Series and Parallel Circuits

Current in a series circuit

Is the same everywhere

potential difference in a series circuit

Shared between components

potential difference in a parallel circuit

is the same across each branch

current in a parallel circuit

Is shared between branches

battery circuit symbol

-|I---|I-

Cell circuit symbol

-| I-

Lamp circuit symbol

-(X)-

closed switch symbol

-o--o-

open switch symbol

-o/ o-

voltmeter symbol

-(V)-

ammeter symbol

-(A)-

fixed resistor symbol

-[]-

voltmeters go

in parallel

ammeters go

in series

charge measured in

Coulombs, C

current =

charge/time

time =

charge/current

charge =

current x time

Resistors

Devices that apply resistance to a circuit to manage current

Power measurement

Watts (W)

Energy measurement

Joules (J)

Power =

Work done (energy transferred) / time

kilo

thousand

Kilowatt-hour

a unit of energy equal to the work done by a power of 1000 watts operating for one hour

magnetic metals

cobalt, iron, and nickel

Bar magnet field lines

/--<-\

-<--/

Like poles

repel

unlike poles

attract

How to magnetise a magnetic material

run a magnet along them, same pole, same direction

how do compasses work

A magnetic compass contains a small bar magnet. The Earth has a magnetic field. The compass needle points in the direction of the Earth's magnetic field.