Revision Unit 9

CIRCUIT SYMBOLS
Cell
Provides source of energy in a circuit.

Battery is more than one cell connected in series.
Synonyms: Supply, power supply, mains, cell,
Battery battery
When switch is open, current cannot flow.

•it is a device that measures CURRENT.
What is an Ammeter?
•flow of electrons through wires

What is current? •electrons flow from the negative side of
battery to positive side.
•Ampere, denoted as A
What is the unit of
current?
•Ammeters are ALWAYS connected next

How are ammeters to (in series with) the component whose
connected in a circuit? current we want to measure.
• It is a device that measures

What is a VOLTAGE.
VOLTMETER?
• it is linked to electrical energy in a

What is VOLTAGE? circuit.
• it is not the same as energy
• Volts, denoted by V
What is the UNIT
for Voltage?
• Voltmeters are ALWAYS connected across

How are voltmeters (parallel to) the component whose
connected? voltage we want to measure.
• It is a component that is designed to have a
known RESISTANCE.
What is a
RESISTOR?
• Resistance is a measure of how easy or

difficult it is for electrons to move through a
What is material.
RESISTANCE?
All materials have a • Ohm, denoted by  (omega)

natural resistance. Metals What is the UNIT
have very low resistance
so make good for Resistance?
conductors.
• 2 types: FIXED and VARIABLE resistors

FUN FACT: Filaments in How many types of • Fixed resistors have one known
light bulbs have HIGH
RESISTANCE and when
resistors are resistance.
• Variable resistors allow us to change the
current flows through it, there? resistance in the circuit.
so much thermal energy
is given off, that it makes
the filament glow and • Total resistance in a series circuit is equal to
emit light! REMEMBER sum of all the individual resistances.
Buzzer
A component that literally

goes “buzzzzzz”
SERIES vs PARALLEL CIRCUITS
SERIES CIRCUIT
Components are connected one after the other.
Current: remains the same at any point in the

circuit.
Voltage: divides across each component - total

voltage is sum of all individual voltages
Resistance: total resistance is equal to sum of all

the individual resistances
ADDING A COMPONENT leads to a DECREASE in

total current through the circuit, as it becomes
more difficult for the power supply to push
electrons through more components.
Voltage
divides!
Current does
NOT divide!
Circuit X Circuit Y
Circuit X has one bulb.
Another identical bulb was
added to the circuit and it was
called Circuit Y.
The ammeter reading in Circuit

Y is lower than that in Circuit X.
WHY?
Because as components are
added to a series circuit, it
REMEMBER: The becomes more difficult for the
concept of “Adding cell to push electrons through
a component” is them.
applied if there is
more than one
component in a
circuit.
PARALLEL CIRCUITS
Components are connected in branches
Current: divides at each branch - there is more than

one path for current to flow.
Total current is equal to sum of all the individual
currents.
Voltage: remains the same across each branch
ADDING A COMPONENT leads to an INCREASE in the

current through the battery as it becomes easier for
current to flow as more paths are made.
Current divides at Voltage remains

points where a same across all
branch is made – branches!
these points are
called junctions.
This is a
parallel-in-
series circuit!
Pay attention to this This junction is

junction – this is where where the current
current divides. This means will add back up
that from this point two again!
branches are made.
3
2
Ammeter 1 shows TOTAL Ammeter 5 also shows TOTAL CURRENT

CURRENT through the circuit through the circuit because it is connected
because it is connected after the junction so, the individual
before the junction. currents in the 2 branches have added back
up. HENCE, A1=A5
A1=A3+A4
A2=A4, as both these Components in the same circuit

ammeters are in series
ADVANTAGES OF can be switched on and off
with each other. PARALLEL CIRCUITS independently
Voltage across all branches is

If a component in one branch
the same (so lamps connected
stops working,the other
in parallel, for eg, would all
branches are not affected.
light to full brightness)
DISADVANTAGE: As more components are added, more current flows through the
circuit which can lead to overheating of wires.
Ohm’s Law
The link between Voltage (V), Current (I) and Resistance (R)
V=IR
If Voltage Current If Current

increases increases Resistance decreases
too increases
Find R2 using Ohm’s Law:

Total Resistance = Voltage/Current
R=1.5/0.25
R=6
R2 = Total Resistance – R1
=6–1
= 5

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CIRCUIT SYMBOLS

Provides source of energy in a circuit.

When switch is open, current cannot flow.

•flow of electrons through wires

•Ammeters are ALWAYS connected next

• It is a device that measures

• it is linked to electrical energy in a

• Voltmeters are ALWAYS connected across

• Resistance is a measure of how easy or

All materials have a • Ohm, denoted by  (omega)

• 2 types: FIXED and VARIABLE resistors

A component that literally

Components are connected one after the other.

Current: remains the same at any point in the

Voltage: divides across each component - total

Resistance: total resistance is equal to sum of all

ADDING A COMPONENT leads to a DECREASE in

The ammeter reading in Circuit

Components are connected in branches

Current: divides at each branch - there is more than

Voltage: remains the same across each branch

ADDING A COMPONENT leads to an INCREASE in the

Current divides at Voltage remains

Pay attention to this This junction is

Ammeter 1 shows TOTAL Ammeter 5 also shows TOTAL CURRENT

A2=A4, as both these Components in the same circuit

Voltage across all branches is

If Voltage Current If Current

Find R2 using Ohm’s Law:

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