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4. Electricity and magnetism

Syllabus
0625–2026–2027
Section
4
Level
—

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In this section

Topic 4.1

4.1 Simple phenomena of magnetism

Objectives in this topic

4.1.1—Forces between magnetic poles and

  • Describe the forces between magnetic poles and between magnets and magnetic materials, including the use of the terms north pole (N pole), south pole (S pole), attraction and repulsion, magnetised and unmagnetised

4.1.2—Induced magnetism

  • Describe induced magnetism

4.1.3—Differences between the properties of

  • State the differences between the properties of temporary magnets (made of soft iron) and the properties of permanent magnets (made of steel

4.1.4—Difference between magnetic and

  • State the difference between magnetic and non-magnetic materials

4.1.5—Magnetic field as a region in which a

  • Describe a magnetic field as a region in which a magnetic pole experiences a force

4.1.6—Pattern and direction of magnetic

  • Draw the pattern and direction of magnetic field lines around a bar magnet

4.1.7—Direction of a magnetic field at a

  • State: the direction of a magnetic field at a point is the direction of the force on the N pole of a magnet at that point

4.1.8—Plotting of magnetic field lines with

  • Describe the plotting of magnetic field lines with a compass or iron filings and the use of a compass to determine the direction of the magnetic field

4.1.9—Uses of permanent magnets and

  • Describe the uses of permanent magnets and electromagnets

4.1.10—Magnetic forces are due to

  • Explain that magnetic forces are due to interactions between magnetic fields

4.1.11—Relative strength of a magnetic field

  • Know: the relative strength of a magnetic field is represented by the spacing of the magnetic field lines

Topic 4.2.1

4.2.1 Electric charge

Objectives in this topic

4.2.1.1—There are positive and negative

  • State: there are positive and negative charges

4.2.1.2—Positive charges repel other positive

  • State: positive charges repel other positive charges, negative charges repel other negative charges, but positive charges attract negative charges

4.2.1.3—Simple experiments to show the

  • Describe simple experiments to show the production of electrostatic charges by friction and to show the detection of electrostatic charges

4.2.1.4—Charging of solids by friction

  • Explain that charging of solids by friction involves only a transfer of negative charge (electrons)

4.2.1.5—An experiment to distinguish between

  • Describe an experiment to distinguish between electrical conductors and insulators

4.2.1.6—A simple electron model to explain the

  • Recall/use a simple electron model to explain the difference between electrical conductors and insulators and give typical examples

4.2.1.7—Charge is measured in coulombs

  • State: charge is measured in coulombs

4.2.1.8—An electric field as a region in which

  • Describe an electric field as a region in which an electric charge experiences a force

4.2.1.9—Direction of an electric field at a

  • State: the direction of an electric field at a point is the direction of the force on a positive charge at that point

4.2.1.10—Simple electric field patterns

  • Describe simple electric field patterns, including the direction of the field: (a) around a point charge (b) around a charged conducting sphere (c) between two oppositely charged parallel conducting plates (end effects will not be examined)

Topic 4.2.2

4.2.2 Electric current

Objectives in this topic

4.2.2.1—Electric current is related to the

  • Know: electric current is related to the flow of charge

4.2.2.2—Use of ammeters (analogue and digital)

  • Describe the use of ammeters (analogue and digital) with different ranges

4.2.2.3—Electrical conduction in metals in

  • Describe electrical conduction in metals in terms of the movement of free electrons

4.2.2.4—Difference between direct current

  • Know the difference between direct current (d.c.) and alternating current (a.c.)

4.2.2.5—Electric current as charge passing a

  • Define electric current as charge passing a point per unit time; recall/use: I = Q/t

4.2.2.6—Conventional current is from positive

  • State: conventional current is from positive to negative and that the flow of free electrons is from negative to positive

Topic 4.2.3

4.2.3 Electromotive force and potential difference

Objectives in this topic

4.2.3.1—Electromotive force (e.m.f.) as the

  • Define electromotive force (e.m.f.) as the electrical work done by a source in moving a unit charge around a complete circuit

4.2.3.2—E.m.f. is measured in volts (V)

  • Know: e.m.f. is measured in volts (V)

4.2.3.3—Potential difference (p.d.) as the

  • Define potential difference (p.d.) as the work done by a unit charge passing through a component

4.2.3.4—P.d. between two points is measured in

  • Know: the p.d. between two points is measured in volts (V)

4.2.3.5—Use of voltmeters (analogue and

  • Describe the use of voltmeters (analogue and digital) with different ranges

4.2.3.6—E.m.f.: E = W/Q

  • Recall/use e.m.f.: E = W/Q

4.2.3.7—P.d.: V = W/Q

  • Recall/use p.d.: V = W/Q

Topic 4.2.4

4.2.4 Resistance

Objectives in this topic

4.2.4.1—Resistance: R = V/I

  • Recall/use resistance: R = V/I

4.2.4.2—An experiment to determine resistance

  • Describe an experiment to determine resistance using a voltmeter and an ammeter and do the appropriate calculations

4.2.4.3—State, qualitatively, the relationship

  • State, qualitatively, the relationship of the resistance of a metallic wire to its length and to its cross-sectional area

4.2.4.4—And explain the current–voltage graphs

  • Sketch and explain the current–voltage graphs for a resistor of constant resistance, a filament lamp and a diode

4.2.4.5—Following relationship for a metallic

  • Recall/use the following relationship for a metallic electrical conductor: (a) resistance is directly proportional to length (b) resistance is inversely proportional to cross-sectional area

Topic 4.2.5

4.2.5 Electrical energy and electrical power

Objectives in this topic

4.2.5.1—Electric circuits transfer energy from

  • Understand: electric circuits transfer energy from a source of electrical energy, such as an electrical cell or mains supply, to the circuit components and then into the surroundings

4.2.5.2—Recall/use: for electrical power P =

  • Recall/use: for electrical power P = IV

4.2.5.3—Recall/use: for electrical energy E =

  • Recall/use: for electrical energy E = IVt

4.2.5.4—Kilowatt-hour (kWh) and calculate the

  • Define the kilowatt-hour (kWh) and calculate the cost of using electrical appliances where the energy unit is the kWh

Topic 4.3.1

4.3.1 Circuit diagrams and circuit components

Objectives in this topic

4.3.1.1—Circuits with cells, batteries, power

  • Draw/interpret circuits with cells, batteries, power supplies, generators, potential dividers, switches, resistors, heaters, thermistors (NTC), LDRs, lamps, motors, bells, ammeters, voltmeters, magnetising coils, transformers, fuses and relays; know each component behaviour

4.3.1.2—Circuit diagrams containing diodes and

  • Draw and interpret circuit diagrams containing diodes and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and know how these components behave in the circuit

Topic 4.3.2

4.3.2 Series and parallel circuits

Objectives in this topic

4.3.2.1—Current at every point in a series

  • Know: the current at every point in a series circuit is the same

4.3.2.2—How to construct and use series and

  • Know how to construct and use series and parallel circuits

4.3.2.3—Combined e.m.f. of several sources in

  • Calculate the combined e.m.f. of several sources in series

4.3.2.4—Combined resistance of two or more

  • Calculate the combined resistance of two or more resistors in series

4.3.2.5—That, for a parallel circuit, the

  • State that, for a parallel circuit, the current from the source is larger than the current in each branch

4.3.2.6—Combined resistance of two resistors

  • State: the combined resistance of two resistors in parallel is less than that of either resistor by itself

4.3.2.7—Advantages of connecting lamps in

  • State the advantages of connecting lamps in parallel in a lighting circuit

4.3.2.8—Circuit rules: (a) current into a

  • Recall/use circuit rules: (a) current into a junction equals current out (b) total p.d. across series components equals the sum of their p.d.s (c) p.d. across parallel branches is the same

4.3.2.9—The sum of the currents into a

  • Explain that the sum of the currents into a junction is the same as the sum of the currents out of the junction

4.3.2.10—Combined resistance of two resistors

  • Calculate the combined resistance of two resistors in parallel

Topic 4.3.3

4.3.3 Action and use of circuit components

Objectives in this topic

4.3.3.1—P.d. across an electrical conductor

  • Know: the p.d. across an electrical conductor increases as its resistance increases for a constant current

4.3.3.2—Action of a variable potential divider

  • Describe the action of a variable potential divider

4.3.3.3—Potential divider relation: R1/R2 =

  • Recall/use potential divider relation: R1/R2 = V1/V2

Topic 4.4

4.4 Electrical safety

Objectives in this topic

4.4.1—Hazards of: (a) damaged insulation (b)

  • State the hazards of: (a) damaged insulation (b) overheating cables (c) damp conditions (d) excess current from overloading of plugs, extension leads, single and multiple sockets when using a mains supply

4.4.2—A mains circuit consists of a live

  • Know: a mains circuit consists of a live wire (line wire), a neutral wire and an earth wire and explain why a switch must be connected to the live wire for the circuit to be switched off safely

4.4.3—Use and operation of trip switches and

  • Explain the use and operation of trip switches and fuses and choose appropriate fuse ratings and trip switch settings

4.4.4—Why the outer casing of an electrical

  • Explain why the outer casing of an electrical appliance must be either non-conducting (double-insulated) or earthed

4.4.5—A fuse without an earth wire protects

  • State: a fuse without an earth wire protects the circuit and the cabling for a double- insulated appliance

Topic 4.5.1

4.5.1 Electromagnetic induction

Objectives in this topic

4.5.1.1—A conductor moving across a magnetic

  • Know: a conductor moving across a magnetic field or a changing magnetic field linking with a conductor can induce an e.m.f. in the conductor

4.5.1.2—An experiment to demonstrate EM

  • Describe an experiment to demonstrate electromagnetic induction

4.5.1.3—Factors affecting the magnitude of an

  • State the factors affecting the magnitude of an induced e.m.f.

4.5.1.4—Direction of an induced e.m.f. opposes

  • Know: the direction of an induced e.m.f. opposes the change causing it

4.5.1.5—And use the relative directions of

  • State and use the relative directions of force, field and induced current

Topic 4.5.2

4.5.2 The a.c. generator

Objectives in this topic

4.5.2.1—Simple form of a.c. generator

  • Describe a simple form of a.c. generator (rotating coil or rotating magnet) and the use of slip rings and brushes where needed

4.5.2.2—And interpret graphs of e.m.f. against

  • Sketch and interpret graphs of e.m.f. against time for simple a.c. generators and relate the position of the generator coil to the peaks, troughs and zeros of the e.m.f.

Topic 4.5.3

4.5.3 Magnetic effect of a current

Objectives in this topic

4.5.3.1—Pattern and direction of the magnetic

  • Describe the pattern and direction of the magnetic field due to currents in straight wires and in solenoids

4.5.3.2—An experiment to identify the pattern

  • Describe an experiment to identify the pattern of the magnetic field (including direction) due to currents in straight wires and in solenoids

4.5.3.3—Magnetic effect of a current is used

  • Describe how the magnetic effect of a current is used in relays and loudspeakers and give examples of their application

4.5.3.4—Qualitative variation of the strength

  • State the qualitative variation of the strength of the magnetic field around straight wires and solenoids

4.5.3.5—Effect on the magnetic field around

  • Describe the effect on the magnetic field around straight wires and solenoids of changing the magnitude and direction of the current

Topic 4.5.4

4.5.4 Force on a current-carrying conductor

Objectives in this topic

4.5.4.1—An experiment to show that a force

  • Describe an experiment to show that a force acts on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field, including the effect of reversing: (a) the current (b) the direction of the field

4.5.4.2—Relative directions of force, magnetic

  • Recall/use the relative directions of force, magnetic field and current

4.5.4.3—Direction of the force on beams of

  • Determine the direction of the force on beams of charged particles in a magnetic field

Topic 4.5.5

4.5.5 The d.c. motor

Objectives in this topic

4.5.5.1—A current-carrying coil in a magnetic

  • Know: a current-carrying coil in a magnetic field may experience a turning effect and that the turning effect is increased by increasing: (a) the number of turns on the coil (b) the current (c) the strength of the magnetic field

4.5.5.2—Operation of an electric motor

  • Describe the operation of an electric motor, including the action of a split-ring commutator and brushes

Topic 4.5.6

4.5.6 The transformer

Objectives in this topic

4.5.6.1—Construction of a simple transformer

  • Describe the construction of a simple transformer with a soft-iron core, as used for voltage transformations

4.5.6.2—Terms primary, secondary, step-up and

  • Use the terms primary, secondary, step-up and step-down

4.5.6.3—Transformer relation: Vp/Vs = Np/Ns

  • Recall/use transformer relation: Vp/Vs = Np/Ns, where p and s mean primary and secondary

4.5.6.4—Use of transformers in high- voltage

  • Describe the use of transformers in high- voltage transmission of electricity

4.5.6.5—Advantages of high-voltage

  • State the advantages of high-voltage transmission

4.5.6.6—Principle of operation of a simple

  • Explain the principle of operation of a simple iron-cored transformer

4.5.6.7—100% transformer efficiency: IpVp =

  • Recall/use 100% transformer efficiency: IpVp = IsVs, where p and s mean primary and secondary

4.5.6.8—Recall/use: P = I2R to explain why

  • Recall/use: P = I2R to explain why power losses in cables are smaller when the voltage is greater
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