A device that produces electric charge and is used in electrostatic experiments.

An electrical property; it can either be positive or negative.

The invisible field around a charged object that causes another charged object to experience a force.

Moving electric charge

Combined science

Linking current, potential difference and resistance

Resistance of a wire at a constant temperature

Analysing series circuits: including complex calculations

Adding components to a parallel circuit

Analysing parallel circuits: including complex calculations

In the Circuit components unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn how the resistance of filament lamps and diodes change with current and about the properties and applications of light dependent resistors and thermistors.

In the Resistance and parallel circuits unit, pupils learnt about electrical resistance and parallel electric circuits.

This unit covers static electricity, electric fields, and current flow in series and parallel circuits. It explains current, resistance, and potential difference relationships and explores diodes, thermistors, and LDRs. The focus is on calculations, experiments, and accurate measurements.

Electric fields and circuit calculations

the distance travelled by an electron in one second

the number of electrons that flow past a point each second

the time taken for one coulomb of charge to flow past a point

the number of coulombs of charge that flow past a point each second

Which of the following is a definition of electric current?

There is an electric field around the wires only.

There is an electric field around the battery only.

There is an electric field around the battery and the wires.

The electric field exerts equal forces on all of the electrons in the wires.

The electric field exerts the greatest force on electrons nearest the battery.

A battery makes a current flow in a circuit. Which of the following statements about the electric field in the circuit are correct?

The charge on one electron is much less than one coulomb.

The charge on one electron is one coulomb.

The charge on one electron is much more than one coulomb.

Which of the following statements is correct?

If 12 coulombs (C) of charge flows in 2 seconds (s), the current is {{}} amps (A).

A current of 6 A flows in a circuit. The amount of charge that flows past in 3 s is {{}} C.

A current of 0.50 A flows in a circuit. The time taken for 12 C of charge to flow past a point in the circuit is {{}} s.

An object becomes positively charged by friction. Which of the following explains how this happens?

How many of the following types of particle can an object gain or lose when it is rubbed against another object: electrons, protons, neutrons?

The arrows show the direction of force on a negative charge.

The arrows show the direction of force on a north-seeking pole.

The lengths of the field lines show the strength of the field.

The field is stronger where the lines are closer together.

The field lines around a spherical charge are radial.

Which of the following statements about electric field lines are correct?

They point towards a positively–charged object.

They point away from a positively–charged object.

They point towards a negatively–charged object.

They point away from a negatively–charged object.

Which of the following statements about the arrows on electric field lines are correct?

The part that builds up the largest charge is part A.

The part that builds up the largest charge is part B.

The diagram shows a Van de Graaff generator. After the generator is switched on, which of the following happen?

Speed, distance and time are related by the equation: speed = distance ÷ time. Which of the following are correct rearrangements of this equation?

Moving electric charge

Lesson outcome