Current

and Circuits

Resources

Lesson 1 - Topic D.2

Electric Charge and Coulomb's Law

In order to understand electricity, the movement of electrical charges, it will be helpful to skip ahead to Topic D.2, in which we define electric charge and Coulomb's Law. You may wish to review vector addition and subtraction from Topic 1.3.

Lesson 2

Electric Fields, Current, and Potential Difference

In lesson 2, we will introduce electric fields, which we touched on in the previous lesson, consider the implications of a charged particle in an electric field, and get our first (but not last) look at electric current and potential difference.

Topic 5.1B - Electric Fields, Current, and Potential Difference

Topic B.5 Handout 2 - blank.pdf

Lesson 3

Heating Effects of Electric Currents

In Lesson 3, we examine properties of matter that effect how electrons travel through materials, and get our first look at Ohm's Law, the relationship between current, resistance, and potential difference.

Topic B.5 - Lesson 3 - Heating Effects of Electric Currents

Topic B.5 Handout 3 - blank.pdf

Lesson 2-3

Experiment Time

For the next couple of lessons, we'll be doing two experiments. The first experiment will verify the characteristics of traditionally Ohmic and non-Ohmic resistors, and in the second we will look at the differences between parallel and series circuits.

Topic 5.2 - Ohmic vs. non-Ohmic Resistance.pdf

Topic 5.2 Investigation - Series and Parallel Circuits.pdf

Open up the simulation embedded below to get started. It will probably work best if you open it in a new window or tab.

Mr. Van Loh's work on series and parallel circuits can be found here:

S&P circuit investigation responses

‪Circuit Construction Kit: DC‬

Lesson 4 - Homework

Circuit Analysis

Lesson Objectives: I can~

Determine current, voltage, and resistance through circuit components in series and parallel.
Apply Kirchoff's Laws for current and voltage.

Class exercises can be found here:

Topic 5.2 - Series and Parallel Circuit Analysis.pdf

Lesson 5

Internal resistance and emf

This can be done in class with an actual power supply, but for the sake of time we will use the PHET Circuit construction kit. When you finish the activity, read Topic 5.3 and answer Test Yourself Questions in Tsokos.

Mr. Van Loh's Investigation Notes

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Topic 5.3 - Practical - emf and internal resistance.pdf

TOK linKs

To what extent do circuit diagrams and symbolic representations help or hinder our understanding of how electrical systems work?

How does the reliance on models and analogies—such as water flow to represent electric current—shape the way knowledge in electricity is constructed and communicated?