Circuit Fundamentals and Electrical Safety

This comprehensive page covers essential concepts in electronics and electrical safety, focusing on circuit components, electrical principles, and mains electricity safety features.

Definition: Charge is a property of a body that experiences force in an electric field, measured in Coulombs (C).

Vocabulary: Current represents the rate of flow of charge (measured in amps, A), while potential difference is the electrical "push" measured in volts (V).

Example: Light Dependent Resistors (LDRs) are used in night lights, where resistance decreases as light intensity increases, making them perfect for automatic lighting systems.

Highlight: In UK mains electricity, three essential wires serve different purposes: the live wire carries 230V alternating potential difference, the neutral wire completes the circuit, and the earth wire provides crucial safety protection.

Quote: "Earth wire carries current if live wire becomes faulty, preventing current from flowing through a person and causing an electric shock."

The page details various circuit components and their symbols, including resistors, thermistors, switches, and diodes. It explains the characteristics of series circuits (single loop with shared current) and parallel circuits (multiple loops with shared voltage). The material also covers IV characteristics of different components and the fundamental principles of UK mains electricity, including safety features like plastic insulation and the three-wire system.