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Electrical Energy Notes

There are two types of connections for multiple components - series circuits where current passes through one component then the next, and parallel circuits where branches split

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52 views6 pages

Electrical Energy Notes

There are two types of connections for multiple components - series circuits where current passes through one component then the next, and parallel circuits where branches split

Uploaded by

tijil
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Electrical Energy Notes

The pathway travelled by electrical energy is called an electric circuit.

Electrically charged particles move around the circuit and carry electrical energy from an energy
source, such as a battery. This electrical energy is carried to a device that consumes the energy, such
as a light bulb.

This movement of negatively charged particles results in an electric current.

Electrons will use up electrical potential energy when they come across a resistor, such as a light
bulb.

Simple Circuits
A simple circuit can be constructed by:

- Two pieces of wire


- A resistor (light bulb)
- A power supply

All circuits have many things in common. These include:

- A power source. E.g. power pack, battery cell.


- Component that requires energy. E.g. globe, buzzer, motor
- Connecting wires, the electrons need a substance to travel through.
- A completed circuit without breaks- electrons cannot flow unless there is a complete path
from the power source through the circuit back to the power source.
- A switch. This breaks the circuit and stops the flow of electrons and controls the circuit.

When there are multiple components in a circuit, there are a few different ways they can be wired
together. The positions of components relative to each other can change the amount of energy
they receive and how they function.
Series and parallel circuits
When looking at 2 light bulbs connected in a circuit, there are two different types of connections
possible.

In a series circuit the globes are connected side by side so the current goes through one globe and
then the other.

In a parallel circuit, there are two or more branches and the current splits between the branches and
then later comes back together.
Current, Voltage and Resistance

Voltage is the measure of the potential energy that electrons have. It is measured in volts, using a
voltmeter.

In a 1.5V battery, each unit of electrical charge gets 1.5 joules of energy as it passes through the
battery.

Voltage can also be known as potential difference.

To measure the potential difference (voltage) of a current, voltmeters are set in parallel across the
two points in a circuit that you want to measure.

Electric current is a measure of the amount of charge that goes past a point in the circuit in one
second. Current is measured in amperes. A milliampere is 1000 amperes.

An ammeter is a meter that measures the current travelling through a particular point in an electric
circuit. The ammeter must be connected into the circuit in series so the current flows through it.

The amount of current flowing in a circuit is determined by the resistance of the circuit.

The electrical resistance of a material is a measure of how easily electrons move through it.

Resistance is measured in Ohms.


Ohm’s Law

George Ohm discovered the relationship between current, voltage and resistance. He found that if
the resistance is fixed and the voltage is increased, the current is increased too. Likewise, if the
voltage is decreased, the current is also decreased. If one of them is changed, the other changes the
same way. This relationship is known as Ohm’s Law.

V=IxR I = V/R R= V/I

V – Voltage I – Current R – Resistance

Using Ohm’s Law


Example:

Find the value of a resistor which has a value of 6V across it


when a current of 50 mA flows through it.

1. Check the units: 6v is in volts and so can be unchanged. 50 milliamps needs to be converted to amps.
50 x 0.001 = 0.05A.

2. Use the Ohm’s law triangle to find the correct formula

R = V/I.

3. Substitute the numbers for V and I.

R = 6/0.05

4. Do the calculation.

R = 6/0.05 = 120Ω

5. The resistance of the resistor is 120 Ohms.


What is the voltage across a resistor with a value of 180 Ω and a current of 50 mA?

Working out:

50mA x 0.001

= 0.05A

V=IxR

V = 0.05 x 180

V = 9V

Therefore, the voltage is 9V

A light bulb with resistance of 2Ω is connected to a 4V battery. What is the current flowing through the
circuit?

Working out:

I=V÷R

I=4÷2

I = 2A

Therefore, the current is 2A.


Voltage and current in circuits

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