Copy this in your notebook and include the definition of each.

Name Symbol Unit Symbol

Current I Ampere A

Charge Q Coulomb C

Energy E Joule J

Resistance R Ohm Ω

Time t Seconds s

Voltage V Volt V

Power P Watt W
 Potential
Difference
(Voltage)
Draw the circuit To measure the potential
diagram in your difference across a component,
notebook and add a a voltmeter must be placed in
voltmeter on the bulb parallel with that component in
order to measure the difference
in energy from one side of the
component to the other.

Potential difference is also known

as voltage and is measured in
volts (V).
Success Criteria:Use your knowledge to explain what happens when insulating materials are rubbed
together.
Use your knowledge to explain how to draw electrical circuits.
Voltmeters are always connected
across a component (either side,
parallel) - why?
A voltmeter compares the energy per charge at each side at each probe
tip and gives us the answer.
The potential difference between two points in an
electric circuit is the work done (energy transferred)
when a coulomb of charge passes between the points.
V (V) =
V is the potential difference in volts, V
W is the work done (energy transferred) in joules, J
Q is the charge in coulombs, C
Coulomb
Joule
http://engineeringtutorial.com/current-voltage-principle-animation/
Draw and fill in the table in your
books !
Quantity Symbol Unit
Potential V Volts, V
difference
Energy E Joules, J
Work done W Joules, J
Charge Q Coulombs, C

Challenge: What is the potential difference if 48 J of

energy is transferred when 4 μC of charge passes?
 Let’s Practice

The normal operating voltage for a lamp is 6 V.

Calculate how much energy is transferred in the lamp when
4200 C of charge flows through it.
Step 1: List the known quantities

Step 2: State the equation linking potential difference, energy

and charge

Step 3: Rearrange the equation and

substitute the known values

Risk-taking: The ability to demonstrate confidence; experiment with novel ideas and effects; speculate willingly; work in unfamiliar contexts; avoid
coming to premature conclusions; tolerate uncertainty.
Success Criteria:Use your knowledge to explain what happens when insulating materials are rubbed
together.
Use your knowledge to explain how to draw electrical circuits.
Challenge: What is the potential difference if 48 J of
energy is transferred when 4 μC of charge passes?
potential difference =
V=
1)In a radio circuit a voltage of 6V is applied
600J
and a charge of 100C flows. How much
energy has been transferred?
200
2)In the above circuit the radio drew a
s
current of 0.5A. How long was it on for?
3)A motor operates at 6V and draws a current 900
of 3A. The motor is used for 5 minutes. C,
Calculate: a) the charge flowing through it, 540
b) the energy supplied to it. 0J
2A,
14400J
4)A lamp is attached to a 12V circuit and a
charge of 1200C flows through it. If the
lamp is on for 10 minutes calculate a) the
•DEMO!
•What can you tell me about the
current and what can you tell me
about the voltage???
Which of these equations is used to calculate
current?

C=Q×t C=Q÷t

I=Q÷t I=Q×t
What is the current if a charge of 25 coulombs passes
in 5 seconds?

5 Volts 0.5 Amps

5 Ohms 5 Amps
 Resistance
• An electric current flows when electrons move through a conductor, such as a
metal wire.
• The moving electrons can collide with the ions in the metal. This makes it more
difficult for the current to flow, and causes resistance.

Describe the qualitative effect of changing resistance on the current in a circuit

Know that lamps and LEDs can be used to indicate the presence of a current in a circuit
Know and use the relationship between voltage, current and resistance:
Electrical Components

Thermistors: A thermistor is a temperature-dependent resistor.

The resistance of a thermistor changes depending on its
temperature As the temperature increases the resistance of a
thermistor decreases and vice versa.
LDR: A light-dependent resistor
represented by the following circuit
symbol. The resistance of an LDR
changes depending on the light
intensity on it. If the light intensity
increases the
Give resistance of an thermistors
an example where LDR are used
decreases and vicefire alarms, ovens and refrigera
versa.
Describe the qualitative effect of changing resistance on the current in a circuit
Know that lamps and LEDs can be used to indicate the presence of a current in a circuit
Know and use the relationship between voltage, current and resistance:

Current, voltage, series, parallel, same, shared

Lamps and LEDs: Lamps illuminate when a current flows in a circuit.
LEDs are types of diodes. This means they only allow current to pass in
one direction through them and will only light if the current passes in that
direction.

Since both electrical components have a visual response to current, they can be used to
indicate the presence of a current in a circuit.

LEDs can be used to indicate the presence of a current, because they

illuminate when current flows through them. The same is true for lamps

Current, voltage, series, parallel, same, shared

 Calculating Current, Resistance & Potential Difference

Resistance is defined as the opposition to current. The higher the resistance of a circuit, the
lower the current.

The current through a component depends on both the resistance of the component and the
potential difference across the component.

Calculate the voltage across a resistor of

resistance 10 Ω if there is a current of 0.3 A through it.

V = 0.3 × 10 = 3 V
Describe the qualitative effect of changing resistance on the current in a circuit
Know that lamps and LEDs can be used to indicate the presence of a current in a circuit
Know and use the relationship between voltage, current and resistance:

Current, voltage, series, parallel, same, shared

 Measuring resistance
• The resistance of a component can be found by measuring the current flowing
through it, and the potential difference across it.
• This equation shows the relationship between potential difference, current and
resistance:
Potential difference = current x resistance
V=I×R
V is the potential difference in volts, V
I is the current in amperes (amps), A
R is the resistance in ohms, Ω
Rearrange the equation to find resistance.
R=

A) A current of 3 A flows through a 240 V lamp. What is the resistance of the

lamp?
Resistance = 240 ÷ 3 = 80 Ω

B) A remote has two 1.5 V batteries in it and a current of 100mA flows through
it. What is its resistance?
Resistance = 3 ÷ 0.1 = 30 Ω
 Resistance
Resistance is anything that opposes an
electric current.
Resistance (Ohms, ) = Potential
Difference (volts, V)
Current (amps, A)
What is the resistance of the following:
1) A bulb with a voltage of 3V and a current of 1A. 3
2) A resistor with a voltage of 12V and a current of4
3A.
6
3) A diode with a voltage of 240V and a current of
40A. 20
4) A thermistor with a current of 0.5A and a
Easy questions Medium questions Hard questions
1. The voltage across a 3. The resistance of a 5. The resistance of an
lamp is 12 V and the thermistor is 34 Ω and ipod shuffle is 3 kΩ and
current through the the current through it is the current through it is
lamp is 2 A. What is the 0.3 A. What is the 4 mA. What is voltage
resistance of the lamp? voltage across the of its power source?
2. The current through thermistor?
an ipad is 0.1 A and the 6. The voltage across a
voltage of its power 4. The voltage across an woman when she is
supply is 12 V. What is struck by lightning is
50 Ω resistor is 6 V.
the resistance of the
What is the current 33 MV and the
ipad?
through the resistor? resistance of a human
being is around 1 kΩ.
Potential difference = current x resistance What current flows
through the woman?
Easy questions Medium questions Hard questions
1. R = 6 Ohms 3. 10.2 Volts 5. 12 Volts

2. 120 Ohms 4. 0.12 Amps = 120mA 6. 3300 Amps

Purple pens!
Self-assess!
Date and sign please!
 What causes resistance?

Electrons colliding with ions Electrons colliding with ions in

in the insulator the conductor

Protons colliding with ions Protons colliding with ions

in the conductor in the insulator
What specifically does resistance reduce the flow
of?

Electricity Potential Difference

Voltage Current
 For a given PD across a component:

The smaller the resistance of the The current does not depend on
component, the smaller the the resistance
current

The greater the resistance of the The greater the resistance of

component, the smaller the the component, the greater
current the current
Which of these equations is used to calculate
current?

C=Q×t C=Q÷t

I=Q÷t I=Q×t
Which of these equations is used to calculate
resistance?

R=V×I R=V÷I

R=Q÷t R=I×V
What is the current if a charge of 25 coulombs
passes in 5 seconds?

5 Volts 0.5 Amps

5 Ohms 5 Amps
What is the resistance of a lamp if a current of 30 A
flows through it and the PD across it is 3 V?

0.01 Ohms 0.1 Ohms

10 Ohms 100 Ohms

Risk-taking: The ability to demonstrate confidence; experiment with novel ideas and effects; speculate willingly; work in unfamiliar contexts; avoid
coming to premature conclusions; tolerate uncertainty.
Success Criteria:Use your knowledge to explain what happens when insulating materials are rubbed
together.
Use your knowledge to explain how to draw electrical circuits.