physics -electric circuits cp10 p2

Question 1

what is potential difference

Answer 1

-Measured in volts
-supplies the push
to make charge move
around a circuit and gives
it energy.
-Supplied by batteries or a
power supply

Question 1

current

Answer 1

-Measured in Amps
- a flow of electrons
(CHARGE) around the
circuit.
- charge carries ENERGY.
-It will only move if there is a potential difference.
-If the potential
difference increases so
does the current.

Question 2

charge

Answer 2

• Measured in Coulombs
  -We can find out the amount of charge flowing passed a point

Question 3

resistance

Answer 3

-Measured in Ohms, Ω.
-Anything which slows
down the flow of charge.
- Usually the positive metal
ions.

Question 4

factors which effect resistance

Answer 4

-Longer wires have more
resistance: More ions for
the charges to collide with
-Thicker wires have less
resistance: More pathways
to get through
-Hotter wires have more
resistance: Ions vibrate
more making it harder for charges to move by.

Question 5

series circuit rules

Answer 5

-Since there is only one
loop, the current in the
SAME size at all points in the circuit.

-It is measured with an
AMMETER in SERIES.
-The potential Difference
of the battery is SHARED
between the bulbs.

• If each bulb has the SAME
  RESISTANCE, they will all get an EQUAL share.

-Resistance is anything which tries to slow down the movement of charge.

-Adding more bulbs or resistors in series increases the
overall resistance.

• To find the total just ADD
  the individual resistances.
• 3 bulbs would have more
  resistance than 1 bulb, so
  they come on dimmer
  since less current can flow

Question 6

parallel circuit rules

Answer 6

-The current splits up and
follows different paths in a
parallel circuit

• if you add the current in
  each path it will be the
  current from the battery.

-It is measured with an
AMMETER in SERIES.

-Each pathway receives the
full battery potential
difference, so
bulbs appear brighter in parallel circuits.

-Resistance is anything
which tries to slow down
the movement of charge.

-Adding more parallel
pathways lowers the
overall resistance of the circuit.

-3 bulbs in parallel would
have less resistance than 1 bulb