← Physics syllabus

EnglandPhysics

P3 Electricity

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What are current, potential difference and resistance, and how are they linked?

Electric current as the rate of flow of charge, the charge equation, potential difference as energy transferred per unit charge, resistance and the equation linking potential difference, current and resistance.
A focused answer to OCR Gateway GCSE Physics A topic P3 on current, potential difference and resistance, covering current as the rate of flow of charge, the charge equation, potential difference as energy per unit charge, resistance, and the equation linking them.
9 min answer →

How do we calculate the power and energy transferred by an electrical device?

Electrical power and the two power equations, the energy transferred by a charge and by a device over time, and how to calculate the energy used and its cost using kilowatt-hours.
A focused answer to OCR Gateway GCSE Physics A topic P3 on electrical power and energy, covering the two power equations, the energy transferred by a charge and by a device over time, and calculating energy use and cost in kilowatt-hours.
9 min answer →

How do the I-V graphs of a resistor, a filament lamp and a diode differ, and what do thermistors and LDRs do?

The I-V characteristics of an ohmic resistor, a filament lamp and a diode, ohmic and non-ohmic behaviour, and how the resistance of a thermistor and an LDR varies with temperature and light.
A focused answer to OCR Gateway GCSE Physics A topic P3 on I-V characteristics, covering the graphs for an ohmic resistor, a filament lamp and a diode, ohmic and non-ohmic behaviour, and how the resistance of a thermistor and an LDR changes with temperature and light.
9 min answer →

How do current and potential difference behave in series and parallel circuits?

Circuit symbols and how to build circuits, the rules for current and potential difference in series and parallel circuits, and how total resistance changes when components are added in series or in parallel.
A focused answer to OCR Gateway GCSE Physics A topic P3 on circuits, covering standard circuit symbols, the rules for current and potential difference in series and parallel circuits, and how the total resistance changes when components are added in series or in parallel.
9 min answer →

How do objects become charged by friction, and what are the uses and hazards of static electricity?

Charging insulators by friction through the transfer of electrons, attraction and repulsion between charges, electric fields around charges, and the uses and hazards of static electricity.
A focused answer to OCR Gateway GCSE Physics A topic P3 on static electricity, covering charging insulators by friction through electron transfer, attraction and repulsion of charges, electric fields, and the uses and hazards of static electricity.
8 min answer →