P3: Circuits Flashcards
What are the units for current?
Amps (A)
Identify the circuit symbol
Cell
Which circuit component pushes charge (electrons) around a circuit?
A cell or battery
Identify the circuit symbol
Bulb
Identify the circuit symbol
Voltmeter
What is meant by electrical current?
The amount of charge flowing per second
Which component can we use to control whether or not current can flow in a circuit
A switch
Identify the circuit symbol
Motor
The charged particles that move around a circuit are called…
electrons
Which component do we use to measure electric current?
Ammeter
Identify the circuit symbol
Switch
Identify the circuit symbol
ammeter
Two or more cells make up a…
……..battery
Identify the circuit symbol
Battery
Identify the type of circuit shown.
Series Circuit
What makes parallel circuits more useful than series circuits?
- If one bulb breaks, the other bulbs will stay on.
- All bulbs are the same brightness.
- You can control each bulb by putting a separate switch in each ‘branch’.
Identify the type of circuit shown.
Parallel Circuit
What happens to the current in a parallel circuit if you add more branches?
The current in each branch stays the same.
The total current being pushed by the battery increases.
In which direction does current (charge per second) travel around a circuit?
From the positive side of a cell or battery, to the negative side (if conventional current).
From negative to positive (if talking about direction electrons travel)
What would you notice about the readings on the three ammeters in this circuit.
All the readings will be the same.
Current is NOT used up
What would happen to
- the brightness of the bulbs
- the current
- the resistance in the circuit
if another bulb was added in series
Bulbs - get dimmer
Current - goes down
Resistance - goes up
If the bulbs are the same and A1 reads 6A - what would the readings on the other 3 ammeters be?
A1 - 6 Amps
A2 - 3 Amps
A3 - 3 Amps
A4 - 6 Amps
If another (identical) bub was added in parallel, what would the new readings on the ammeters go up, down or stay the same?
What would happen to the brightness of the bulbs?
A1 - go up
A2 - stay the same
A3 - stay the same
A4 - go up
Brightness of bulbs would stay the same.
What would happen if the LED in the circuit was turned round and reconnected.
It wouldn’t light up as it will only allow current to pass throught it in one direction.
Name this component.
If this was connected in series to an LED and battery, what would happen to the brightness of the LED if light was shone on the component. Explain your answer.
Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)
LED would get brighter. Shining light on a LDR lowers the resistance, allowing more current through which will make the LED brighter.
