circuit

• Series circuit


  Components are connected end to end one after the other, they make a simple loop for the current to flow round
• Parallel circuit


  Components are connected side by side, so the current divides, some going one way and the rest the other way
• Circuits


  • One series circuit with a cell and two bulbs
  • One parallel circuit with a cell and two bulbs
• Voltage


  A measure of the electrical push that the battery gives to the electrons, a measure of the energy in joules given to each packet of electrons (coulombs)
• Voltmeter


  Measures joules per coulomb or volts, always connected in parallel when added to a circuit
• Current


  The flow of negatively charged electrons, measured in coulombs per second or amps
• Ammeter


  Measures current, must be connected in series
• Resistance


  A measure of the opposition to current flow in an electrical circuit, measured in ohms (Ω)
• Voltage as the force pushing the current around

  Resistance is as if the pipe carrying the current narrows
• Components connected in series

  1. Total voltage/potential difference of the power supply is shared between the components

  2. There is the same current through each component

  3. Total resistance is the sum of the resistance of each component
• Components connected in parallel

  1. Voltage/potential difference across each component is the same

  2. Total current through the whole circuit is the sum of the currents through the separate components

  3. Total resistance is less than the resistance of the smallest individual resistor
• Each cell provides a potential difference of 1.5 volts