Electric cells

and Resistance
 At the end of this 2

lesson I can:
➔ Describe what a cell is and how it works.
➔ Explain the difference between a battery
and a cell.
➔ Explain the concept of resistance.
➔ Identify and describe the factors that
affect resistance.
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1.
Cells as energy
systems
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Please watch this video on the original TedEd YouTube

channel at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OVtk6G2TnQ&ab_channel=TED-Ed
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So what should you know

about cells?
➔ Have you ever bit down on a piece on
foil, it leaves a strange sensation in
your mouth due to the foil, filling and
saliva have set up an electrochemical
cell
➔ A tiny current is produced and travels
through your tooth to the nerves in
your tooth and you experience an
unpleasant sensation
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So what should you know

about cells?
➔ Definition: A cell is something that
produces electric current as a result of
a chemical reaction.
➔ The electricity produced can flow in an
external circuit.
➔ Electric cells convert chemical
potential energy into kinetic energy.
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So what should you know

about cells?
➔ An electrochemical cell is made up of 2
conductors we call electrodes and a
conducting solution
➔ An electrode is something that carry
electricity and is connected to a non-
metal part of the circuit.
➔ Ons has a + charge and other – charge
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What’s the difference between a cell and a battery?

Cell Battery
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2.
Resistance
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So what is resistance exactly?

➔ Definition: Electrical resistance is the
ability of a material to oppose (work
against) the flow of electric current.
**Conductors readily allow the flow of
electric current.**
➔ Resistors are electrical components
that are used because they have the
ability to resist the flow of current.
➔ Resistors provide useful energy
transfer.
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So what is resistance exactly?

➔ A current is made up of – charges
particles called electrons. They move
around or flow in a circuit
➔ To get an electrical flow, a source of
energy is needed
➔ Conventional current= flow from + to –
terminal of a cell through and external
circuit
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Meausuring current
➔ Measured with an ammeter in ampere
(A)
➔ The symbol for current is
➔ Make sure the ammeter is connected
in series so that the current passes
through the ammeter
➔ The red + part of ammeter must be
connected to the + terminal of battery
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Voltage
➔ Electrical potential energy and is measured in
volts
➔ Voltages is the ability of the cell to produce a
current
➔ Measure with a voltmeter
➔ A voltmeter must be connected in parallel and +
must be connected to the + terminal of the
battery
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Activity - Watch the video and tabulate the

factors that affect resistance
➔ While watching this
video you need to
name the three
factors that affect
resistance AND
explain in what way
they affect
resistance.
Please watch this video on the original JamJarMMX YouTube channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYacs_GygXo&ab_channel=JamJarMMX
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There is another (4th) factor that affects resistance. Look

at the images and see if you can figure out what the
fourth factor that affects resistance is.
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Series circuits
➔ This provides only ONE PATHWAY for the current passing
through
➔ The current is the same everywhere in the circuit but
every time a resistor is added in series, the current
decrease.
➔ If something is in series, it means it follows a particular
order, the current passes through the different
components one after the other
➔ The total voltage is the sum of the voltages on the
individual cells
➔ The brightness of the lightbulbs decrease as the number
of the cells decreases. The current decrease as the
number of the bulbs increase
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Parallel circuits
➔ Provides 2 or more pathways for the current passing. If a
part does not work, the current can flow through another
part
➔ The current strength through each light bulb are the
same
➔ Advantage is if one light bulb fuses, the other continue to
glow whereas in series circuit no light bulb will work if one
fuses
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Safety with electricity

➔ Fuses
Is a metal strip covered by an insulator. If the current is too
high, the metal strip melts, as a result the circuit is broken
and the current stops flowing.
➔ Circuit breakers
If the main switch trips, a circuit breaker is present. This is
an electrical switch designed to protect an electrical circuit,
if the current is too high, it switches of. This can be reset and
reused unlike a fuse
➔ Earth leakage systems
This is used to protect animals and humans against and
electrical shock
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Three pin safety plugs

➔ If something goes wrong and the live wire touches the
metal case, the earth wire acts like a neutral wire and
completes the circuit