potential difference in series circuits

• How can we measure potential difference?


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

  Energy shared between components
• What is electric current defined as?

  Flow of electrons around a circuit
• What happens to electrons in a circuit?

  They move out of the cell and return
• What type of energy does the cell store?

  Chemical energy
• What energy transfer occurs when electrons pass through the lamp?

  Electrical energy to light and thermal energy
• What is another term for potential difference?

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

  One Joule of energy per Coulomb of charge
• How do you measure potential difference across a cell?

  Place the voltmeter across the cell
• What was the reading of the voltmeter across the cell?

  9 volts
• What does a reading of 9 volts indicate about energy transfer?

  Nine Joules of energy per Coulomb of charge
• What is the potential difference across the lamp in the circuit?

  Also 9 volts
• Why are both lamps dimmer in a series circuit?

  Energy is shared between the lamps
• What is the potential difference across each lamp in a two-lamp series circuit?

  4.5 volts
• How does the brightness of lamps in series compare to a single lamp?

  They are dimmer than a single lamp
• What happens to the total potential difference across two different lamps in series?

  It equals the potential difference across the cell
• What are the key points about potential difference in series circuits?

  • Total potential difference equals cell's potential difference
  • Energy is shared between components
  • Each lamp's brightness depends on its potential difference
• What are the steps to measure potential difference in a circuit?

  1. Use a voltmeter
  2. Connect it across the component
  3. Read the voltage displayed
• How does energy transfer occur in an electrical circuit?

  • Chemical energy in the cell converts to electrical energy
  • Electrical energy is transferred by electrons
  • Energy is converted to light and thermal energy in components