Physics covers the fundamental forces and energy that power everything...
Physics373 views·Updated 18 Jul 2026·3 pagesKey Notes on Electricity - Physics Paper 1
Millie@millie_rains
1 / 3
1
of 3
Electricity Fundamentals
Think of electricity like water flowing through pipes - current is how much charge flows past a point (measured in amps), whilst voltage is the pressure pushing it along (measured in volts). Resistance acts like a narrow pipe that slows everything down (measured in ohms).
The golden rule for current? It's exactly the same everywhere in a series circuit - no electrons get lost along the way! When resistance goes up, current goes down, which is why your phone charger gets warm when it's working hard.
I-V graphs show you how different components behave. Ohmic conductors give you a straight line (boring but reliable), filament lamps curve upward as they heat up, and diodes only let current flow one way - like a one-way street for electrons.
Quick tip: Remember that in series circuits, voltages add up but current stays the same. In parallel circuits, it's the opposite - currents add up but voltage stays the same across each branch.
2
of 3
Energy and Heat
Energy comes in loads of different forms, and here's the brilliant bit - it never disappears, just changes from one type to another. Kinetic energy (movement) uses the formula KE = 0.5 × mass × velocity², whilst potential energy (stored energy) equals mass × gravitational field strength × height.
Specific heat capacity tells you how much energy you need to heat 1kg of something by 1°C. Think of it as how stubborn a material is about changing temperature - water needs loads of energy, which is why the sea takes ages to warm up in summer.
Specific latent heat is the energy needed to change state (like melting ice) without changing temperature. There are two types: fusion (solid to liquid) and vaporisation (liquid to gas). The particles are rearranging themselves, not speeding up.
Remember: Internal energy is the total of all kinetic and potential energy stores in a substance. When you heat something, you're increasing this internal energy.
3
of 3
Pressure, Power and Efficiency
Density measures how tightly packed matter is (mass ÷ volume). For regular objects, just measure and calculate. For irregular shapes, use water displacement - the volume of water pushed out equals the object's volume.
Power is how quickly energy gets transferred or work gets done, measured in watts. It's the difference between a sports car and a tractor - both might do the same job, but one does it much faster.
Efficiency compares useful energy output to total energy input, always less than 100% because some energy always gets wasted as heat. You can improve efficiency with lubricants to reduce friction, or insulation to prevent heat loss through conduction and convection.
Energy conservation law: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred between different stores like kinetic, gravitational, chemical, electrical, and thermal energy.
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Physics373 views·Updated 18 Jul 2026·3 pagesKey Notes on Electricity - Physics Paper 1
Millie@millie_rains
Physics covers the fundamental forces and energy that power everything around us, from the electricity in your phone to the heat that warms your home. Understanding these concepts will help you make sense of how the world works and give...
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Electricity Fundamentals
Think of electricity like water flowing through pipes - current is how much charge flows past a point (measured in amps), whilst voltage is the pressure pushing it along (measured in volts). Resistance acts like a narrow pipe that slows everything down (measured in ohms).
The golden rule for current? It's exactly the same everywhere in a series circuit - no electrons get lost along the way! When resistance goes up, current goes down, which is why your phone charger gets warm when it's working hard.
I-V graphs show you how different components behave. Ohmic conductors give you a straight line (boring but reliable), filament lamps curve upward as they heat up, and diodes only let current flow one way - like a one-way street for electrons.
Quick tip: Remember that in series circuits, voltages add up but current stays the same. In parallel circuits, it's the opposite - currents add up but voltage stays the same across each branch.
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Energy and Heat
Energy comes in loads of different forms, and here's the brilliant bit - it never disappears, just changes from one type to another. Kinetic energy (movement) uses the formula KE = 0.5 × mass × velocity², whilst potential energy (stored energy) equals mass × gravitational field strength × height.
Specific heat capacity tells you how much energy you need to heat 1kg of something by 1°C. Think of it as how stubborn a material is about changing temperature - water needs loads of energy, which is why the sea takes ages to warm up in summer.
Specific latent heat is the energy needed to change state (like melting ice) without changing temperature. There are two types: fusion (solid to liquid) and vaporisation (liquid to gas). The particles are rearranging themselves, not speeding up.
Remember: Internal energy is the total of all kinetic and potential energy stores in a substance. When you heat something, you're increasing this internal energy.
3
of 3Sign up to see the content. It's free!
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Pressure, Power and Efficiency
Density measures how tightly packed matter is (mass ÷ volume). For regular objects, just measure and calculate. For irregular shapes, use water displacement - the volume of water pushed out equals the object's volume.
Power is how quickly energy gets transferred or work gets done, measured in watts. It's the difference between a sports car and a tractor - both might do the same job, but one does it much faster.
Efficiency compares useful energy output to total energy input, always less than 100% because some energy always gets wasted as heat. You can improve efficiency with lubricants to reduce friction, or insulation to prevent heat loss through conduction and convection.
Energy conservation law: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred between different stores like kinetic, gravitational, chemical, electrical, and thermal energy.
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