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Flashcards - 2.2 Electric Circuits - Edexcel IAL Physics A-Level

The document provides information on key concepts in electric circuits. It defines current, potential difference, resistance, and Ohm's law. It also describes how current is distributed in series and parallel circuits, and states Kirchhoff's laws. Power, resistivity, and factors that influence resistance are explained. Common circuit components like thermistors and diodes are also summarized.

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Melody Nation
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108 views

Flashcards - 2.2 Electric Circuits - Edexcel IAL Physics A-Level

The document provides information on key concepts in electric circuits. It defines current, potential difference, resistance, and Ohm's law. It also describes how current is distributed in series and parallel circuits, and states Kirchhoff's laws. Power, resistivity, and factors that influence resistance are explained. Common circuit components like thermistors and diodes are also summarized.

Uploaded by

Melody Nation
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Edexcel IAL Physics A-Level

Topic 2.2 - Electric Circuits


Flashcards

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Define current/potential
difference/resistance and state the
equation connecting the three.

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Define current/potential difference/resistance.
Current: rate of flow of charge (I = Q / t)
Potential difference: work done per unit charge
(V = W / Q)
Resistance: measure of how difficult it is to get a
current to flow through (R = V / I)

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State Ohm’s Law.

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State Ohm’s Law.

In an ohmic conductor, current is directly


proportional to voltage, provided physical
conditions remain constant (e.g.
temperature).
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State how current is distributed in series
and parallel circuits.

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State how current is distributed in series and parallel
circuits.

In series, current is constant throughout


as the charge carriers aren’t split up. In
parallel, the current is distributed (as in
Kirchhoff’s 1st Law).
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State Kirchhoff’s Laws.

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State Kirchhoff’s Laws.
1st Law: the current flowing into a junction is
the same as the current flowing out it. (Charge
is conserved).
2nd Law: the total emf around a loop = the
sum of the potential differences across each
component.
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State the power equation and two other
derivations of the formula.

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State the power equation and two other derivations
of the formula

P = IV
P = I2R
2
P=V /R

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Sketch the I-V graphs for an ohmic
conductor, filament lamp, thermistor and
a diode.

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Sketch the I-V graphs for an ohmic conductor,
filament lamp, thermistor and a diode.

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Define resistivity.

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Define resistivity.
The resistance of a 1m length of a
material with a 1m² cross sectional area.
Resistivity is characteristic of the material.
ρ = RA/L

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State the terms and definitions from the
following equation:

I = nAvq

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State the terms and definitions from the following
equation: I = nAvq
I = current; rate of flow of charge

n = number of charge carriers

A = cross sectional area

v = mean drift velocity

q = charge of charge carriers


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How can you increase the resistance of
a wire?

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How can you increase the resistance of a wire?

● Use a material with a higher resistivity.


● Use a wire which is longer.
● Use a wire with a smaller cross sectional area.

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How do you calculate the voltage output
in a potential divider circuit?

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How do you calculate the voltage output in a
potential divider circuit?

Vout = (Vin x R1) / (R1 + R2)

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Explain how a circuit is used for
regulating central heating (thermostat).

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Explain how a circuit is used for regulating central
heating (thermostat).
● A parallel circuit is used with a thermistor, with the central
heating attached to the other ‘branch’ of the circuit.
● As the area heats up, the resistance in the thermistor
decreases, meaning more current will flow through the
thermistor branch.
● This means the central heating won’t have much current
flowing through it and won’t turn on.

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Define electromotive force, internal
resistance and lost volts.

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Define electromotive force, internal resistance and
lost volts
EMF: The energy provided by a cell or battery per coulomb of
charge passing through it.

IR: The resistance inside a cell which prevents the total amount
of volts going round in a circuit. (represented by lowercase r).

LV: potential difference that is lost due to resistance within the


cell/battery. (lost volts = I x r).

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Define terminal PD.

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Define Terminal PD.

The potential difference across the terminals of the


cell/battery. This is the potential difference supplied to
the circuit.
Terminal PD = EMF of power supply - lost volts

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List two equations linking terminal PD,
internal resistance & current.

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List two equations linking EMF, terminal PD, internal
resistance & current.
ε = IR + Ir
ε=V+v
ε = cell/battery EMF, V = terminal PD, v = lost volts, I
= current, R = circuit resistance, r = internal resistance

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How does temperature affect vibrations,
resistance and current?

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How does temperature affect vibrations, resistance
and current?
As the temperature increases, the kinetic energy of the lattice
cations in the wire increases, causing more collisions
between the ions and electrons so more energy is dissipated
and electrons slow down. This resistance in the wire has
increased and the current decreased as the collisions slow
down the rate of flow of charge.

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If an LDR has more light shining on it, what
happens to the charge carriers, and why?

Use these ideas to explain what happens to the


current if the same voltage continues to be
applied.

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If an LDR has more light shining on it, what happens to the charge carriers, and
why? Use these ideas to explain what happens to the current if the same voltage
continues to be applied.
• If light intensity increases, the number of charge carriers increases as
there is more energy (due to light) in the semiconductor so more
charge carriers are released
• This means the electrons have more energy
• More charge carriers means the charge carrier density (n) increases
also
• This results in increases current (I) as I = nAvq (cross sectional area (A),
drift velocity (v) and charge on each charge carrier (q) all remain
constant.)
• The increased current (I) results in a decreased Resistance (R) as R=V/I
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