Edexcel Physics IGCSE

Topic 2: Electricity
Summary Notes
(Content in ​bold​ is for physics only)

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Energy and voltage in circuits
Current

Current​ I is measured in ​amperes (A)​ and is the ​rate of flow of charge​ at a ​point​ in the circuit.
● The current is given by I=Q/t, where Q is measured in ​coulombs (C) ​and t in ​seconds (s).
● In metals, current is due to a ​flow of electrons.​ In solutions it can be the flow of ions.
Conventional current is the rate of flow of ​positive​ charge - this is in the ​opposite​ direction
to the flow of electrons because electrons are ​negatively​ charged.
● Current is ​conserved​ at a ​junction ​in a circuit because charge is always conserved.
● Current is measured with an ​ammeter ​connected in ​series ​with the component.

Potential difference

Potential difference ​V is measured in​ volts (V where 1 V = 1 JC​ ) ​and is the ​work done per unit
-1​

charge​ in moving​ between two points​ in a circuit.

● The potential difference is given by V=E/Q.
● It is measured with a ​voltmeter​ placed in​ parallel ​across the component.
● The higher the potential difference, the greater the current (​V = IR​).

Resistance

The ​resistance​ of a component is measured in ​ohms (Ω) ​and is given by the potential difference
across it divided by the current through it, i.e. ​R=V/I​. The greater the resistance, the harder it is for
current to flow through the component.

In an ​ohmic conductor ​(such as a ​resistor at a constant temperature​),​ ​the current is directly

proportional to the voltage (i.e. it has constant resistance). In a non-ohmic conductor (such as a
filament lamp​), the resistance changes as the voltage and current changes.

In a filament lamp, this is because as the ​current increases​ through the filament, so does the
temperature,​ which means ​electrons and ions vibrate more​ and ​collide more, increasing
resistance.

A​ thermistor​ is a resistor whose resistance decreases as the​ temperature​ increases.

A ​light dependent resistor​ is a resistor whose resistance decreases as ​light intensity​ increases.

Electric circuits

Series:
● Components are connected ​end to end​ in one loop
● The ​same current​ flows through every component

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 ● The ​potential difference is shared​ across each component - depending upon their
resistance (i.e. the sum of the p.d.s across the components is equal to the total p.d. across
the supply) - components with a higher resistance have a greater PD across.
● The total resistance in series is the ​sum of the resistances​ of each component​ R​ = R​ + R​
T​ 1​ 2

Parallel:
● Components are connected to the power supply in ​separate branches
● The ​current is shared ​between each branch (i.e. the sum of the currents in the separate
branches is equal to the current through the source) - because charge can only flow one
way.
● The ​potential difference​ is the ​same​ across every branch
● Connecting lamps in parallel is advantageous because if one breaks, current can still pass
through the rest.

Mains electricity
Dangers of electricity

Hazards:

● Damaged insulation​ – contact with the wire due to gaps in the insulation can cause an
electric shock​ or pose a​ fire hazard​ by creating a short circuit.
● Overheating of cables​ – high currents passing through thin wire conductors cause the
wires to heat up to very high temperatures which could ​melt the insulation​ and cause a
fire.
● Damp conditions – water can conduct a current so wet electrical equipment can cause an
electric shock.

Fuses and circuit breakers:

● A ​fuse​ is a thin piece of​ wire ​which overheats and ​melts​ if the ​current is too high,
protecting the circuit.​ They have a current ​rating​ which should be slightly higher than the
current used by the device in the circuit. The most common are 3A, 5A and 13A.
● Circuit breakers ​consist of an automatic ​electromagnet​ switch which ​breaks the circuit ​if
the ​current rises over a certain value.​ This is better than a fuse as it can be ​reset​ and
used again, and they operate ​faster.

Earthing metal cases:

● Earth wires create a ​safe route​ for current to flow through in the case of a ​short circuit,
preventing electric shocks.
● Earth wires have a​ very low resistance​ so a strong current surges through them which
breaks the fuse and disconnects the appliance.

Double insulation:

● Appliances with ​double insulation ​have either ​plastic casings ​completely covering their
electrical components, or have been designed so that the earth wire ​cannot touch​ the
metal casing, preventing them from giving an electric shock.

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Electrical transfer of energy

Energy, measured in ​joules (J)​, is transferred from ​chemical ​energy in the ​battery ​to​ electrical
energy used by ​circuit components ​and then to the ​surroundings.
● The ​power​ of a component is measured in ​watts (W) ​and is given by P=IV (by using V=IR,
this can be shown to be equivalent to P=I​2​R and P=V​2​/R)​. ​Using this equation, the energy
transferred is given by E=IVt.

Alternating current and direct current

In a​ direct current,​ the current only flows in ​one direction​ whereas in an​ alternating current,​ the
current continuously ​changes direction.

Mains electricity ​is an alternating current (a.c.) whereas the current supplied by a ​cell or battery
is direct current (d.c.).

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