Physics - Circuits

OCR A-Level Physics 2022

Created: January 06, 2021 · Updated: August 25, 2024 Read markdown About these notes View in context Study these flashcards

Basic circuit symbols

What is the symbol for a wire in a circuit?

What is the symbol for a resistor in a circuit?

resistor-symbol

What is the symbol for a light bulb in a circuit?

light-bulb-symbol

What is the symbol for a cell in a circuit?

What is the symbol for a battery in a circuit?

What is the symbol for a switch in a circuit?

Cell terminals

Which is the positive terminal?

cell-positive-terminal-location

The one on the left.

What is the technique for remembering the positive and negative terminals on a cell?

cell-terminal-mnemonic

You can draw a “P” on the big positive side.

Component symbols and their meanings

What is the symbol for a diode in a circuit?

What does this represent in a circuit?

diode-symbol-identify

A diode.

What is the symbol for a resistor in a circuit?

resistor-symbol-second

What does this represent in a circuit?

resistor-symbol-identify

A resistor.

What is the symbol for a variable-resistor in a circuit?

variable-resistor-symbol

What does this represent in a circuit?

variable-resistor-symbol-identify

A variable resistor.

What is the symbol for a fuse in a circuit?

What does this represent in a circuit?

fuse-symbol-identify

A fuse.

What is the symbol for a voltmeter in a circuit?

voltmeter-symbol

What does this represent in a circuit?

voltmeter-symbol-identify

A voltmeter.

What is the symbol for a ammeter in a circuit?

What does this represent in a circuit?

ammeter-symbol-identify

An ammeter.

What is the symbol for a thermistor in a circuit?

thermistor-symbol

What does this represent in a circuit?

thermistor-symbol-identify

A thermistor.

What is the symbol for a led in a circuit?

What does this represent in a circuit?

led-symbol-identify

An LED.

What is the symbol for a capacitor in a circuit?

capacitor-symbol

What does this represent in a circuit?

capacitor-symbol-identify

A capacitor.

Connecting meters

Should you connect an ammeter in series or in parallel?

ammeter-connected-in-series

In series.

Should you connect a voltmeter in series or in parallel?

voltmeter-connected-in-parallel

In parallel.

Diodes

Which way does a diode need to be pointing to let current through?

diode-conducting-direction

In the direction of the conventional current.

What is the threshold voltage for a silicon diode?

silicon-diode-threshold-voltage

About $0.7V$.

How fuses work

How do fuses work?

They contain a wire which melts if the current is too high.