NEW AQA GCSE (2016) Physics - Resistance & Potential Difference

This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Physics GCSE, particularly the 'Electricity’ SoW.

For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience

The lesson begins with a defintion of resistance, using diagrams to demonstrate the effect of a high resistance on the current flowing around an electrical circuit. Students will then need to summarise this information by completing a ‘fill-in-blank’ task, which can then be marked using the mark scheme provided.

The next part of the lesson asks students to consider the effect of the thickness of the wire on resistance in a circuit. Students can ‘Think > Pair > Share’ their ideas before watching a video which reveal the answer, after students have watched the video they can summarise the main points by completing a ‘Fill-in-the-blank’ task. This task can then be self-assessed using the mark scheme provided.

Next, students are introduced to the calculation for resistance (R = V/I), pupils can copy the formula triangle down into their books before being given set of problems to work through. Students should make sure to show all their working in their books and include the correct units, pupils can then self or peer assess their work using the mark scheme provided.

The next part of the lesson focuses on potential difference and resistance, students will be given a set of information about potential difference and resistance, using which they will need to answer a set of questions. The mark scheme for this work is provided in the PowerPoint presentation so students can self-assess their work once complete.

The last part of the lesson focuses on ‘Ohm’s Law’, students are firstly shown a circuit by which you can determine how the current across a wire is dependent upon the potential difference across that wire and also a graph to prove that current is directly proportional to the potential difference. Students will be given a set of data to plot, using the graph they have plotted they will then answer a set of questions.

The plenary task is an anagram challenge of key words from the ‘Electricity’ unit so far!

All resources are included at the end of the presentation. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)