PD in Series Circuits

• What should you be able to explain by the end of the video?

  What is meant by potential difference
• How can we measure potential difference?

  Using a voltmeter
• What is potential difference in series circuits?

  It describes how energy is shared between components
• What is electric current defined as?

  A flow of electrons around a circuit
• What happens to the electrons in the circuit described?

  They move out of the cell, through the wire, pass through the lamp, and return to the cell
• Why does the lamp light up?

  Because the electrons are giving the lamp energy
• What type of energy does the cell store?

  Chemical energy
• What type of energy is transferred by the electrons after leaving the cell?

  Electrical energy
• What forms of energy are produced when electrons pass through the lamp?

  Light energy and thermal energy
• What does potential difference explain in an electrical circuit?

  How energy is transferred
• What is another term for potential difference?

  Voltage
• What does a potential difference of one volt indicate?

  One joule of energy is transferred for each coulomb of charge
• How do you measure potential difference across a cell?

  By placing the voltmeter across the cell
• What was the reading of the voltmeter when measuring the potential difference of the cell?

  9 volts
• What does a reading of 9 volts indicate about the energy transferred by the electrons?

  They are transferring 9 joules of energy per coulomb of charge
• What is the potential difference across the lamp when measured with a voltmeter?

  Also 9 volts
• Why are both lamps dimmer in a series circuit compared to a single lamp?

  Because the total energy is shared between the two lamps