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Physics HL

Chapter 11: Current and Circuits

Build full circuit fluency from potential difference and resistance to power, emf, internal resistance, network reduction, and potential-divider design.

Estimated chapter time: 176 minutes

Chapter Topics

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  1. 1How to Read This Current and Circuits Chapter
    1. 1.1From Thermal Energy to Charge Transport
    2. 1.2Conventional Current and Sign Discipline
    3. 1.3How This Chapter Is Structured
  2. 211.1 Potential Difference, Current, and Resistance
    1. 2.1Potential Difference as Energy Transfer per Charge
    2. 2.2Current as a Rate of Charge Flow
    3. 2.3Resistance, Ohm's Law, and I-V Behavior
    4. 2.4Resistivity and Geometric Control
  3. 311.2 Voltage, Power, and EMF
    1. 3.1Voltage Across Components and Loop Accounting
    2. 3.2Power as Rate of Electrical Energy Transfer
    3. 3.3EMF as Nonelectrical Work per Unit Charge
  4. 411.3 Resistors in Electric Circuits
    1. 4.1Series Connections: Shared Current, Split Voltage
    2. 4.2Parallel Connections: Shared Voltage, Split Current
    3. 4.3Kirchhoff Rules as Conservation Statements
    4. 4.4Structured Reduction for Mixed Networks
  5. 511.4 Terminal Potential Difference and the Potential Divider
    1. 5.1Ammeter and Voltmeter Placement Rules
    2. 5.2Terminal Potential Difference of a Real Cell
    3. 5.3Potential Divider Output and Loading
    4. 5.4Design Checks for Reliable Circuit Measurements
  6. 6Chapter 11 Wrap-Up
    1. 6.1A Reliable Workflow for Circuit Problems

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