ElectricityKey Facts

Key Facts Summary

Part of Mains Electricity & Safety · GCSE GCSE Physics revision

This key facts covers Key Facts Summary within Mains Electricity & Safety for GCSE Physics. Revise Mains Electricity & Safety in Electricity for GCSE Physics with 18 exam-style questions and 30 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 9 of 16 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

Topic position

Section 9 of 16

Practice

18 questions

Recall

30 flashcards

📋 Key Facts Summary

  • UK mains: 230 V AC, 50 Hz
  • Live wire: brown — carries alternating voltage
  • Neutral wire: blue — returns to supply at ~0 V
  • Earth wire: green and yellow — safety wire, normally no current
  • Fuse on the live wire (to cut the dangerous wire)
  • Choose fuse just above normal operating current
  • Double insulation: plastic case, no earth wire needed
  • Circuit breaker: can be reset; fuse must be replaced

Keep building this topic

Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Mains Electricity & Safety. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.

Practice Questions for Mains Electricity & Safety

What does AC stand for, and how does it differ from DC?

  • A. Alternating current; it flows at a higher voltage than DC
  • B. Alternating current; it repeatedly changes direction, whereas DC flows in one direction only
  • C. Adapted current; it is produced only by batteries
  • D. Alternating current; it flows at a constant rate, whereas DC changes direction
1 markfoundation

Explain how a fuse protects an electrical circuit from damage.

2 marksstandard

Quick Recall Flashcards

What is AC?
Alternating Current — current direction reverses constantly (50 times/second in UK)
What is DC?
Direct Current — current flows in one direction only (batteries provide DC)

18 questions on Mains Electricity & Safety — practise free

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