P1 electricity

• What is a series circuit?

  A circuit with no branches for current flow
• What is electric current?

  The flow of electrical charge
• What happens to electrons in a closed switch?

  Electrons flow out of the cell around the circuit
• In which direction do electrons flow in a circuit?

  From the negative end to the positive end
• What energy do electrons carry from the cell?

  Electrical energy
• What happens to electrical energy in the lamp?

  It is converted to light and thermal energy
• How is electric current represented?

  Using an arrow
• What is conventional current?

  The flow of current drawn from positive to negative
• What is the unit of electrical current?

  Ampere
• What is the symbol for Ampere?

  Capital A
• How can current be measured in a circuit?

  Using an ammeter
• What is a key point about current in a series circuit?

  Current is the same all the way around
• What are the components of a simple electric circuit?

  • Cell
  • Lamp
  • Open switch
  • Closed switch
• What are the characteristics of a series circuit?

  • No branches in the circuit
  • Current flows in one path
  • Current is the same throughout
• What is the process of energy transfer in a series circuit?

  1. Electrons flow from the cell
  2. Energy is transferred to components
  3. Energy is converted to light and thermal energy
• What is a parallel circuit?

  A circuit with branches for current flow
• How does current flow in a parallel circuit?

  The current splits across branches
• What is the direction of conventional current flow?

  From positive to negative
• How is current measured in a circuit?

  Using an ammeter placed in the circuit
• What is a series circuit?

  A circuit with only one path for current
• What happens to current in a series circuit?

  The current is the same throughout
• What does a parallel circuit contain?

  Branches for current to split
• How does the current in the branches relate to the total current?

  The currents in branches add up to total current
• What is the key fact about current in parallel circuits?

  • The current in branches adds up to total current leaving the cell.
• What is meant by potential difference?

  It indicates how energy is transferred in a circuit
• How can we measure potential difference?

  Using a voltmeter
• 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
• What does the voltmeter measure in a circuit?

  The potential difference across components
• How do you measure the potential difference across a cell?

  Place the voltmeter across the cell
• What does a reading of 9 volts indicate about energy transfer?

  9 Joules of energy per Coulomb of charge
• What happens to the electrical energy in the lamp?

  It is converted to light and thermal energy
• How does potential difference affect the brightness of lamps in series?

  It is shared, making them dimmer
• Why are the lamps dimmer in a series circuit?

  Energy is shared between the lamps
• How does the potential difference differ between two lamps in series?

  It can vary, but totals to cell's voltage
• What are the key points about potential difference in series circuits?

  • Potential difference indicates energy transfer
  • Measured using a voltmeter
  • Total potential difference equals cell's voltage
  • Shared energy makes lamps dimmer
  • Different lamps can have different voltages
• How does energy transfer occur in an electric circuit?

  • Chemical energy in the cell converts to electrical energy
  • Electrical energy is transferred by electrons
  • In components, electrical energy converts to other forms (e.g., light, thermal)
• What does potential difference tell us about in a circuit?

  Energy transfers taking place in a circuit
• What does a potential difference of one volt mean?

  One Joule of energy per Coulomb of charge
• How is potential difference distributed in series circuits?

  It is split between components