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This lesson covers domestic (mains) electricity — as required by the Edexcel GCSE Physics specification (1PH0). You need to understand the UK mains supply, the wiring in a three-pin plug, the functions of fuses, circuit breakers and RCDs, and the dangers of electricity.
The UK mains electricity supply is an alternating current (AC) supply.
| Property | UK Mains Value |
|---|---|
| Type of current | Alternating current (AC) |
| Voltage | ~230 V |
| Frequency | 50 Hz |
| Feature | AC (Alternating Current) | DC (Direct Current) |
|---|---|---|
| Direction of current | Constantly reverses direction | Flows in one direction only |
| Source | Mains supply, generators | Batteries, cells, solar cells |
| Voltage | Alternates between positive and negative | Constant value |
| Frequency | 50 Hz in the UK (50 complete cycles per second) | 0 Hz (no alternation) |
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