KS1 (Age 5-7)KS2 (Age 7-11)11 Plus (Age 7-11)KS3 (Age 11-14)GCSE (Age 14-17)PSHE A.I.ESL Spanish Specialist Games

Need help with Electricity - Current, Charge and Power? Ask our AI Tutor!

AI Tutor - Lucy

Connecting with Tutor...

Please wait while we establish connection

Hi! I'm Lucy, your AI tutor. How can I help you with Electricity - Current, Charge and Power today?

now

In a filament lamp, most of the energy is lost as heat.

Electricity - Current, Charge and Power

In this GCSE Physics quiz you will revise current, charge and power, using circuit examples to link equations with real components, calculations and exam-style questions.

Explore the Topic →

(quiz starts below)

Fascinating Fact:

Potential difference, or voltage, is the energy transferred per coulomb of charge. It is measured in volts (V) with a voltmeter in parallel.

In GCSE Physics, electricity topics link ideas about current, charge, potential difference and power. You use equations to calculate how quickly charge flows, how much energy is transferred, and how much power components in a circuit supply or dissipate.

Key Terms

Potential difference (voltage): Energy transferred per coulomb of charge between two points in a circuit.
Current: The rate of flow of electric charge, measured in amperes (A).
Power: The rate at which energy is transferred or transformed, measured in watts (W).

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

How do you calculate electrical power in GCSE Physics?

In GCSE Physics, electrical power can be calculated using P = V × I, where P is power, V is potential difference and I is current. You may also use P = E ÷ t for energy transferred per second.

What is the difference between current and potential difference?

Current is the flow of charge around a circuit each second, measured in amperes. Potential difference is the energy transferred per coulomb of charge between two points, measured in volts.

How are current, charge and time linked in GCSE electricity?

Current, charge and time are linked by the equation Q = I × t, where Q is charge in coulombs, I is current in amperes and t is time in seconds. This shows how much charge flows in a given time.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

If a charge flows through a resistor, which of the following happens to the resistor?

It gets colder

It gets hotter

It becomes positively charged

Nothing

A resistor makes it harder for the electrons to pass and some of their energy is transferred into heat by the resistor

2 .

In a filament lamp, in what form is most of the energy lost?

Heat

Sound

Kinetic energy

Radio waves

The filament is a resistance wire that is designed to become so hot that it emits energy in the visible light part of the spectrum

3 .

What is power?

The number of repetitions of squats a body-builder can perform

The number of cylinders in a car

The rate at which energy is absorbed

The rate at which energy is transferred

In everyday language, power can have several meanings but in physics, it always means the same thing whether it is in an electrical or a mechanical context

4 .

What is the formula for power?

P = ^E⁄_t

P = ^t⁄_E

P = ^E⁄_2t

P = ^2E⁄_t

If the units you use for energy and time are joules and seconds, the power will be in watts

5 .

Calculate the power of an appliance that uses 1000 joules of energy in 5 seconds.

100 W

200 W

300 W

400 W

Power is the rate at which energy is transferred therefore you need to divide the energy by the time during which it was being transferred. 1000 divided by 5 gives you the answer of 200. Since the energy transferred is in joules and the time in seconds, the power has been calculated in watts

6 .

Power, potential difference and current are correctly related by which equation?

P = I x V

P = 2I x V

P = ^I⁄_V

P = ^I⁄_2V

This is a very handy equation - make sure you learn it well and can rearrange it to work out the current or potential difference

7 .

What is the voltage of an appliance if it uses 200 J per second when supplied with a current of 5 A?

10 V

20 V

30 V

40 V

Always ensure you give units in your answer. Marks can be lost for missing them out!

8 .

Which equation correctly shows the relationship between energy transferred, voltage and charge?

E = V x Q

E = 2V x Q

E = ^V⁄_Q

E = ^Q⁄_V

You can substitute current and power in place of voltage if it is not given in a question. You need to use this formula and combine it with the one given in question 6

9 .

What is the energy transferred if the voltage is 5 V and the charge is 10 C?

50 J

25 J

Whilst you would get a mark for answering 50 you would lose a mark for not giving units with your answer. If you are struggling to calculate an answer to a numerical question, always put a number with the correct units! At least you will get a mark for using the correct units

10 .

What size of fuse would be required for a 230 V, 500 W heater?

3 A

5 A

13 A

1 A

To find out the most appropriate fuse to use, calculate the current flowing through the appliance. The fuse should have a rating slightly higher than the current

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Charge, current and voltage

Author: Martin Moore