Work through the list without notes. If you cannot do a statement, follow its link, then come back. Guide = study guide; Practice = practice questions.
Understanding
- I can use ΔU = qΔV to describe where charges gain and lose electric potential energy in a circuit. (Guide: “Energy carried by moving charge”; Practice Q7d)
- I can explain why the loop rule is a consequence of conservation of energy. (Guide: “The loop rule”)
- I can explain why the loop rule also applies to loops with no battery, and what that says about parallel branches. (Guide: Worked example 2; Practice Q4)
- I can explain why the share of potential difference in a single loop depends on resistance, not on position. (Practice Q6b)
Calculation and skills
- I can write a loop equation with the correct sign for every battery and resistor, going either way round the loop. (Guide: “Sign rules”; Practice Q2)
- I can include internal resistance in a loop equation and find a terminal voltage. (Guide: Worked example 1; Practice Q5)
- I can solve a loop with two opposing batteries and check the energy balance. (Practice Q5)
- I can use loops with and without a battery to find unknown resistances, emfs or potentials. (Guide: Worked example 2; Practice Q4, Q7)
- I can derive symbolic expressions, such as the potential at a point between two resistors, from the loop rule. (Practice Q6c, Q7b)
Reasoning
- I can sketch a graph of electric potential against position around a loop, with rises, falls and flat sections in the right places. (Guide: Figure 2; Practice Q6a)
- I can read potentials from a graph or table and deduce resistances, the current or the internal resistance. (Practice Q3)
- I can evaluate a claim about a circuit using the loop rule and energy conservation. (Practice Q6b, Q7d)
All ticked? Move on to Topic 11.7, Kirchhoff’s Junction Rule, or return to the course roadmap.