Basics
Be sure to revise the Electricity unit of G.C.E. (A/L) Physics.
Charge
Quantized & conserved. Measured in Coulomb (
Time invariant charge is denoted as
Current
Amount of charge flowing through a point in unit time. Conventional current (opposite to electron flow) flows from positive to negative potentials.
Time invariant current (DC) is denoted as
Voltage
Voltage at a point is the work that must be done against the electric field to move a unit positive charge from infinity to that point.
Time invariant voltage is denoted as
Voltage difference between 2 points is the work that must be done against the electric field to move a unit positive charge from one point to another.
Double subscript notation
- | Current | Voltage |
---|---|---|
Double subscript | ||
Equation | ||
Description | Current is flowing from point | Voltage is higher at point |
Electric Circuit
Types of circuits
- Closed circuit - the electricity flows
- Open circuit - the electricity doesn’t flow. current =
. resistance. - Short circuit - very large current.
resistance.
Power
Total Work
When v and i are constant
Electrical Load
Something that consumes electrical energy.
Linear loads
Loads that have a linear relationship between the applied voltage and the current. Can be expressed using a combination of resistors, capacitors and inductors only.
Non-linear loads
- Diodes
- Superconductors
- Varistors (voltage-dependent resistors)
- Non-linear inductors