Starter quiz
- Which of the following flow through the wires in electrical circuits? Select all that apply.
- current ✓
- charge ✓
- voltage
- electrons ✓
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- Which of the following components is used to measure current?
- voltmeter
- ammeter ✓
- newton meter
- thermometer
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- Which of the following are units of current?
- amps ✓
- coulombs
- amperes ✓
- ohms
- volts
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Which of the following components does the symbol shown represent?- ammeter
- multimeter
- joulemeter
- voltmeter ✓
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Which two of the following components are shown in this circuit simulation?- battery ✓
- motor
- electrons
- bulb ✓
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- What is a voltmeter used to measure?
- current
- charge
- voltage ✓
- resistance
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Exit quiz
- Which of the following terms is used for voltage?
- potential energy
- gravitational potential
- potential difference ✓
- elastic potential
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Which of the following is the name of the device shown?- ammeter
- resistor
- lamp
- voltmeter ✓
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The circuit shown has been set up incorrectly. Which of the following actions should be taken to correct it?- swap the positions of the voltmeter and ammeter ✓
- swap the positions of the bulb and ammeter
- swap the positions of the voltmeter and bulb
- put the bulb, ammeter and voltmeter in series with each other
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The circuit shown contains identical bulbs and is working as it should be. Which of the following statements about the circuit are correct?- bulb 1 is the brightest, followed by bulb 2 and then bulb 3
- all of the bulbs are the same brightness ✓
- bulb 1 and 3 are bright and bulb 2 is dim
- bulb 3 is the brightest, followed by bulb 2 and then bulb 1
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- Starting with the lowest voltage, sort the following batteries into order of increasing voltage.
- 1⇔AA alkaline battery
- 2⇔mobile phone battery
- 3⇔petrol car battery
- 4⇔electric vehicle battery
The two alkaline batteries shown can both be used for the same circuit. Which of the following statements about the batteries are correct?- they both have the same voltage ✓
- the larger battery will have a higher voltage
- the larger battery will last longer ✓
- they will both last the same time
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Worksheet
Presentation
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Voltage is a commonly used term for potential difference.
- A voltmeter is used to measure the voltage supplied by a battery or across a component in an electric circuit.
- A voltmeter is connected to each terminal of a battery or side of a component.
- Voltage (or potential difference) is measured in volts (V).
- The voltage of a battery measures the force with which it can ‘push’ electric charges around a circuit .
Common misconception
Pupils are likely to use the words current, voltage, power and energy to mean the same thing. They often have a consumption model of current and believe that voltage flows through a circuit.
It is essential that pupils can distinguish between: the current flowing through the circuit (that is conserved); the energy that is stored in the battery and then transferred elsewhere; and the voltage (across the battery or a component).
Keywords
Voltmeter - A voltmeter is a device used to measure the voltage supplied by a battery or across a component.
Voltage - Voltage is a measure of the ‘push’ from a battery that causes charge to be transferred around a circuit.
Potential difference - Potential difference is a more formal term for voltage, however they can be used interchangeably because they refer to the same electrical quantity.
Volts - Voltage (or potential difference) is measured in volts (V).
Battery - A battery is a component that uses a chemical reaction to 'push' electric charges around a circuit.