9. Electricity
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9.1 Electric current
9.1.1An electric current is a flow of charge carriers
• understand that an electric current is a flow of charge carriers
9.1.2The charge on charge carriers is quantised
• understand that the charge on charge carriers is quantised
9.1.3Q = It
• recall and use Q = It
9.1.4Use, for a current-carrying conductor, the expression I = Anvq
• use, for a current-carrying conductor, the expression I = Anvq, where n is the number density of charge carriers
9.2 Potential difference and power
9.2.1The potential difference across a component as the energy transferred per
• define the potential difference across a component as the energy transferred per unit charge
9.2.2V = W / Q
• recall and use V = W / Q
9.2.3P = VI, P = I 2R and P = V 2 / R
• recall and use P = VI, P = I 2R and P = V 2 / R
9.3 Resistance and resistivity
9.3.1Resistance
• define resistance
9.3.2V = IR
• recall and use V = IR
9.3.3The I–V characteristics of a metallic conductor at constant temperature, a
• sketch the I–V characteristics of a metallic conductor at constant temperature, a semiconductor diode and a filament lamp
9.3.4That the resistance of a filament lamp increases
• explain that the resistance of a filament lamp increases as current increases because its temperature increases
9.3.5Ohm’s law
• state Ohm’s law
9.3.6R = ρL / A
• recall and use R = ρL / A
9.3.7The resistance of a light-dependent resistor (LDR) decreases
• understand that the resistance of a light-dependent resistor (LDR) decreases as the light intensity increases
9.3.8The resistance of a thermistor decreases as the temperature increases (it
• understand that the resistance of a thermistor decreases as the temperature increases (it will be assumed that thermistors have a negative temperature coefficient)