Electricity

You have previously learnt that an electrical current is a flow

of charge in a conductor, and that a current flows only when
there is a complete pathway (circuit) without any gaps. The
best conductors are metals. A current can also be carried in
certain liquids.

Activity 1
1. Do any of the electric circuits have two switches? Write down the name of the circuit.
2. Do any of the circuits have two or more lamps? How do they work, series or parallel?

3. How are the five power points of a multi-plug connected – in series or parallel? Why?
4. Do both the wall switch and the table lamp switch have to be on in order for the lamp to
work?
5. When one car is jump-started by another, are the batteries connected in series or parallel?

Symbols
If you design an electrical product, you need to be able to draw a circuit diagram with the correct
symbols for the electrical components. Look at the components and their symbols.

Name Picture Symbol Main task in circuit

Cell + Is an energy source in an electrical
- or electronic circuit. Each cell is
assumed to be 1,5V unless
otherwise stated.
Battery Is an energy source with a higher
(series) voltage.

When we draw circuit diagrams, we

show the cell/ battery on the left with
the positive terminal ‘on top’.

Switch Opens (OFF) to stop electrical

energy to flow or closes (ON) to
allow electrical energy to flow in a
circuit

Conductor Carries electrical energy around a

circuit

Lamp/ Light Converts electrical energy into light

bulb energy. Incidentally light bulbs also
create heat energy.

Light-emitting A control device that allows current

diode (LED) to flow in one direction only (polarity)
and emits light.

Resistor A resistor is a device that limits

current flow in a circuit. Resistors
heat up as they limit the current flow.
Resistance is measured using an
ohmmeter.

Diode There is a A diode is a semi-conductor device

painted ring that will only allow current to flow in
showing the one direction.
negative pole.

Transistor 3 legs called: C A specific control device. Input

base, voltage to the base causes the
collector transistor to ‘switch on’ and this
B allows current to flow through the
collector – emitter junction.
CB and emitter.
E E
 Light is a resistor whose resistance
Dependent increases or decreases depending
Resistor on the amount of light intensity.
LDR Some of the uses of the LDR:
Photoresistor light meters used for photography
Photocell and sport light level checking.
Photoconductor To turn streetlights on at night and off
in the morning.
Capacitors A capacitor is a device which can
stores and release electric
charge(energy). Used to smooth the
flow of current in circuits. Capacitors
vary in shape and size.

Thermistor An electronic device that can sense

the temperature of its environment.
The word thermistor is a combination
of words “thermal” and “resistor”.
Some of the uses of the thermistor:
To display the temperature of car
engines.
To turn cooling fans on and off on
engines.
Buzzer

Ammeter Used to measure current at a

particular point in the circuit.
Connected in the circuit in series.

Voltmeter Used to measure voltage at a

particular point in a circuit. The
voltmeter is connected in parallel
across a component in the circuit.

Analog meter: a meter that has a needle to point to a value for only what it is made for.
Digital meter: a meter that can be used to find different values
These meters must be connected to the correct polarity.
Red – Positive
Black - Negative

Light-emitting diode (LED)

• The negative pole of an LED is shorter than the positive pole.
• The casing of the LED is flat on the side of the negative pole.
• If you look through the LED, the larger piece is connected to the negative pole.
 Activity 2
1. Draw a circuit diagram for the picture alongside.
2. Draw the circuit diagram again but replace the cell with a
9V battery.
3. Describe each of the components’ main tasks in the
circuit.

Circuits
A simple circuit consists of three minimum elements that are required to
complete a functioning electric circuit: a source of electricity (battery), a path
or conductor on which electricity flows (wire) and a load or resistance (lamp)
which is any device that requires electricity to operate. You can also add a
control device (switch).

Activity 3
Draw the following circuit diagrams:
1. A circuit containing a 4,5V battery, switch, LED
and resistor.
2. Draw a circuit diagram for the circuit illustrated
in the picture alongside.
3. 3. Draw a circuit a 3V battery and switch in
series and two parallel branches, one with a
capacitor and the other with an LDR and a
resistor.

Sensors
Various alarms:
Burglar alarms
Fire alarms
Smoke alarms
Breathsliser
There are electronic components whose
characteristics change in relation to the ambient
conditions like light or temperature. These are
called sensors as they can vary according to
their environment.

Insulator
In insulator does not conduct electricity. Insulators are used
to protect us from the harmful effects of electricity.
Plastics, rubber and wood are examples of insulators.
Semi – conductor
A semi-conductor is a special device that has the properties
of a conductor at some times and the properties of an
insulator at other times. Semi-conductors are usually made
from silicon or germanium.
 Current
Current – the flow of energy carrying charges through a circuit.
Conventional current flows from positive to negative. Electron flow current
flows from negative to positive.
The unit for current flow in a circuit is the ampere (A), also called amps. If 1
coulomb of charge passes through a point in 1 second, then 1 ampere (amp)
of current is flowing in the circuit. Current is measured using an ammeter.

Voltage
Voltage - the potential to do work.
Voltage (V) is used to ‘push’ the current through the component. Once the
voltage has been used to ‘push’ the current through a component, it is no
longer available for use in the circuit. This means that the voltage drops across
each component. And the sum of all voltage drops in a closed circuit is equal to
the applied voltage. The voltage drop is also known as a potential difference
(p.d.). voltage is measured using a voltmeter.

Resistance
Resistance – the ability of a substance to reduce the flow of electric current.
It is measured in Ohm’s (ꭥ).
Resistors – small electronic components that are used to reduce the flow of
current in electrical circuits.
Resistors are not only the little things in a circuit, but a lamp and a buzzer
also have a resistance, even though they do not look like the typical resistor.
While resistors oppose current flow, they get warm. We use resistors to
protect other components in circuits from the effects of a large current.

Series Parallel
A circuit where the current passes A circuit that has more than one path for the
through the components on after another. current.
There is only one path for the current to There is two paths for the current to travel
travel through, as can be seen in the circuit through, as can be seen in the circuit diagram
diagram below. In this circuit, there is one below. In this circuit, there is one cell, two lamps
cell, one lamp and one switch, and all of the in parallel and one switch, and the current will
current will pass through each component in have to split to pass through both lamps before
turn. reconnecting to pass through the switch.

Cells
The positive pole of one cell is connected to The positive pole of each cell is connected to the
the negative pole of another cell. positive pole of the next cell.
If cells are connected in series, then the When cells are connected in parallel, the voltage
voltages of each cell are added together, but will not increase, but the currents will be added
the current will stay the same. This is together.
because each cell has only got a certain
amount of available current.
 Switches
Closes to allow or opens to stop electrical energy to flow in a circuit
So, if there are two switches connected in So, if there are two switch connected in parallel,
series, both switches must be closed in order either switch or both switches must be closed for
for the current to flow through the circuit. the current to flow through the circuit.

Voltage
The supply voltage is shared between Voltage is equal across all components in a
components in a series circuit. The sum of parallel circuit.
the voltages across components in series is Therefore, the voltage passing through R1, R2
equal to the voltage of the supply. The and R3 will all be the same.
voltages across each of the components in VTOTAL = V1 = V2 = V3 …
series is in the same proportion as
their resistances. This means that if two
identical components are connected in
series, the supply voltage divides equally
across them.
VTOTAL = V1 + V2 + V3 …
1 = 6V (across the battery)
2 = 3V Because the resistance is the same, the voltage is shared equally between the two resistors.
3 = 3V
Total V = 3V + 3V
=6V

Current
When components are connected in series, Some current will flow through R1, some will flow
all of the current will pass through each through R2 and some will flow through R3. The
component one after the other. If one of the sum of these 3 currents will be the total current
components stops working, then no current supplied by the battery. The current flowing
will flow through. through each is proportional to their resistance.
ITOTAL = I1 = I2 = I3 … ITOTAL = I1 + I2 + I3 …
 Resistance
Resistance: The total resistance in a series Resistance: Individual resistances diminish to
circuit is the sum of all resistances in the equal a smaller total resistance rather
circuit. than add to make the total.
RTOTAL = R1 + R2 + R3 … 𝟏
=
𝟏
+
𝟏
+
𝟏
+…
R
TOTAL 𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝟑

Activity 4
Compare the brightness of the lamps in circuits alongside and give a reason for your answer.
1. A and B.
2. A and C.
3. A and D.
4. A and E.

A C

George Ohm
Georg Simon Ohm was a German physicist and mathematician who
was born on 16 March 1789. As a school teacher, Ohm began his
research with the new electrochemical cell, invented by Italian
scientist Alessandro Volta. Using equipment of his own creation, Ohm
found that there is a direct proportionality between the potential
difference (voltage) applied across a conductor and the resultant
electric current. This relationship is known as Ohm's law.

Ohm’s Law
Ohm’s Law states that in any closed circuit, the current flowing in the
circuit is directly proportional to the applied voltage and inversely
proportional to the resistance.
 The triangle can then be used to perform any calculation needed relating
to the voltage, the current or the resistance.
• V = Voltage in volts (V)
• I = Current in amps (A)
• R = Resistance in ohms (Ω)

Activity 5
1. Draw a circuit diagram for each of the following circuits:
a) A circuit with a lamp and two cells in series.
b) A circuit with one cell and two lamps in parallel.
c) A circuit with one cell, a lamp in series and two switches
in parallel.
2. Why are lamps not connected in series in products that
you buy?
3. Why are lamps usually connected in parallel?

Activity 6
Use Ohm’s Law to calculate the missing value. Show your working out.
Circuit Voltage (V) Current (A) Resistance (Ω)
1 10 2
2 12 12
3 6 50
4 1,5 100
5 0,03 300
6 3 0,003
7 4,5 1000
8 0,09 500
9 3 12
10 50 1,5
11 12 0,5
12 2 2
13 0,5 10
14 3 9
15 15 5

Resistor Colour Codes

Resistors are coded with colours to identify their value.
There are 4 and 5 band resistors. In a 4-band resistor, the first 2
bands are digits, the 3rd band is the multiplier and the 4th band is
the tolerance. (Note that the tolerance on a 4-band resistor can be
blank = 20%). On a 5-band resistor, the first 3 bands are digits.
The Colours brown, red, green, blue and violet are used as
tolerance codes on 5- band resistors only. All 5- band resistors use
a coloured tolerance band.
 An easy rhyme to help remember the
order of the colours:
Big Boys Race Our Young Girls But
Violet Generally Wins.

Activity 7
orange
purple
yellow

purple

brown

brown
green

white

black
silver

black
gold

gold

gold
red

1. 2. 3. 4.

. .

yellow
brown
purple
yellow
brown
yellow

white
green

blue

blue
silver

grey
grey
blue

gold
red

red
red

5. 6. 7. 8.

Activity 8
1. What does the fourth band on a resistor indicate.
2. Resistors _____________ the flow of current through a ____________. Resistance is
measured in ____. When resistance is high the flow of current is _______ . When
resistance is low the flow of current is _______. Resistance, voltage and current’s
relationship in an electrical circuit is explained by _ _____.
3. Write down the colours in order to make a resistor with:
a) 300ꭥ with a tolerance of 20%.
b) 260 000ꭥ with a tolerance of 5%
c) 5700ꭥ with a tolerance of 10%
d) Describe the function of a resistor as a component in an electrical circuit.
4. Think about electronic systems or devices such as burglar alarms,
traffic lights and air conditioners. They respond to something in their
environment and take some action.
List at least 10 electronic systems and describe them in a table like the
table alongside.
Name of the electronic What does it respond How does it respond?
system or device to? What action does it take?
Burglar alarm A window being The alarm goes off and sends a
opened/ movement in a signal to the alarm company to send
closed house response.
Switches
Switches can be operated in different ways:
• Hand switches are operated by human touch. These include light switches and door bells.
• Limit switches are operated by machine motion, and are used to stop electric gates when
they are fully open, and to stop garage doors when they finish closing.
• Physical process switches need a change in their environment in order to operate.
Temperature, ambient light and water level are examples of process switches.

Switches can be split into different categories depending on how they have been made, and what
they are going to be used for. The number of switching paths is called the number of poles. The
number of different switching positions is called the number of throws.
Single pole single throw An SPST switch has only one
(SPST) switch and one way to make a
connection. These switches are
used for simple on/off operations

Single pole double throw SPDT switches are used for

(SPDT) on/off operations but can be used
to allow switching to happen from
two different places, like the light
in the passage of a house that
has a switch at each end of the
passage.
Double pole single throw DPST switches are two SPST
(DPST) switches that operate together.
These switches are used to
operate two separate circuits
together, or as safety switches
which isolate both the Live (+)
and Neutral (-) sides of a circuit.
Double pole double throw DPDT switches are two SPDT
(DPDT) switches that operate together.
These switches are used to
change the speed or direction of
motors.

Activity 9
1. Draw a circuit diagram for a light that can be turned on at the top and
the bottom of a staircase.
2. Which type of switches are used in traffic lights (robots)? Explain.