The Physics Question Bank

← All topics  |  Electricity topic page  |  Key: C+S = Combined and Separate · S only = Separate only · HT = Higher only  |  🔍 = see example pictures (Google Images, SafeSearch on)

Lesson 1 – Circuits, current and charge (C+S)

1. Read: Circuits and Mains Electricity → the notes on circuits and current.
2. Copy definition: Electricity topic page → Key definitions → 1 “What is electric current?”
3. Draw: Key Diagrams: Electricity → diagram 12 (circuit symbols chart) 🔍 and diagram 15 (conduction in a metal wire) 🔍.
4. Copy worked example: Charge flow: Q = It → Q1.
5. Fill the gaps: Fill the gaps: Electricity → passage 1 (current and charge).
6. Practise: Q = It → Q2–Q10.
7. Lesson activity: Circuit Builder.

Lesson 2 – Potential difference, resistance and the resistance practical (C+S)

1. Copy definitions: Electricity topic page → Key definitions → 2 “What is potential difference?” and 3 “What is resistance?”
2. Copy worked example: Potential difference: V = IR → Q1.
3. Read: Required practical: Resistance → method, variables and video.
4. Draw: Key Diagrams: Electricity → diagram 16 (resistance of a wire practical) 🔍 and diagram 17 (resistance vs length graph) 🔍.
5. Fill the gaps: Fill the gaps: Electricity → passage 2 (p.d. and resistance) and passage 9 (resistance of a wire practical).
6. Practise: V = IR → Q2–Q10, then the practical’s exam-style questions.

Lesson 3 – Components and I–V characteristics (C+S)

1. Read and copy notes: Components and I–V Characteristics → notes and copy box.
2. Copy definitions: Electricity topic page → Key definitions → 4 “What is an ohmic conductor?”, 7 “Thermistor and LDR” and 8 “Diode and filament lamp”.
3. Read: Required practical: I–V characteristics.
4. Draw: Key Diagrams: Electricity → I–V graphs for a resistor (18) 🔍, filament lamp (19) 🔍 and diode (20) 🔍; the practical circuit (21) 🔍; the thermistor graph (22) 🔍 and LDR graph (23) 🔍; and the thermistor controlling a lamp (24) 🔍.
5. Fill the gaps: Fill the gaps: Electricity → passage 3 (components and I–V graphs), passage 10 (I–V practical) and passage 11 (thermistors and LDRs).
6. Practise: the questions on Components and I–V Characteristics and the practical’s exam-style questions.

Lesson 4 – Series and parallel circuits (C+S)

1. Copy notes: Circuits and Mains Electricity → the copy box (series and parallel rules).
2. Copy definitions: Electricity topic page → Key definitions → 5 “Rules for a series circuit” and 6 “Rules for a parallel circuit”.
3. Draw: Key Diagrams: Electricity → diagram 13 (series circuit) 🔍 and diagram 14 (parallel circuit) 🔍.
4. Fill the gaps: Fill the gaps: Electricity → passage 4 (series and parallel circuits).
5. Practise: the circuit questions on Circuits and Mains Electricity, then Multi-step problems.

Lesson 5 – Mains electricity and safety (C+S)

1. Read and copy notes: Circuits and Mains Electricity → the mains notes and the wire colours in the copy box.
2. Copy definitions: Electricity topic page → Key definitions → 9 “Direct vs alternating current”, 10 “UK mains frequency and p.d.” and 11 “Live, neutral and earth wires”.
3. Draw: Key Diagrams: Electricity → diagram 25 (a.c. and d.c. traces) 🔍 and diagram 26 (three-pin plug) 🔍.
4. Fill the gaps: Fill the gaps: Electricity → passage 5 (mains electricity).
5. Lesson activity: Plug Detective.

Lesson 6 – Power and energy transfers (C+S)

1. Copy worked examples: Power: P = VI → Q1; Power: P = I²R → Q1; Energy: E = Pt → Q1; Energy: E = QV → Q1.
2. Fill the gaps: Fill the gaps: Electricity → passage 6 (power and energy transfers).
3. Practise: Q2–Q6 on each of the four equation pages. Higher: Q7–Q10.
4. Mixed practice: Which equation?

Lesson 7 – The National Grid (C+S)

1. Read: Transformers and the National Grid → the National Grid notes (the transformer equations are S only, HT – leave them for Magnetism).
2. Copy definition: Electricity topic page → Key definitions → 12 “What is the National Grid?”
3. Draw: Key Diagrams: Electricity → diagram 27 (the National Grid) 🔍.
4. Fill the gaps: Fill the gaps: Electricity → passage 7 (the National Grid).
5. Lesson activity: Keep the Country Running.

Lesson 8 – Static electricity (S only)

1. Read and copy notes: Static Electricity → notes and copy box.
2. Draw: Key Diagrams: Electricity → diagram 28 (charging by friction) 🔍 and diagram 29 (electric field around a charged sphere) 🔍.
3. Fill the gaps: Fill the gaps: Electricity → passage 8 (static electricity).
4. Practise: Static Electricity → Q1–Q8.

Lesson 9 – Review and test (C+S)

1. Read: Electricity topic page → “⚠️ Where students lose marks”. Copy the three you think you’d get wrong.
2. Test yourself: Electricity topic page → cover the answers and try all 12 Key definitions.
3. Mind map: Mind map guide → Electricity.
4. Redraw from memory: the three I–V graphs (diagrams 18–20) and the plug (diagram 26) from Key Diagrams: Electricity, then check them.
5. Quiz: Electricity quiz – 20 questions. Mark it and work out your percentage.
6. Exam practice: AQA past papers → Paper 1 electricity questions.