Conservation of charge
What Conservation of charge means in Combined Science GCSE, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of Conservation of charge
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Reference: AQA
Charge is conserved, so the rate of flow of charge (current) cannot change unless charge accumulates, which it does not in a simple series loop.
Charge is not used up around a series circuit: the same charge passes each point, though energy is transferred to components.
Charge cannot accumulate or escape in a single closed loop, which explains why the current is the same at every point.
Topics that use Conservation of charge
- Electrical charge and current (AQA GCSE)
- Series and parallel circuits (AQA GCSE)
Related terms
- Ammeter
- Charge flow
- Circuit rules
- Conservation of charge in a single loop
- Coulomb
- Current
- Electric charge and current
- Measurement of current with an ammeter
Using Conservation of charge in the exam
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