DC Circuits

Part1: Circuit Diagrams

Objectives
draw circuit diagrams with power sources (cell or battery), switches, lamps, resistors (fixed and variable), fuses, ammeters and voltmeters describe an experiment to determine the resistance of a metallic conductor using a voltmeter and an ammeter, and make the necessary calculations
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Circuit Components

Battery / Cell

Split Circuit

Lamp

A
Ammeter

V
Voltmeter Bulb

Resistor

Rheostat / Variable Resistor

Fuse
3

Circuit Diagram
A circuit diagram will always consist of a battery / cell or power supply.

A Simple Circuit
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Idea of Conventional Flow

I Conventional Flow Flow of electrons

The actual movement of electrons comes from the negative side of the battery.

For ease of calculation, we always use the idea of conventional flow. The current I thus comes out in the opposite side. i.e the positive end.

Ammeter and Voltmeter

Ammeter measures the current of circuit, it is always place along (or in series) with the conductor.

Voltmeter measures the potential difference of a conductor, it is always place between two points (or in parallel) with the conductor.

A V
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An experiment to determine the resistance of a metallic conductor

Recall from the last chapter that resistance of a conductor depends on 2 factors:
Potential Difference Current across the conductor.

The following setup allows the resistance to be determine experimentally.

An experiment to determine the resistance of a metallic conductor

An experiment to determine the resistance of a metallic conductor

V
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A side note
Rheostat (Variable Resistor)

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Steps
1. 2. Set up the apparatus according to the circuit diagram. As a safety precaution, adjust the rheostat to the maximum resistance so that a small current flows in the circuit initially. Record the ammeter reading I and the voltmeter reading V. Adjust the rheostat to allow a larger current to flow in the circuit. Again record the values of I and V.

3. 4.

5.
6.

Repeat Step 4 for at least 5 sets of I and V readings.

Plot a graph of V (y-axis) against I (x-axis). Determine11 the gradient of the graph.

Graphs
Ohmic conductor Non - Ohmic conductor

Pure metal at constant temperature

Bulb

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