Circuits

About this lab: Circuits

Build any circuit on a snap grid from cells, lamps, resistors, switches, ammeters, voltmeters, LDRs, thermistors, diodes and fuses and watch the current flow, then seven guided benches: series and parallel rules, the potential divider with a light or temperature sensor, where ammeters and voltmeters go, R = V/I and a length of wire, I-V graphs with mystery components, and power, energy and the cost of electricity.

IGCSE Physics 0625, topics 4.2 and 4.3. A virtual electronics bench: build any circuit, then test the rules.

Circuits is a free, browser-based simulation for Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 (topic 4 Electricity and magnetism, sections 4.2 Electrical quantities, 4.3 Electric circuits). The course is assessed in Papers 1 and 2 (multiple choice), 3 and 4 (theory), 5 (practical test) and 6 (alternative to practical). There are 8 tabs, each a self-contained experiment with its own controls and live readings, and nothing to install: it runs on a laptop, tablet or classroom projector.

Syllabus coverage

• 4.2.1 State that there are positive and negative charges
• 4.2.2 Know that electric current is related to the flow of charge
• 4.2.3 Define electromotive force (e.m.f.) as the electrical work done by a source in moving a unit charge around a complete circuit
• 4.2.4 Recall and use the equation for resistance R = V I
• 4.2.5 Understand that electric circuits transfer energy from a source of electrical energy, such as an electrical cell or mains supply, to the circuit components and then into the surroundings
• 4.3.1 Draw and interpret circuit diagrams containing cells, batteries, power supplies, generators, potential dividers, switches, resistors (fixed and variable), heaters, thermistors (NTC only), light- dependent resistors (LDRs), lamps, motors, bells, ammeters, voltmeters, magnetising coils, transformers, fuses and relays and know how these components behave in the circuit
• 4.3.2 Know that the current at every point in a series circuit is the same
• 4.3.3 Know that the p.d. across an electrical conductor increases as its resistance increases for a constant current
• Lessons on this topic: Electric charge: positive, negative, and friction charging, Electric field patterns around charges, Electric current: ammeters, AC vs DC, Current as charge flow: I = Q ÷ t, EMF and potential difference (voltmeters).

Full syllabus map: IGCSE Physics 0625 topic 4.

How to use this simulation

1. 1. Circuit builder.
2. 2. Series.
3. 3. Parallel.
4. 4. Potential divider.
5. 5. Ammeter and voltmeter.
6. 6. Resistance.
7. 7. I-V graphs.
8. 8. Power and energy.
9. The buttons at the end of the tab strip give the scene the whole window (Full screen, Hide controls) and, on a dark stage, a projector-friendly palette (Light scene). Many scenes also have drag handles: drag them to change the set-up directly.

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