a type of lamp that uses a hot wire to emit light

a resistor that can be easily changed to any value in its range

the minimum to maximum possible values in an experiment

when a measurement is taken again to improve the experiment

a line that shows the underlying trend of a set of results on a graph, it can be straight or curved

Measuring the resistance of a filament lamp

Combined science

Resistance of a hot metal

Measuring the resistance of a diode

Interpreting I–V graphs

Potential divider circuits

LDRs and thermistors

In the Mains electricity unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn about the dangers of mains electricity, how to use mains electricity safely, the equations I=Q/t, V=E/Q and P=IV, and about the transmission of power in the national grid, including transformers.

In the Electric fields and circuit calculations unit, pupils learnt about the properties of electric fields, moving electric charge, and how to analyse series and parallel electrical circuits.

This unit explores current, resistance, and potential difference. It covers circuit design for lamps, diodes, and thermistors, and emphasises planning experiments, data interpretation, and presenting scientific conclusions.

Circuit components

a conductor for which the current is directly proportional to the p.d.

a relationship between variables in which one is a multiple of the other

a metal atom that has lost one or more outer electrons and has become positively charged

an electron from the outer shell of an atom that is free to move from ion to ion through a metal

an electrical component that is used to prevent current flow in one direction

a material that has both metallic and non-metallic properties

the potential difference at which a diode allows current to flow

when a diode is reverse–biased, it prevents current from flowing

when a diode is forward–biased, it allows current to flow

When a diode is reverse–biased, it prevents current from flowing.

When a diode is forward–biased, it allows current to flow.

The threshold p.d. is the potential difference at which a diode allows current to flow.

A fuse is a component that has a wire that melts if the current is too high.

In a solid metal, the regular and repeating pattern that metal ions are arranged in is known as an ion lattice.

a measure of the push an electric field gives to charges

a property of a material that opposes the flow of current

a series circuit that divides the p.d. across a power supply into two or more smaller voltages

a semiconducting component with a resistance that gets lower in increasingly bright light

a semiconducting component with a resistance that gets lower in increasingly high temperatures

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Circuit components

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