1. KS4 Electricity – Resistance, Power and Energy

2. Use a textbook or other resource to fill in the table below:
Component
Circuit symbol
Diode
Light Dependent Resistor
Variable Resistor
Thermistor

3. How are current and voltage related for a resistor?
Set up the circuit as shown below:
P.D.
(V) I
(A)
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
Slowly move the variable resistor and for each setting record the current in amps and the voltage in volts.
Plot a graph of your results.
0.6
1.1
1.8 A
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.2 V

4. Current and voltage Draw a line of best fit for your graph.
Plot your points on the graph.
What does your graph look like?
If you get a straight line it means that the two quantities current and voltage are proportional. x x
Current, I / amps x
What does proportional mean? x x
If you double the voltage then the current doubles. x x x
This fact was put into a law:
Potential difference / V
Ohm’s Law:
The current flowing through a wire is proportional to the potential difference (voltage) across it provided the temperature remains constant. Georg Ohm 1826

5. Electron flow and Resistance
Electricity in wires is a flow of electrons along the wire. As the electrons move along the wire they collide with the metal atoms. These collision make the atoms vibrate more…which makes the metal hotter.
Resistance is a measure of how much a material tries to stop electricity passing through it.

6. Voltage = Current x Resistance
V=IR
We can express Ohm’s Law mathematically using the equation:
Voltage = Current x Resistance
V=IR
Voltage measured in Volts (V)
Current measured in Amps (A)
Resistance measured in Ohms ()

7.   x V I Formula triangles
Formula triangles help you to rearrange formula, the triangle for the Ohm’s Law is shown below:
Whatever quantity you are trying to find cover it up and it will leave you with the calculation required.
…and you are left with the sum…
So if you were trying to find current, I…..
I = V R V  
…you would cover I up… I R x

8. Formula triangles
This is a flash movie – click on the letter you want to cover to start the animation

9. Resistance for a bulb
If you have a filament bulb and it has a current of 20A running through it, with a potential difference of 100V across it, what is the resistance of the bulb?
V = IR
R = V/I
R = 100V/20A
R = 5 

10. Current for a diode
A diode has a current of 5A running through it, and a resistance of 5. What is the potential difference across the diode?
V = IR
V = 5A x 5
V = 25V

11. What is the total resistance for the circuit shown?
Resistors in series
Total resistance = R1 + R2 4 2
What is the total resistance for the circuit shown?
Total resistance = R1 + R2
Total resistance = 4  + 2 
Total resistance = 6 

12. Resistors in series
What is the total resistance for the circuit shown? 6
34
Total resistance = R1 + R2
Total resistance = 6  + 34 
Total resistance = 40 

13. What is the total resistance for the circuit shown?
Resistors in parallel
Total resistance = R1xR R1+ R2 4 2
What is the total resistance for the circuit shown?
Total resistance = 4 x 2
4 + 2
= 1.33

14. Resistors in parallel
What is the total resistance for the circuit shown? 8 6
Total resistance = 8 x 6
8 + 6
= 3.4

15.  x   ..partly Voltage/current graphs I 1 I 3 I 2 4
1. A wire or resistor.
2. A filament lamp.
3. Wires of different materials.
4. A diode. x 
 ..partly
Which of the components obeys Ohms Law?

16. P=IV
We can express the relationship between current, voltage and power mathematically using the equation:
Power = Current x Voltage
P=IV
Voltage measured in Volts (V)
Current measured in Amps (A)
Power measured in Watts (W)

17.   x P I Formula triangles
Formula triangles help you to rearrange formula, the triangle for the Power Law is shown below:
Whatever quantity you are trying to find cover it up and it will leave you with the calculation required.
…and you are left with the sum…
So if you were trying to find current, I…..
I = P V P  
…you would cover I up… I V x

18. Power calculations
If you have a filament bulb and it has a potential difference of 200V across it and a current of 0.2A running through it. At what power is the bulb operating at?
P = IV
P = 0.2A x 200V
P = 40W

19. Power calculations
If you have a filament bulb and it operates at a power of 60W and it has a potential difference of 240V across it, what is the current running through the bulb?
P = IV
I = P/V
I = 60W / 240V
I = 0.25A

20. kV, kJ, kW
1 kV = 1000 V
1 kJ = 1000 J
1 kW = 1000 W
How many Volts in 6kV? _________ V
6 000
12 300
How many Joules in 12.3kJ? _________ J
600
How many Watts in 0.6kW? _________ W

21. kV, kJ, kW
1 kV = 1000 V
1 kJ = 1000 J
1 kW = 1000 W
9.0
How many kiloVolts in 9 000V? _________ kV
23.5
How many kiloJoules in J? _________ kJ
0.325
How many kiloWatts in 325W? _________ kW

22. What are the units of resistance?
Amps
Ohms
Volts
Watts 

23. What does the circuit symbol shown represent?
Voltmeter
Variable resistor
Light dependent resistor
Thermistor 

24. What causes resistance?
Inertia
Friction
Buoyancy
Viscosity 

25. If two resistors of 6  and 4  are placed in parallel, what is their total resistance in the circuit?
10 
2 
2.4 
24  

26. If a resistor that obeys Ohm’s Law has a potential difference of 10V across it and a current of 5A running through it. What is its resistance?
50 
2 
0.5 
15  