4.

2 Electrical quantities
4.2.1 Electric charge
Core

1 State that there are positive and negative charges

2 State that positive charges repel other positive charges, negative charges repel other negative
charges, but positive charges attract negative charges

3 Describe simple experiments to show the production of electrostatic charges by friction and to
show the detection of electrostatic charges

4 Explain that charging of solids by friction involves only a transfer of negative charge
(electrons)

5 Describe an experiment to distinguish between electrical conductors and insulators

6 Recall and use a simple electron model to explain the difference between electrical
conductors and insulators and give typical examples

Supplement

7 State that charge is measured in coulombs

8 Describe an electric field as a region in which an electric charge experiences a force

9 State that the direction of an electric field at a point is the direction of the force on a positive
charge at that point

10 Describe simple electric field patterns, including the direction of the field:
(a) around a point charge
(b) around a charged conducting sphere
(c) between two oppositely charged parallel conducting plates (end effects will not be
examined)

4.2.2 Electric current

2 Describe the use of ammeters (analogue and digital) with different ranges

3 Describe electrical conduction in metals in terms of the movement of free electrons

4 Know the difference between direct current (d.c.) and alternating current (a.c.)
Supplement

5 Define electric current as the charge passing a point per unit time; recall and use the equation
I = Q/ t

6 State that conventional current is from positive to negative and that the flow of free electrons
is from negative to positive

4.2 Electrical quantities continued

1 Define electromotive force (e.m.f.) as the electrical work done by a source in moving a unit
charge around a complete circuit

2 Know that e.m.f. is measured in volts (V)

3 Define potential difference (p.d.) as the work done by a unit charge passing through a
component

4 Know that the p.d. between two points is measured in volts (V)

5 Describe the use of voltmeters (analogue and digital) with different ranges

Supplement

6 Recall and use the equation for e.m.f. E = W Q

7 Recall and use the equation for p.d. V = W Q

4.2.4 Resistance
Core

1 Recall and use the equation for resistance R = V I

2 Describe an experiment to determine resistance using a voltmeter and an ammeter and do the
appropriate calculations

3 State, qualitatively, the relationship of the resistance of a metallic wire to its length and to its
cross-sectional area Supplement

4 Sketch and explain the current–voltage graphs for a resistor of constant resistance, a filament
lamp and a diode

5 Recall and use the following relationship for a metallic electrical conductor:
(a) resistance is directly proportional to length
(b) resistance is inversely proportional to cross-sectional area
4.2.5 Electrical energy and electrical power
Core

1 Understand that electric circuits transfer energy from a source of electrical energy, such as an
electrical cell or mains supply, to the circuit components and then into the surroundings

2 Recall and use the equation for electrical power P = IV

3 Recall and use the equation for electrical energy E = IVt

4 Define the kilowatt-hour (kWh) and calculate the cost of using electrical appliances where the
energy unit is the kWh

4.3 Electric circuits

1 Draw and interpret circuit diagrams containing cells, batteries, power supplies, generators,
potential dividers, switches, resistors (fixed and variable), heaters, thermistors (NTC only), light-
dependent resistors (LDRs), lamps, motors, ammeters, voltmeters, magnetising coils,
transformers, fuses and relays, and know how these components behave in the circuit

Supplement

2 Draw and interpret circuit diagrams containing diodes and light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and
know how these components behave in the circuit

4.3.2 Series and parallel circuits

1 Know that the current at every point in a series circuit is the same

2 Know how to construct and use series and parallel circuits

3 Calculate the combined e.m.f. of several sources in series

4 Calculate the combined resistance of two or more resistors in series

5 State that, for a parallel circuit, the current from the source is larger than the current in each
branch

6 State that the combined resistance of two resistors in parallel is less than that of either resistor
by itself
7 State the advantages of connecting lamps in parallel in a lighting circuit

Supplement
8 Recall and use in calculations, the fact that:
(a) the sum of the currents entering a junction in a parallel circuit is equal to the sum of the
currents that leave the junction
(b) the total p.d. across the components in a series circuit is equal to the sum of the individual
p.d.s across each component
(c) the p.d. across an arrangement of parallel resistances is the same as the p.d. across one
branch in the arrangement of the parallel resistances

9 Explain that the sum of the currents into a junction is the same as the sum of the currents out
of the junction

10 Calculate the combined resistance of two resistors in parallel

4.3 Electric circuits continued

1 Know that the p.d. across an electrical conductor increases as its resistance increases for a
constant current

Supplement

2 Describe the action of a variable potential divider

3 Recall and use the equation for two resistors used as a potential divider R1/ R2 = V1/ V2

4.4 Electrical safety

1 State the hazards of:

2 Know that a mains circuit consists of a live wire (line wire), a neutral wire and an earth wire
and explain why a switch must be connected to the live wire for the circuit to be switched off
safely

3 Explain the use and operation of trip switches and fuses and choose appropriate fuse ratings
and trip switch settings
4 Explain why the outer casing of an electrical appliance must be either non-conducting (double-
insulated) or earthed

5 State that a fuse without an earth wire protects the circuit and the cabling for a double-
insulated appliance