CIRCUIT COMPONENTS IN DETAILS
METAL CONDUCTORS
The resistance of a metal conductor at constant temperature depends on two factors
1. Length: the greater the length the greater the resistance and vice versa
2. Cross sectional area: the smaller the CSA, the greater the resistance and vice versa
Therefore, a short-thick wire has a smaller resistance than a long-thin wire
The gradient of a V-I graph gives the resistance. The graphs below how V-I varies for both these wires
FILAMENT BULB
As the potential difference (voltage) across a component is increased, the current in the component also increases
The IV graph for a fixed resistor is very simple:
The current is proportional to the potential difference
For a filament lamp the relationship is more complicated:
The current increases at a slower rate than the potential
difference
This is because the current causes the filament in the
lamp to heat up. As the filament gets hot its resistance
increases. This opposes the current, causing it to increase
at a slower rate
THERMISTORS
A thermistor is a type of resistor (a thermal resistor) whose resistance changes with temperature:
As a thermistor gets hotter, its resistance decreases
As it gets colder, its resistance increases
ASK YOURSELF:
The diagram below shows a thermistor connected in series with a light
bulb. Explain how the resistance of the bulb would vary if the
temperature of the thermistor changes.
The graph below shows how resistance varies with temperature for a thermistor
LDR (LIGHT DEPENDENT REGISTOR)
An LDR (Light Dependent Resistor) is a type of resistor whose resistance changes with light intensity
When more light is shone on an LDR its resistance decreases
If an LDR is covered up (reducing the light hitting it) its resistance increases.
ASK YOURSELF:
The diagram below shows an LDR connected in series
with a light bulb. Explain how the resistance of the
bulb would vary if the intensity of light falling on the
LDR changes.
The graph below shows how resistance varies with temperature for an LDR
Diode/LED
Diodes are found in most electronic devices, and Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are found in lots of devices from TVs to
Christmas lights. Diodes are semi-conductors and their I-V characteristics are very different from both the resistor and
the filament lamp.
We use the same circuit as before to obtain multiple measurements of the current and potential difference across the
diode.
The symbol of a diode looks like an arrow. That is not an
accident; notice that the arrow is pointing in the same
direction that the current is flowing, positive to negative.
This is because Diodes & LEDs only allow current flow in
one direction.
That means, if we connect the diode in the other way round, or flip the polarity (direction) of the cell, no current will
flow. We can see this in the I-V graph of a diode
We can see from this graph:
● current is zero for negative potential difference
● current is still zero for small potential difference
● current increases rapidly above a particular value of potential difference, curving upwards
