AQA · Physics · 8463
GCSE Physics: Standard circuit diagram symbols
Electricity · AQA GCSE Physics (8463), specification point 4.2.1.1. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "Standard circuit diagram symbols", and every card links back to the page it came from. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.
21 flashcards · Free to study · No account needed
Sign in and GCSE Zone remembers what you know: cards you have nailed drop out of your study until they are due again.
Study this deck
Preparing your cards…
All questions and answers
Read through the full deck, or practise recalling each answer above.
Circuit diagrams are drawn using ? symbols so that any reader can interpret them.
Show answer
standard
Why are circuit diagrams drawn with standard symbols?
Show answer
So that anyone can draw and interpret a circuit unambiguously, regardless of who drew it.
Which component has this circuit symbol: a circle with a cross (X) inside it?
Show answer
lamp
Which component has this circuit symbol: a rectangle with the wire running straight through the middle of it, end to end?
Show answer
fuse
Which component has this circuit symbol: a plain empty rectangle?
Show answer
resistor
Which component has this circuit symbol: a rectangle with a diagonal arrow drawn through it?
Show answer
variable resistor
Which component has this circuit symbol: a rectangle with a diagonal line through it that ends in a short flat tail (a hockey-stick shape)?
Show answer
thermistor
Which component has this circuit symbol: a small rectangle inside a circle, with two arrows pointing in towards it?
Show answer
LDR (light dependent resistor)
Which component has this circuit symbol: a triangle pointing at a bar, inside a circle?
Show answer
diode
Which component has this circuit symbol: a triangle pointing at a bar, inside a circle, with two arrows pointing away from it?
Show answer
LED (light-emitting diode)
Which component has this circuit symbol: a circle with the letter V inside it?
Show answer
voltmeter
Which component has this circuit symbol: a circle with the letter A inside it?
Show answer
ammeter
Which component has this circuit symbol: one long thin line next to one short thick line?
Show answer
cell
Which component has this circuit symbol: two or more long-and-short line pairs joined by a dashed line?
Show answer
battery
Which component has this circuit symbol: a wire with a gap, and a lever hinged at one contact that does not reach the other?
Show answer
switch (open)
Which component has this circuit symbol: a wire with a lever hinged at one contact that rests on the other contact?
Show answer
switch (closed)
Describe the circuit symbol for an LDR.
Show answer
A small rectangle inside a circle, with two arrows pointing in (light falling on it).
Describe the circuit symbol for a thermistor.
Show answer
A rectangle with a diagonal line through it ending in a short flat tail.
Describe the circuit symbol for an LED.
Show answer
A diode symbol (triangle pointing at a bar, in a circle) with two arrows pointing out (light given off).
Describe the circuit symbol for a variable resistor.
Show answer
A resistor rectangle with a diagonal arrow through it.
In the circuit symbol for a cell, which line is the positive terminal?
Show answer
The longer line (the spec marks it +).
Want to create your own cards? Create a free account. AI generation uses credits.