GCSE physics Electrical units symbols equations for p.d potential difference volts V current I amps resistance ohms power W watts energy transferred joules J charge transferred coulombs C how to rearrange equations to solve electricity problems IGCSE/GCSE Physics revision notes

Electricity in the home: 1.1 Some important definitions, descriptions, formulae and units used in electrical science

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INDEX for physics notes on electricity in the home

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1.1 Important definitions, descriptions, formulae and units used in electrical science

All about symbols, units and formulae

Note: You may or may not (but don't worry!), have come across all of these terms or formulae, it depends on how far your studies have got.

In your course, you might not need to know every formula or have to be able to do all the calculations explained and follow-up questions - that's up to you to find out.

If a UK GCSE student you will find your science course help links via

Find your GCSE/IGCSE science course for more help links to all science revision notes

Most of the practice questions and worked out answers based on the equations explained on this page are found in Part 1.6

1.6 Power, energy transfer & electricity cost calculation questions

V the potential difference in volts

(p.d., commonly called 'voltage') is the driving potential that moves the electrical charge, hence the electrical energy transfer, around a circuit - electrical charge usually carried by electrons.

Potential difference is the work done in moving a unit of charge.

It indicates how much energy is transferred per unit charge when a charge moves between two points in a circuit e.g. between the terminals of a battery.

(See energy transferred further down the page)

The p.d. across any part of a circuit is measured in volts, (unit symbol V).

I the electrical current in amperes

The rate of flow of electrical charge in coulombs/second (C/s), measured in amperes (amps, unit symbol A).

The quantity of electric charge transferred in a give time = current flow in amps x time elapsed in seconds

Formula connection: Q = It I = Q/t t = Q/I

I = current (A), Q = electrical charge moved in coulombs (C), time t (s)

It is better to be able to rearrange a formula rather than using a triangle

R the electrical resistance in ohms

Electrical resistance in a circuit, measured in ohms (unit symbol Ω).

A resistance slows down the flow of electrical charge - it opposes the flow of electrical charge.

Formula connection: V = IR I = V/R R = V/I

(This is the formula often quoted as Ohm's Law)

I = current (A), V = potential difference in volts (V), R = resistance in ohms (Ω)

It is better to be able to rearrange a formula rather than using a triangle

P is the electrical power of a device in watts

The power delivered by a circuit = the rate of energy transfer (symbol units J/s) and is measured in watts (symbol unit W).

Formula connection: P = IV I = P/V V = P/I

also P = I²R R = P/I² I = √(P/R) (see also P = E/t below)

P = power in watts (W), I = current (A),

V = potential difference in volts (V), R = resistance in ohms (Ω)

It is better to be able to rearrange a formula rather than using triangle like those illustrated below

E is the energy transferred in joules

Energy transferred by the quantity of electric charge by a potential difference of V volts.

energy transferred (joules) = quantity of electric charge (coulombs) x potential difference (volts)

Formula connections E = QV Q = E/V V = E/Q

E = energy transfer in joules (unit symbol J)

Q = electrical charge moved (unit symbol C)

V = p.d. in volts (unit symbol V)

Formula connections E = Pt P = E/t t = E/P

where P = power (W), E = energy transferred (J), t = time taken (s)

Energy transferred in joules = power in watts x time in seconds

Formula connection: Since E = Pt and P = IV, energy transferred E = IVt

It is better to be able to rearrange a formula rather than using a triangle

Q is the quantity of electric charge in coulombs

Electric charge transferred is measured in coulombs (unit C).

Formula connection: Q = It I = Q/t t = Q/I

Q = quantity of electric charge transferred (C), I = current (A), t =time (s)

It is better to be able to rearrange a formula rather than using a triangle

INDEX of ELECTRICITY Notes 1. Electricity in the home

Key points for electricity in physics courses - electrical terms, units and equations

Information sources for Doc Brown's key points: IGCSE-GCSE physics are based on textbooks & syllabus-specifications for students taking the UK AQA, Edexcel, OCR 21st Century Science, OCR Gateway science suite, WJEC, CCEA and CIE GCSE physics 9-1 level science examinations.

Here's a comprehensive set of summary revision notes on electrical circuit terms and units, tailored to the GCSE/IGCSE Physics specifications across WJEC, CCEA, CIE, AQA, Edexcel, and OCR.

Core Electrical Circuit Terms and Units

Term	Definition	Unit	Symbol
Charge	Quantity of electricity carried by particles	Coulomb	C
Current	Rate of flow of charge	Ampere	A
Potential Difference	Energy transferred per unit charge (also called voltage)	Volt	V
Resistance	Opposition to current flow	Ohm	Ω
Power	Rate of energy transfer	Watt	W
Energy Transferred	Work done by electrical components	Joule	J
Time	Duration of current flow	Second	s

Key Equations to Master

Q = I x t = Charge transferred = Current × Time
V = I x R = Voltage = Current × Resistance
P = V x I = Power = Voltage × Current
E = P x t = Energy transferred = Power × Time
P = I²x R ) = Power in terms of current and resistance

Keywords, phrases and learning objectives for calculations in electricity

Know the electrical unit for potential difference (p.d.) in volts (equation symbol V in V units)

Know the electrical unit for current in amps (equation symbol I in A units)

Know the electrical unit for electrical resistance in ohms (equation symbol R in Ω units)

Know the unit for power in joules/second or watts (equation symbols P in J/s or W units)

Know the unit for energy transferred in joules (equation symbol E in J units)

Know the electrical unit for charge in coulombs (equation symbol Q in C units)

In problem solving. be able to use and rearrange the following five equations

Q = It V = IR P=IV E = QV E = Pt

BUT, not all courses require all these equations,

and it is better to be able to rearrange equations than use a formula triangle, but that's up to you!

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INDEX of ELECTRICITY Notes 1. Electricity in the home