P12.1 – Electrical Quantities

1. Demonstrate understanding of current, potential difference, e.m.f. and resistance, and use with their appropriate units.

• Electric Current:
  • is the flow of electric charge within a circuit.
  • is measured in amperes or amps (A).
  • represents how much electric charge is passing a single point in the circuit
  • is the same at the beginning and end of a circuit.
• Potential Difference:
  • is the difference in the energy there is to drive a current through a wire, between two points
  • is measured in volts (v)
• E.M.F:
  • electro-motive force (e.m.f) is the voltage (potential) that a battery will supply to the entire circuit
  • is the driving force that gives the electrons the energy to move around the circuit.
• Resistance:
  • is a measure of how difficult it is to push a current through a circuit.
  • is measured in Ohms (Ω)

2. State that charge is measured in coulombs (C).

Charge is measured in coulombs (C).

3. Use and describe the use of an ammeter and a voltmeter.

Ammeter is a device that measures the amount of current flowing through a circuit in amperes (amps).

Voltmeter is a device that measures the potential difference between two points in a circuit.

Notes submitted by Lintha

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