Metals are
particularly good conductors due to the free electrons in their structures.

Coulomb: The unit of charge.

Electric charge: Is the physical property of matter that causes it to experience a

force when placed in an electromagnetic field. There are two types of electric
charges: positive and negative.

Electric field: A region in which a charge will experience a non-contact,

electric force. All charged objects have an electric field around them, and
this field is stronger the closer you are to the charge.

Electrostatic charge - The electric charge at rest on the surface of an insulated body.

Insulator: A material that doesn’t allow electrical charge to flow.

Like charges: When two charges of the same polarity meet, they will repel.

Point charge: The electric field around a point charge becomes weaker the
further away you are. The field lines for a positive charge point radially
outwards, whereas the field lines for a negative charge point radially
inwards.

Unlike charges: When two charges of opposite polarities meet, they will attract.

4.2.2 Current

Ammeter: A device connected in series with a component to measure the current that
flows through it

Analogue device: A measuring device that requires the user to read from a scale
to obtain the measurement.

Conventional current: Is defined as moving in the same direction as the

positive charge flow.

Digital device: A measuring device that displays the measurement on a display, rather
than requiring the user to read from a scale..

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Electric Current: The rate of flow of electrical charge. Its value is the same at any
position in a single closed loop. In metals, the charges that flow are electrons.

4.2.3 Electromotive Force

Electromotive force: The energy supplied by a source in driving charge

round a complete circuit. Measured in Volts.

Volt: The unit of potential difference (voltage). One volt is equal to one joule per
coulomb.

4.2.4 Potential Difference

Potential difference: The energy that is transferred per unit charge between
two points in a circuit. It is often also called a voltage and measured in volts.

Voltmeter: A device that is connected in parallel with a component to measure the

potential difference (voltage) across it.

4.2.5 Resistance

Ammeter: A device connected in series with a component to measure the current that
flows through it.

Current–voltage characteristic: Is a relationship, typically represented as a chart

or graph, between the electric current through a circuit and the corresponding
voltage, or potential difference across it.

Filament lamp: A light emitting component consisting of an enclosed metal

filament. Its resistance increases as the filament’s temperature increases.

Ohmic resistor: A resistor that functions according to Ohm's law.

Resistance: A measure of the opposition to current flow. Calculated as ratio of the p.d.
applied to the electric current which flows through it:

4.2.6 Electrical Working

Battery: Is a device that stores chemical energy and converts it to electrical

energy.

Power: The rate at which an appliance transfers energy. For a circuit component, it
is equal to the product of the current passing through it and the potential
difference across it.

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4.3 Electric Circuits

4.3.1 Circuit Diagrams

Circuit diagram: Is a graphical representation of an electrical circuit.

Diode: A component that only allows current to flow through in the forward
direction. They have very large resistances in the reverse direction.

Electric heater: Is an electrical device that converts an electric current into heat.

Filament lamp: A light emitting component consisting of an enclosed metal filament.

Its resistance increases as the filament’s temperature increases.

Fixed resistors: Are the resistors whose resistance does not change with the
change in voltage or temperature.

Fuse: A safety device consisting of a thin metal filament that melts and cuts off the
power supply if there is a surge in current. Fuses are connected to the live wire.

Galvanometer: Is an electromechanical instrument used for detecting and

indicating an electric current.

Light dependent resistor (LDR): A light sensitive component whose resistance

decreases as its temperature increases.

Relay: Is a special type of switch turned on and off by an electromagnet.

Switch: Is a device used for making and breaking electric current through the
circuit.

Thermistor: A temperature dependent component, whose resistance increases

as its temperature decreases.

Transformer: An iron core with a primary and secondary coil of wire wound around
opposite ends. Transformers can change the magnitude of an alternating voltage.

Variable resistor: Is a resistor of which the electric resistance value can be

adjusted.

4.3.2 Series and Parallel Circuits

Parallel: Components connected in parallel have the same potential difference

across each component. The current from the source is larger than the current in
each branch and the total current is equal to the sum of the currents flowing
through each component.

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Resistors in parallel: The total resistance is less than the lowest individual
resistance.

Resistors in series: The total resistance is equal to the sum of the resistances of
the individual resistors.

Series: Components connected in series have the same current passing through
each component but share the total potential difference (voltage) of the power
supply. The sum of the potential difference across the components in a
series circuit is equal to the total potential difference across the supply.

4.3.3 Action and use of Circuit Components

Input transducers: Is a device that takes a form of physical energy and converts
it into a signal which can be read.

Light dependent resistor (LDR): A light sensitive component whose resistance

decreases as its temperature increases.

Rectifier: Is an electrical device that converts alternating current (AC) to

direct current (DC).

Relay: Is a special type of switch turned on and off by an electromagnet.

Switch: Is a device used for making and breaking electric current through the circuit.

Thermistor: A temperature dependent component, whose resistance increases as its

temperature decreases.

Variable potential divider: Is a simple circuit that uses resistors(or thermistors /

LDRs) to supply a variable potential difference.

4.4 Digital Electronics

Analogue: They are electronic systems with a continuously variable signal.

AND gate: Is a logic gate that implements logical conjunction.

Digital: A waveform that switches representing the two states of low and
high.

NAND gate: Is a logical gate which is the opposite of an AND logic gate.

NOR gate: Is a logical gate which is the opposite of an OR logic gate.

NOT gate: Is a logic gate which implements logical negation.

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OR gate: Is a logic gate that implements logical disjunction.

Truth table: Is a mathematical table used in logic which sets out the
functional values of logical expressions on each of their functional
arguments.

4.5 Dangers of Electricity

Circuit breaker: A safety device that cuts off the power supply if a surge of current
passes through it. Circuit breakers can be reset and are quicker acting than fuses.

Earthing: The removal of excess charge by providing a low resistance path for
electrons to flow through.

Fuse: A safety device consisting of a thin metal filament that melts and cuts off the
power supply if there is a surge in current. Fuses are connected to the live wire.

Insulator: A material that doesn’t allow electrical charge to flow.

4.6 Electromagnetic Effects

4.6.1 Electromagnetic Induction

Conductor: A material that allows electrical charge to flow easily. Metals are
particularly good conductors due to the free electrons in their structures.

Electromagnetic induction: Is the production of an electromotive force across an

electrical conductor in a changing magnetic field. The direction of an induced e.m.f.
opposes the change causing it

Induced current: The current induced in a conducting loop that is exposed to a

changing magnetic field

Magnetic field: The region around a magnet in which another magnet or magnetic
material will experience a non-contact force.

4.6.2 a.c. Generator

Alternating current: Current flow consisting of charges that continually change

direction. These oscillations usually occur at a set frequency.

Direct current: Current flow consisting of charges flowing in a single direction only.
Batteries and cells provide direct current.

Generator effect: When there is relative motion between an electrical

conductor and a magnetic field, a potential difference will be induced across
the ends of the conductor. A current will flow if this conductor is part of a

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complete circuit.

Rotating-coil generator: A device consisting of a coil, which when spun in a

magnetic field, induces a current in the coil.

Slip ring: Is an electromechanical device that allows the transmission of

power and electrical signals from a stationary to a rotating structure.

4.6.3 Transformer

High-voltage transmission: Electricity is transported along them at very high voltages

to reduce the energy loss and make the transportation more efficient.

Step-Down transformer: A transformer that has a smaller potential difference in the

secondary coil than in the primary coil. This is a result of the secondary coil having
fewer turns.

Step-Up transformer: A transformer that has a larger potential difference in the

secondary coil than in the primary coil. This is a result of the secondary coil having
more turns.

Transformer: An iron core with a primary and secondary coil of wire wound around
opposite ends. Transformers can change the magnitude of an alternating voltage.

Turns ratio: The number of turns in the primary coil of a transformer over the number
of turns in the secondary coil. This is equal to the voltage ratio for a 100% efficient
transformer.

Voltage ratio: The voltage across the primary coil of a transformer over the voltage
across the secondary coil.

4.6.4 The Magnetic Effect of a Current

Magnetic field: The region around a magnet in which another magnet or magnetic
material will experience a non-contact force. The direction of a magnetic field line at
a point is the direction of the force on the N pole of a magnet at that point.

Relay: Is a special type of switch turned on and off by an electromagnet.

Solenoid: A wire wrapped into the shape of a coil, that has a strong and uniform
magnetic field inside of it. The solenoid’s magnetic field strength can be increased by
adding an iron core.

4.6.5 Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor

Beam of charged particles: Is a spatially localized group of electrically

charged particles that have approximately the same position, kinetic energy,
and direction.

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Charged particle: Is a particle with an electric charge.

Conductor: A material that allows electrical charge to flow easily. Metals are
particularly good conductors due to the free electrons in their structures.

4.6.6 d.c. Motor

Electric motor: A current-carrying coil of wire in a magnetic field. The two sides of the
coil that are perpendicular to the magnetic field experience forces in opposite
directions, causing rotation.The effect is increased by increasing the number of turns
on the coil, increasing the current, or increasing the strength of the magnetic field

Split-ring commutator: Device used to reverse the direction of the current in

the coil each half turn. This allows the motor coil to rotate continuously in
one direction.

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