This deep dive covers UK Mains Supply — Key Facts 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 2 of 17 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 2 of 17
Practice
13 questions
Recall
30 flashcards
📚 UK Mains Supply — Key Facts
Essential values (memorise these):
- Voltage: 230 V
- Frequency: 50 Hz (alternates 50 times per second)
- Type: AC (alternating current)
AC vs DC:
- AC (alternating current) — direction reverses constantly; used for mains power
- DC (direct current) — flows in one direction only; batteries provide DC
Why AC for mains? AC voltage can be easily changed using transformers — stepped up for efficient long-distance transmission, stepped down for safe household use.