P2 - Electricity

• The voltage across each component in a parallel circuit is the same.
• A fuse or circuit breaker protects electrical circuits by breaking the circuit when there's too much current flowing through it.
• In a series circuit, if one bulb goes out, all other components will go off as well.
• In a parallel circuit, if one bulb goes out, only that bulb will be affected.
• When a switch is closed, it completes the circuit allowing the current to flow from the positive terminal of the cell to the negative terminal.
• A battery produces an electric potential difference, which causes a current to flow through a complete circuit.
• Resistors opposes the flow of electric current and are used to control current flow.
• The current is the flow of electrons around a circuit.
• Nuclear power plants generate electricity by using nuclear reactions to heat water and produce steam, which then drives turbines connected to generators.
• Natural gas power plants generate electricity by burning natural gas to produce steam, which then drives turbines connected to generators.
• If two wires are connected together with no load (e.g., lightbulbs), they can get very hot due to resistance heating.
• When two resistors are connected in parallel, their total resistance decreases.
• Fuses are made from thin wire that melts if too much current flows through them, while circuit breakers use an electromagnet to trip open a switch when too much current flows through them.
• If an appliance has a high power rating but low resistance, its current will be very large.
• When a switch is open, it breaks the circuit preventing the current from flowing between the terminals.
• To calculate the equivalent resistance of two resistors in parallel, use the formula R = (R1 x R2) / (R1 + R2).
• An ammeter measures the amount of current passing through a wire.
• A voltmeter measures the potential difference (voltage) across two points on an electric circuit.
• An ammeter measures the amount of charge passing through a wire per second (current).
• The unit of resistance is ohms (Ω).
• Ohms law states that the current flowing through a resistor is directly proportional to the potential difference applied across its ends.
• A voltmeter measures the potential difference between two points on a circuit.
• An insulator does not allow electrical charge to pass through it easily.
• Conductors allow electrical charges to move freely through them.
• Coal-fired power stations burn coal to produce steam, which then drives turbines connected to generators.
• Hydroelectricity involves generating electricity by harnessing energy from falling or flowing water.
• Wind farms use wind turbines to convert kinetic energy into electrical energy.
• In a series circuit, if any component fails or breaks down, it will stop the entire circuit from working.
• To prevent overheating, fuses or circuit breakers are installed in circuits.
• A series circuit has only one pathway for current to travel through all components.
• Fuses melt when there's too much current flowing through them, while circuit breakers trip open when there's too much current.
• Parallel circuits have multiple paths for current to travel through different components.
• Electricity is generated at power stations and transmitted over long distances as alternating current (AC).
• Alternating current (AC) changes direction many times per second, allowing it to be easily transformed into higher voltages for transmission over longer distances.
• The fuse or circuit breaker must have a lower melting point than the appliance's filament so it blows/trips first.
• A series circuit is one where all components are joined end-to-end, forming a single pathway for current flow.
• The symbol for a fuse is a circle with a line across it.
• The symbol for current is A or I.
• The unit for current is Amperes (A).
• In a series circuit, the same potential difference appears across every component.