1. Circuit Diagrams Basic Electricity
(Click the left mouse button to advance to the next slide.)

2. Circuit Diagrams
We do not normally draw the equipment but use symbols as a kind of shorthand.
(Write the heading Circuit Diagrams in your exercise book.)

3. Components and their Symbols
In you exercise book:
copy the heading
write the name of each component
draw its symbol
copy the information about the component.

4. Components and their Symbols
Cell
A cell produces or stores electricity.
Free electrons are produced by a chemical reaction between differing materials.

5. Components and their Symbols
Battery
Several cells joined
together in series.

6. Components and their Symbols
Lamp
A lamp contains a very thin wire (the filament) usually made of tungsten. The current passing through the filament causes it to get hot and glow.

7. Components and their Symbols
Switch
A device used in a circuit to turn the flow of energy on or off.

8. Components and their Symbols
Ammeter A
An instrument for measuring current or flow of electrons in a circuit. The unit used is the ampere (A).

9. Components and their Symbols
Voltmeter V
An instrument for measuring the potential difference (or energy change) between two points in a circuit. The unit used is the volt (V).

10. Components and their Symbols
Resistor
A resistor is any material which is neither a good conductor of electricity nor an insulator. Resistors are important for varying the current in circuits.

11. Components and their Symbols
Rheostat
A resistor whose value can be altered by adjusting the length of wire that carries the current.

12. Rules for drawing circuit diagrams. (Copy these into you exercise book)
Correct symbols must be used
Ruled straight lines for wires
No gaps / breaks in lines
Diagrams should be large
Click when you have finished.

13. Draw this circuit diagram.
Components
a cell
two lamp
ammeter
Click to next page for the correct answer

14. Answer A

15. Draw this circuit diagram.
Components
a cell
a lamp
voltmeter across the lamp
rheostat (variable resistor)
Click to next page to view the correct answer

16. Answer V

17. Draw this circuit diagram.
Components
three cells
two lamps
a switch
ammeter
Click to next page to view the correct answer
voltmeter across one lamp

18. Answer A V

19. Draw a circuit that contains:
a battery
an ammeter
a lamp
a switch
all joined in series.
Draw a voltmeter joined across the lamp.

20. battery
ammeter + - - + A
lamp
switch V - +
voltmeter

21. Revision - Symbols Ammeter Cell Battery Voltmeter Lamp Resistor Switch
Rheostat