ElectricityKey Facts

Key Facts Summary

Part of Mains Electricity & SafetyGCSE Physics

This key facts covers Key Facts Summary within Mains Electricity & Safety for GCSE Physics. Revise Mains Electricity & Safety in Electricity for GCSE Physics with 13 exam-style questions and 30 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 10 of 17 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 10 of 17

Practice

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

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