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IGCSE Circuit components

The document outlines various circuit components and their symbols used in circuit diagrams, including power supplies, resistors, meters, switches, functional components, electromagnetic components, fuses, thermistors, light-dependent resistors, and diodes. It explains the behavior and function of each component, such as how resistors control current and how diodes allow current to flow in one direction. Additionally, it highlights the importance of components like fuses for safety and the unique characteristics of thermistors and LDRs based on temperature and light intensity, respectively.

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31 views4 pages

IGCSE Circuit components

The document outlines various circuit components and their symbols used in circuit diagrams, including power supplies, resistors, meters, switches, functional components, electromagnetic components, fuses, thermistors, light-dependent resistors, and diodes. It explains the behavior and function of each component, such as how resistors control current and how diodes allow current to flow in one direction. Additionally, it highlights the importance of components like fuses for safety and the unique characteristics of thermistors and LDRs based on temperature and light intensity, respectively.

Uploaded by

Gacha Path:3
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Circuit components

What are circuit symbols?


 The diagram below shows the circuit symbols that could be used in circuit
diagrams to represent circuit components
o You will be expected to know what each component is and how it
behaves in a circuit

Circuit symbols represent these components in circuit diagrams


Types of circuit components
Power supplies
 Cells, batteries, power supplies and generators all supply current to the
circuit
Resistors
 Potential dividers, fixed and variable resistors, thermistors and light-
dependent resistors (LDRs) are all used to control current
Meters
 Ammeters and voltmeters are used to measure the current and potential
difference
o Ammeters are always connected in series whilst voltmeters are always
connected in parallel
Switches and functional components
 Switches open and close a circuit and determine whether current can flow
 Functional components perform specific roles when current passes through
them:
o Motors rotate

o Lamps emit light

o Heaters transfer thermal energy

o Bells emit a sound

Electromagnetic components
 Magnetising coils, relays and transformers use electromagnetic effects
o Relays use a small current in one circuit to switch on a much larger
current in another
o Transformers 'step up' and 'step down' current and potential difference

Fuses
 Protect expensive components from current surges and act as a safety
measure against fire
Thermistors
 A thermistor is a non-ohmic conductor and a temperature-dependent
resistor
 The resistance of a thermistor changes depending on its temperature
o As the temperature increases the resistance of a
thermistor decreases and vice versa
The resistance through a thermistor is dependent on the temperature of it
Light-dependent resistors
 A light-dependent resistor (LDR) is a non-ohmic conductor and sensory
resistor
 Its resistance automatically changes depending on the light energy falling
onto it (illumination)
 As the light intensity increases, the resistance of an LDR decreases

Resistance of an LDR depends on the light intensity falling on it


Diodes
 In addition to the above, you should be able to recognise and draw the circuit
symbol for a diode:

A diode is a component that only allows a current in one direction


 Diodes are occasionally drawn with a horizontal line running through the
middle of them
 Diodes only allow current to flow through them in one direction (see the
diagram below)
o This is the direction that the triangle points in the diagram

When travelling in the same direction as the diode, current can flow. If the
diode is flipped, it now prevents current from flowing in the circuit
 Light emitting diodes (LEDs) behave the exact same way, but they emit light
when current flows through them

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