IV Characteristics — GCSE Physics Revision
Revise IV Characteristics for GCSE Physics. Step-by-step explanation, worked examples, common mistakes and exam-style practice aligned to AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, Cambridge International (CIE), SQA, IB, AP.
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Go to Electric PowerWhat is IV Characteristics?
I-V characteristics describe how the current (I) through a component changes as the potential difference (V) across it is varied. The relationship can be shown on a graph. For an ohmic conductor like a resistor at constant temperature, the graph is a straight line through the origin. For other components, like a filament lamp or a diode, the graph is a curve, showing that their resistance is not constant.
Board notes: Covered by all major boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR). Higher Tier students are expected to be able to draw and interpret the I-V graphs for a resistor, filament lamp, and diode.
Step-by-step explanationWorked example
An I-V graph for a component is a straight line passing through the origin. When the voltage is 4V, the current is 2A. What is the resistance? Solution: Resistance R = V/I. R = 4V / 2A = 2Ω.
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Common mistakes
- 1Mixing up the axes on the graph. By convention, voltage (potential difference) is on the x-axis and current is on the y-axis.
- 2Thinking that all components have a straight-line I-V graph. Only ohmic conductors do. The curved graphs for other components are important to learn.
- 3Misinterpreting the gradient of the I-V graph. The gradient is I/V, which is the reciprocal of resistance (1/R). A steeper gradient means a lower resistance.
IV Characteristics exam questions
Exam-style questions for IV Characteristics with mark-scheme style solutions and timing practice. Aligned to AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, Cambridge International (CIE), SQA, IB, AP specifications.
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Step-by-step method
Step-by-step explanation
4 steps · Worked method for IV Characteristics
Core concept
I-V characteristics describe how the current (I) through a component changes as the potential difference (V) across it is varied. The relationship can be shown on a graph. For an ohmic conductor like …
Frequently asked questions
What does the I-V graph for a diode look like?
A diode allows current to flow easily in one direction only. The I-V graph shows very high resistance in the reverse direction (almost zero current) and very low resistance in the forward direction once a certain threshold voltage is reached.
Why is the I-V graph for a filament lamp a curve?
As the voltage across a filament lamp increases, the filament gets hotter. This increases its resistance, so the graph curves, showing that the current increases less for each volt added.