ELECTRIC CIRCUIT

RESISTANCE
Series

Parallel

ELECTRICAL SAFETY
Hazarads:
(a) Damaged insulation — exposed wires can cause electric shock.
(b) Overheating cables — from too much current, may cause fires.
(c) Damp conditions — water conducts electricity, increasing shock risk.
(d) Excess current — caused by overloading plugs, extension leads, sockets — can
overheat and start fires.
Solutions:
a) double insulation
- Wires are insulated with a material like rubber to prevent electrocution

b) earthing
- Appliances with metal cases must be earthed.
If a fault causes the live wire to touch the metal case:
The earth wire carries the current safely to the ground.
- The large current causes the fuse to melt and cut off power.
- This prevents electrocution
Cell: provides electrical energy c) fuses
Battery: two or more cells connected together - Fuses protect individual appliances (located inside the plug).
Power supply: provides electrical energy (can be a.c. or d.c.) - If the current is too large, the thin wire inside the fuse melts and breaks the circuit.
Switch: turns current on or off - Fuses come in standard sizes: 3 A, 5 A, 13 A.
Fixed resistor: limits current, resistance does not change - You should choose a fuse just above the normal operating current of the appliance.
Variable resistor: resistance can be adjusted to control current d) circuit breakers
Heater: converts electrical energy to heat - Found in the consumer unit (fuse box).
Lamp: converts electrical energy to light and heat - If the current is too high, the switch automatically trips (turns off).
Motor: converts electrical energy to mechanical energy (movement) - Can be reset once the fault is fixed.
Ammeter: measures current, connected in series - Protect the entire house wiring from surges or faults.
Voltmeter: measures voltage (p.d.), connected in parallel
Fuse: a safety device that melts to break the circuit if current is too high ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION
Generator: provides electrical energy, often an a.c. source - A conductor moving through a magnetic field, or a changing magnetic field around a
LED (light emitting diode): allows current to flow in one direction only, emits light when conductor, can induce an e.m.f.(electromotive force).
current flows through it in the forward direction; requires correct polarity Factors affecting on magnitude:
- Speed of movement (speed increase = size increase)
Series circuit → ontains a single complete loop - Strength of the magnetic field (strength increase = size increase)
- current is the same at every point in the circuit - Number of coils of wire (more coils = size increase)
Factors affecting current in a serie circuit: - Size of coils (area increase = size increase)
- voltage (increasing voltage = more current) Factors affecting direction:
- number of components (increasing components = more resistance) - orientation of poles (switching poles turns direction)
- direction of the wire, coil or magnet moved (reversing direction changes direction)

Parallel circuit → consists of multiple loops containing circuit components