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Electricity

The big picture

Electricity — the cheat sheet
IdeaRule
Charge on the moveI = Q ÷ t
Measuring a circuitAmmeter in the path, voltmeter across a part
Ohm's lawV = IR, at a fixed temperature
Resistance depends onLength, thickness, material: R = ρL ÷ A
Series and parallelR = R₁+R₂+R₃, or 1÷R = 1÷R₁+1÷R₂+1÷R₃
Heating effectH = I²Rt
PowerP = VI = I²R = V² ÷ R
The meterEnergy = P × t. 1 unit = 1 kWh

This chapter tells one story. Charge goes round the circuit and is not used up. Two meters read two different things. At one temperature, push and flow grow together in a straight line. A wire's shape and material decide its resistance. Two resistors give different totals joined two different ways. A current makes heat in a resistor. Power is the rate of using energy. The meter counts the energy used.

Chapter 11, Electricity, in your Science book covers these ideas. You already know them.

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This track

  1. 0 Start here
  2. 1 Charge on the move
  3. 2 Measuring a circuit
  4. 3 The rule that connects them
  5. 4 What resistance depends on
  6. 5 Two ways to wire a lamp
  7. 6 Where the energy goes
  8. 7 Power and its rate
  9. 8 What the meter counts
  10. 9 The big picture
  11. 10 Track quiz

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