YEAR 12 PHYSICS EXAM REVIEW

Circuit Symbols

Name Symbol Use

An electrical
component which has
Potentiometer
a user adjustable
resistance
An electrical device
Capacitor
that can store energy
An electrical
component whose
Light Dependent Resistor resistance decreases
with increasing light
intensity
A semi conductor that
emits light when the
small end of the
Light Emitting Diode
triangle is placed
facing the negative
terminal
Used for amplifying
NPN Transistor and switching
electrical currents

Used to convert
between high and low
voltages, to change
Transformer impedance, and to
provide electrical
isolation between
circuits.
An oscilloscope is
used to display the
shape of electrical
Cathode Ray Oscilloscope signals and it can be
used to measure their
voltage and time
period.

Capacitors

• The length of time it takes for the voltage across the capacitor to reach 63% of
the supply voltage is called one time constant, τ
Q
• τ = R × C and C =
v
• Capacitance is measured in farads, or coulombs per volts
 • I.e. when time is equal to R x C the voltage across the capacitor has dropped to
37% of its original voltage.
• Capacitors charge and discharge exponentially
• Charging a capacitor:
o Voltage increases as Time increases
o Current decreases as Time increases
o Charge increases as Time increases
• Discharging a capacitor:
o Voltage decreases as Time increases
o Current decreases as Time increases
o Charge decreases as Time increases

PN Diodes

• PN Diodes only allow current to flow in one direction

• A diode is a good conductor when it is forward biased and the voltage is above
0.7 volts.
• A diode is a non-ohmic device because its’ I-V characteristics do not form a
linear relationship.
• The following shows I vs. V for a diode:

Half Wave Rectification

Full Wave Rectification

Full Wave Rectification with Smoothing

Transistors as Amplifiers

IC
• Current Gain = β =
IB
• By using a transistor, the current, I B can
be magnified and produced as I C

Transistors as Switches

• Transistors normally required 0.7 V in the base to activate the collector.

Field Patterns
Right Hand Rules

Rule 1

Rule 2

• In rule 2, the thumb points towards the north pole

• Use this rule to determine induced current

Rule 3

• In rule 3, B points from north to south

• Use this rule for EMF = BLv, F = BIL, F = Bqv
Lenz’s Law

Transformers

V2 N 2
• =
V1 N1
D.C. Motors

A.C. Generator