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Electrical Charge and Current
Electrical Charge and Current Revision
Electrical Charge and Current
Electric current flows around circuits to power circuit components such as lamps, motors and buzzers.
Circuit Components
Circuits can be made up of a combination of many different circuit components. Different circuit components have different properties and functions.
In a circuit diagram, we use specific symbols called circuit symbols to represent each component.
You need to be able to draw and recognise the following circuit symbols.
Electrical Current
Electric current is a flow of electrical charge. Electrical charge is measured in Coulombs \text{(C)} and current is measured in amperes \text{(A)}. The current can be thought of as the rate of flow of charge around the circuit. You can measure current using an ammeter. You can calculate the charge that has flown around a circuit in a certain time \text{(s)} using the following equation:
\color{f21cc2}{Q=It}
- Q= charge flow in coulombs \text{(C)}
- I= current in amps \text{(A)}
- t= time in seconds \text{(s)}
Remember that current will only flow through a circuit when it makes a complete loop.
Example: Calculating Charge
A student connects a battery to an ammeter and a resistor as shown in the diagram. The student closes the switch for 1\text{ minute} and then opens it again. During this minute, the ammeter reads 2.5\text{ A}.
Calculate the charge that flowed through the circuit during the time that the switch was closed.
[3 marks]
t= \textcolor{f21cc2}{1 \text{ minute}}=60\text{ s} \\\bold{Q=It}=\textcolor{7cb447}{2.5} \times60=\bold{150 \, C}
Electrical Charge and Current Example Questions
Question 1: Draw the circuit symbol for a LED.
[1 mark]
Question 2: Identify the following circuit component.
[1 mark]
Variable resistor.
Question 3: Define electrical current.
[1 mark]
The flow of electrical charge.
Question 4: How much charge flows past a bulb in 10\text{ s} in a circuit with a current of 4\text{ A}?
[2 marks]
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