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This lesson covers the fundamental electrical quantities — current, potential difference and resistance — as required by the AQA GCSE Physics specification (4.2.1). Understanding these three quantities and how they relate to one another is the foundation for every electricity topic in GCSE Physics.
Electric current is the rate of flow of electric charge. In metallic conductors (such as copper wires), the charge carriers are electrons. In electrolytes (solutions that conduct), the charge carriers are ions.
Current is measured in amperes (A) using an ammeter, which is always connected in series with the component being measured.
The equation for electric current is:
Q = I x t
Where:
Rearranging for current: I = Q / t
| Quantity | Symbol | Unit | Unit Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charge | Q | Coulombs | C |
| Current | I | Amperes | A |
| Time | t | Seconds | s |
Exam Tip: When asked to define electric current, say "the rate of flow of electric charge." Do not say "the flow of electrons" — current can also be carried by ions in solutions. The AQA mark scheme requires the precise definition involving charge.
Potential difference (p.d.) is the energy transferred per unit of charge that passes between two points in a circuit. It is sometimes called voltage.
Potential difference is measured in volts (V) using a voltmeter, which is always connected in parallel across the component being measured.
The equation for potential difference is:
V = E / Q
Or equivalently: E = Q x V
Where:
| Quantity | Symbol | Unit | Unit Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potential difference | V | Volts | V |
| Energy transferred | E | Joules | J |
| Charge | Q | Coulombs | C |
Exam Tip: A common mistake is confusing potential difference with current. Remember: potential difference is about energy transfer — it tells you how much energy each coulomb of charge transfers as it passes through a component. Current tells you how much charge flows per second.
Resistance is a measure of how much a component opposes the flow of current. The greater the resistance, the harder it is for current to flow.
Resistance is measured in ohms (the symbol is the Greek letter omega: a unit often written as "ohms").
The equation linking potential difference, current and resistance is:
V = I x R
Where:
Rearranging: R = V / I and I = V / R
| Quantity | Symbol | Unit | Unit Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potential difference | V | Volts | V |
| Current | I | Amperes | A |
| Resistance | R | Ohms | (ohms) |
Resistance occurs because charge carriers (usually electrons) collide with the ions in the lattice structure of the conductor. These collisions transfer energy from the electrons to the ions, causing the conductor to heat up. The more collisions, the greater the resistance.
Factors affecting resistance of a wire:
Exam Tip: You must be able to rearrange V = I x R confidently. A useful triangle method: put V at the top, I on the bottom-left and R on the bottom-right. Cover the quantity you want to find and the remaining arrangement gives you the formula.
You must be able to recognise and draw the following standard circuit symbols for your GCSE exam:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Cell | A single cell provides the potential difference (one long line and one short line) |
| Battery | Two or more cells joined together (multiple long and short lines) |
| Switch (open) | A break in the circuit — no current flows |
| Switch (closed) | A complete connection — current can flow |
| Ammeter | Circle with an A inside — measures current (connected in series) |
| Voltmeter | Circle with a V inside — measures p.d. (connected in parallel) |
| Resistor | A rectangle — a component with a fixed resistance |
| Variable resistor | A rectangle with an arrow through it — resistance can be changed |
| Lamp (bulb) | A circle with a cross inside |
| Diode | A triangle pointing to a line — allows current in one direction only |
| LED | A diode symbol with two small arrows pointing outward (light emitted) |
| Thermistor | A rectangle with a line through it — resistance changes with temperature |
| LDR | A rectangle with two arrows pointing toward it — resistance changes with light intensity |
graph LR
A[Battery] --> B[Ammeter]
B --> C[Resistor]
C --> A
D[Voltmeter] -.-> |connected in parallel| C
Exam Tip: If a question asks you to add an ammeter to a circuit diagram, draw it in the main loop of the circuit (in series). If asked to add a voltmeter, draw it as a separate branch across (in parallel with) the component you are measuring.
A current of 3 A flows through a lamp for 2 minutes. Calculate the charge that flows.
Step 1: Convert time to seconds: 2 minutes = 2 x 60 = 120 s
Step 2: Use Q = I x t
Q = 3 x 120 = 360 C
A charge of 50 C passes through a resistor and transfers 150 J of energy. Calculate the potential difference across the resistor.
Step 1: Use V = E / Q
V = 150 / 50 = 3 V
A lamp has a current of 0.5 A flowing through it when the potential difference across it is 6 V. Calculate its resistance.
Step 1: Use R = V / I
R = 6 / 0.5 = 12 ohms
Exam Tip: In calculation questions, always show your working clearly: write the formula, substitute the values (with units), and give the final answer with the correct unit. Even if you make an arithmetic error, you can still gain marks for correct method.
Common mistake: Writing that "current flows through a voltmeter" as part of a circuit description. A voltmeter is deliberately designed to have very high resistance so that, to a good approximation, no current flows through it — it measures the p.d. between the two points it is connected across without disturbing the circuit. Stating the opposite in a 6-mark question usually costs a mark.
Common mistake: Describing current as "the flow of electricity." This is too vague for the AQA mark scheme. The accepted definition is "the rate of flow of electric charge." In metals the carriers are electrons, but in solutions they are ions, so your definition should not mention electrons specifically.
Common mistake: Forgetting to convert time into seconds when using Q = I × t. If the time is given in minutes or hours, you must convert to seconds before substituting, otherwise the coulomb calculation will be out by a factor of 60 or 3,600.
A 9 V battery drives a current of 0.25 A through a wire for 5 minutes. Calculate the total charge that flows and the total energy transferred.
Step 1: Convert time: 5 min = 5 × 60 = 300 s.
Step 2: Charge: Q = I × t = 0.25 × 300 = 75 C.
Step 3: Energy: E = Q × V = 75 × 9 = 675 J.
This kind of two-stage calculation — where the answer to the first part becomes an input to the second — is a hallmark of AQA's higher-demand calculation questions. Present each stage with the equation, the substitution (with units), and the final value (with units).
Question (4 marks): A charge of 120 C flows through a filament lamp in 40 s when the potential difference across it is 12 V. Calculate the current in the lamp and its resistance at that operating point. Explain why the resistance you calculate only applies at this particular p.d.
Grade 4–5 answer:
I = Q / t = 120 / 40 = 3 A. R = V / I = 12 / 3 = 4 ohms. The resistance of a bulb changes.
This response identifies the correct formulae and reaches the right numerical answers, but the final sentence is vague and does not engage with the physics. It would typically secure the calculation marks but lose the explanation mark.
Grade 8–9 answer:
Using Q = I x t, the current is I = Q / t = 120 / 40 = 3.0 A. Applying V = I x R (rearranged to R = V / I), the resistance is R = 12 / 3.0 = 4.0 ohms. This value is only valid at this specific operating point because a filament lamp is a non-ohmic conductor: as current increases, the tungsten filament heats up, the metal ions in the lattice vibrate with greater amplitude and electrons collide with them more frequently, so the resistance rises. Plotting an I–V characteristic would therefore give a curve rather than a straight line through the origin.
This answer quantifies every step with units, cites the governing equations by name, links the macroscopic observation (rising resistance) to the microscopic mechanism (lattice vibrations and electron collisions), and anticipates the graph shape that examiners often probe in follow-up questions.
AQA alignment: This content is aligned with AQA GCSE Physics (8463) specification section 4.2 Electricity — specifically 4.2.1.1 Standard circuit diagram symbols, 4.2.1.2 Electrical charge and current, and the introductory parts of 4.2.1.3 Current, resistance and potential difference. Assessed on Paper 1.