Direct Current Circuits (Chapter 13)

Current Rule

At any curcuit junction or component, the current entering must be equal to the current leaving, this also means components in series must all have equal current.

Series Potential Difference Rule

For 2 or more components in series, the total pd across all the components is the sum of the potential differences across each component.

Parallel Potential Difference Rule

Components in parallel have equal potential difference.

Resistors in Series

The total resistance across components in series is equal to the sum of the individual resistances.

Resistors in Parallel

1 divided by the total resistance across resistors in parallel is equal to the sum of 1 divided the individual resistances.

Internal Resistance

The loss of potential difference per unit current in the source when a current flows through the source.

Electromotive Force

The electrical energy per unit charge produced by a source.

Potential Divider

2 or more resistors in series with each other supplied with a fixed potential difference for a potential difference.

The supplied PD is divided between the components in the circuit based on their resistance, with the ratio of PDs = to the ratio of resistance.

Sensor Circuits

A circuit which varies in output PD based on physical variables such as temperature and light.