Circuit components
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Threads
Why this why now
This unit builds on pupils’ prior learning from Electric fields and circuit calculations, where they explored how electric fields and current flow through circuits. It deepens their understanding by examining the role of various circuit components, such as diodes, thermistors, and resistors, and how they affect circuit behaviour. This prepares pupils for the next unit, Mains electricity, where they will apply their knowledge to understand how electrical systems operate in households, including safety measures and energy transmission.
Prior knowledge requirements
- The current in a series circuit is the same everywhere.
- Adding a component to a series circuit changes the current everywhere, on both sides of the component.
- The potential difference across each component in a series electric circuit adds up to the potential difference of the battery.
- The potential difference across each branch of a parallel circuit is the same as the potential difference across the battery.
- The current through each branch of a parallel circuit adds up to the current through the battery.
- Current = potential difference / resistance
Threads
Why this why now
This unit builds on pupils’ prior learning from Electric fields and circuit calculations, where they explored how electric fields and current flow through circuits. It deepens their understanding by examining the role of various circuit components, such as diodes, thermistors, and resistors, and how they affect circuit behaviour. This prepares pupils for the next unit, Mains electricity, where they will apply their knowledge to understand how electrical systems operate in households, including safety measures and energy transmission.
Prior knowledge requirements
- The current in a series circuit is the same everywhere.
- Adding a component to a series circuit changes the current everywhere, on both sides of the component.
- The potential difference across each component in a series electric circuit adds up to the potential difference of the battery.
- The potential difference across each branch of a parallel circuit is the same as the potential difference across the battery.
- The current through each branch of a parallel circuit adds up to the current through the battery.
- Current = potential difference / resistance
Physics
Circuit components
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.
6 lessons in unit
slide decks, worksheet PDFs, quizzes and lesson overviews. You can select individual lessons from the Circuit components unit and download the resources you need, or download the entire unit now. See every unit listed in our OCR secondary physics curriculum and discover more of our teaching resources for OCR secondary physics programmes.