Current, Potential Difference & Resistance

Question 1

Flashcard 1
Q → What is potential difference and what is another name for it?
A → Potential difference, also known as voltage, is the measure of energy transferred per unit of charge between two points in a circuit. It is the voltage between two points that makes an electric current flow between them.

Flashcard 2
Q → How can potential difference be described in simple terms?
A → Potential difference can be described as the driving force that pushes charge (and therefore current) around a circuit.

Flashcard 3
Q → What is the unit of potential difference?
A → The unit of potential difference is the volt (V).

Flashcard 4
Q → What does a potential difference of 1 volt represent?
A → A potential difference of 1 volt means that 1 joule of energy is transferred for every coulomb of charge that moves between two points in a circuit.

Flashcard 5
Q → What is the relationship between energy, charge, and potential difference?
A → Potential difference is equal to energy transferred divided by charge, given by the equation V = E/Q, where V is potential difference in volts (V), E is energy in joules (J), and Q is charge in coulombs (C).

Flashcard 6
Q → What happens when a charge moves through a potential difference?
A → When a charge moves through a potential difference, electrical work is done and energy is transferred.

Flashcard 7
Q → How is potential difference measured in a circuit?
A → Potential difference is measured using a voltmeter.

Flashcard 8
Q → How must a voltmeter be connected in a circuit to measure potential difference across a component?
A → A voltmeter must be connected in parallel with the component so it can measure the difference in energy from one side of the component to the other.

Flashcard 9
Q → What is resistance in an electrical circuit?
A → Resistance is the opposition in an electrical component to the movement of electrical charge through it, and it slows down the flow of current.

Flashcard 10
Q → What is the unit of resistance?
A → The unit of resistance is the ohm (Ω).

Flashcard 11
Q → How does resistance affect current in a circuit?
A → Resistance slows down the flow of current; the higher the resistance in a circuit, the lower the current, if the potential difference remains the same.

Flashcard 12
Q → How does resistance affect current for a given potential difference across a component?
A → The greater the resistance across a component, the smaller the current that flows for a given potential difference.

Flashcard 13
Q → How do conductors and insulators differ in terms of resistance?
A → Conductors have a low resistance, while insulators have a high resistance.

Flashcard 14
Q → What factors does the current through a component depend on?
A → The current through a component depends on both the resistance of the component and the potential difference across it.

Flashcard 15
Q → What is Ohm’s Law?
A → Ohm’s Law states that the current through a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference across it, provided the temperature remains constant.

Flashcard 16
Q → What is an ohmic conductor?
A → An ohmic conductor is a conductor that obeys Ohm’s Law, meaning the current is directly proportional to the potential difference across it.

Flashcard 17
Q → What is the formula that links potential difference, current, and resistance?
A → The formula is V = IR, where potential difference (V) equals current (I) multiplied by resistance (R).

Flashcard 18
Q → In the equation V = IR, what do each of the symbols represent and what are their units?
A → In V = IR:

V is potential difference, measured in volts (V)
I is current, measured in amperes or amps (A)
R is resistance, measured in ohms (Ω)

Answer 1

Source 1: Current, Resistance, and Potential Difference:
POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE (V):
Also known as VOLTAGE, potential difference is the measure of ENERGY per unit of CHARGE, transferred between two points in a circuit.

Simply put, this is the driving force that PUSHES the current around the circuit.

Units: VOLTS (V).

RESISTANCE (R):
RESISTANCE in a circuit SLOWS down the flow of CURRENT.

The HIGHER the resistance in a circuit, the LOWER the current, if the potential difference stays the same.

Units: OHMS (Ω).

OHM’S LAW:
The relationship between current, resistance, and potential difference can be understood by OHM’S LAW, which states that the CURRENT is DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL to the POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE.

A conductor that obeys this law is known as an OHMIC CONDUCTOR.

Here’s the fundamental formula you’ll need: Potential Difference = Current × Resistance, or in short-hand form: V=IR. V is the potential difference in Volts (V).
I is the current in Amperes (A).
R is the resistance in Ohms (Ω). /////////// Source 2: Potential difference and resistance:
The current through a component depends on both the resistance (The opposition in an electrical component to the movement of electrical charge through it. Resistance is measured in ohms.) of the component and the potential difference (The potential difference (or voltage) of a supply is a measure of the energy given to the charge carriers in a circuit. Units = volts (V). This is the voltage between two points that makes an electric current flow between them. ) across the component.

Measuring potential difference:
To measure the potential difference across a component, a voltmeter must be placed in parallel with that component in order to measure the difference in energy from one side of the component to the other. Potential difference is also known as voltage and is measured in volts (V). ||| Potential difference (or voltage) is a measure of energy, per unit of charge, transferred between two points in a circuit. A potential difference of 1 volt means that 1 joule of work is done per coulomb of charge. ||| Energy, voltage and charge:
When a charge moves through a potential difference, electrical work is done and energy transferred. The potential difference can be calculated using the equation: potential difference = energy / change, or in short-hand form: V = E/Q, and this is when:

potential difference (V) is measured in volts (V)
energy (E) is measured in joules (J)
charge (Q) is measured in coulombs (C)
||| One volt is the potential difference when one coulomb of charge transfers one joule of energy. ||| Resistance:
When a charge moves through a potential difference, electrical work is done and energy transferred. The potential difference can be calculated using the equation:

potential difference = current × resistance, or in short-hand form: V = IR

This is when:

potential difference (V) is measured in volts (V)
current (I) is measured in amps (A)
resistance (R) is measured in ohms (Ω)
||| One volt is the potential difference when one coulomb of charge transfers one joule of energy. ||| Conductors have a low resistance. Insulators have a high resistance. ////////// Source 3: Potential difference (or voltage) is the driving force that pushes the charge round. Its unit is the volt, V.
Resistance is anything that slows the flow down. Unit: ohm, Q.
The current flowing through a component depends on the potential difference across it and the resistance of the component.
The greater the resistance across a component, the smaller the current that flows (for a given potential difference across the component). ||| There’s a Formula Linking Potential Difference and Current: potential difference = current × resistance, or in short-hand form: V = IR

Question 2

Flashcard 1

Question 3

Q → What is potential difference and what is another name for it?

Question 4

A → Potential difference

Answer 4

also known as voltage

Question 5

Flashcard 2

Question 6

Q → How can potential difference be described in simple terms?

Question 7

A → Potential difference can be described as the driving force that pushes charge (and therefore current) around a circuit.

Question 8

Flashcard 3

Question 9

Q → What is the unit of potential difference?

Question 10

A → The unit of potential difference is the volt (V).

Question 11

Flashcard 4

Question 12

Q → What does a potential difference of 1 volt represent?

Question 13

A → A potential difference of 1 volt means that 1 joule of energy is transferred for every coulomb of charge that moves between two points in a circuit.

Question 14

Flashcard 5

Question 15

Q → What is the relationship between energy

Answer 15

charge

Question 16

A → Potential difference is equal to energy transferred divided by charge

Answer 16

given by the equation V = E/Q

Question 17

Flashcard 6

Question 18

Q → What happens when a charge moves through a potential difference?

Question 19

A → When a charge moves through a potential difference

Answer 19

electrical work is done and energy is transferred.

Question 20

Flashcard 7

Question 21

Q → How is potential difference measured in a circuit?

Question 22

A → Potential difference is measured using a voltmeter.

Question 23

Flashcard 8

Question 24

Q → How must a voltmeter be connected in a circuit to measure potential difference across a component?

Question 25

A → A voltmeter must be connected in parallel with the component so it can measure the difference in energy from one side of the component to the other.

Question 26

Flashcard 9

Question 27

Q → What is resistance in an electrical circuit?

Question 28

A → Resistance is the opposition in an electrical component to the movement of electrical charge through it

Answer 28

and it slows down the flow of current.

Question 29

Flashcard 10

Question 30

Q → What is the unit of resistance?

Question 31

A → The unit of resistance is the ohm (Ω).

Question 32

Flashcard 11

Question 33

Q → How does resistance affect current in a circuit?

Question 34

A → Resistance slows down the flow of current; the higher the resistance in a circuit

Answer 34

the lower the current

Question 35

Flashcard 12

Question 36

Q → How does resistance affect current for a given potential difference across a component?

Question 37

A → The greater the resistance across a component

Answer 37

the smaller the current that flows for a given potential difference.

Question 38

Flashcard 13

Question 39

Q → How do conductors and insulators differ in terms of resistance?

Question 40

A → Conductors have a low resistance

Answer 40

while insulators have a high resistance.

Question 41

Flashcard 14

Question 42

Q → What factors does the current through a component depend on?

Question 43

A → The current through a component depends on both the resistance of the component and the potential difference across it.

Question 44

Flashcard 15

Question 45

Q → What is Ohm’s Law?

Question 46

A → Ohm’s Law states that the current through a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference across it

Answer 46

provided the temperature remains constant.

Question 47

Flashcard 16

Question 48

Q → What is an ohmic conductor?

Question 49

A → An ohmic conductor is a conductor that obeys Ohm’s Law

Answer 49

meaning the current is directly proportional to the potential difference across it.

Question 50

Flashcard 17

Question 51

Q → What is the formula that links potential difference

Answer 51

current

Question 52

A → The formula is V = IR

Answer 52

where potential difference (V) equals current (I) multiplied by resistance (R).

Question 53

Flashcard 18

Question 54

Q → In the equation V = IR

Answer 54

what do each of the symbols represent and what are their units?

Question 55

A → In V = IR:

Question 56

V is potential difference

Answer 56

measured in volts (V)

Question 57

I is current

Answer 57

measured in amperes or amps (A)

Question 58

R is resistance

Answer 58

measured in ohms (Ω)