SI units
Micro, milli, kilo and mega. Get the units ready before calculating.
Practise si unitsA place for 2A to recap a topic, try a few questions and work through the answers. Open to everyone in the class — no login needed.
A student-built resource hosted by NeuroForgeDesign. Use alongside your tutor’s materials.
A manageable session
Spend 4 minutes with the notes below.
Try five questions. Use a hint if you get stuck.
Check the working and choose what to revisit.
Micro, milli, kilo and mega. Get the units ready before calculating.
Practise si unitsMake the missing value the subject, then substitute your numbers.
Practise formula transpositionOne current path. Find total resistance and share the voltage.
Practise series circuitsSeparate paths with a shared voltage. Work out the branch currents.
Practise parallel circuitsUnderstand overloads, short circuits and device operating characteristics.
Practise protection conceptsOpen one topic at a time. These examples use ideal resistor circuits.
µ = one millionth · m = one thousandth · k = one thousand · M = one million.
Example: 680 µA ÷ 1,000 = 0.68 mA. Divide by 1,000 again to get 0.00068 A.
Check: Convert backwards to recover the original number. Capital M and lower-case m mean different things.
V = I × R · I = V ÷ R · R = V ÷ I.
Example: V = IR. Divide both sides by I: V ÷ I = R. With 12 V and 0.5 A, R = 12 ÷ 0.5 = 24 Ω.
Check: Put the answer back into the original formula: 0.5 × 24 = 12 V.
Rₜ = R₁ + R₂ + … The current is the same throughout the circuit.
Example: 10 Ω + 20 Ω = 30 Ω. Across 12 V, I = 12 ÷ 30 = 0.4 A. The drops are 4 V and 8 V.
Check: The voltage drops must add to the supply: 4 + 8 = 12 V.
For two resistors: Rₜ = (R₁ × R₂) ÷ (R₁ + R₂). Each branch has the same voltage.
Example: 10 Ω and 20 Ω across 12 V carry 1.2 A and 0.6 A. Total current = 1.8 A; total resistance ≈ 6.67 Ω.
Check: Total resistance must be below the smallest branch resistance. Branch currents add to supply current.
A current rating alone does not tell you a protective device’s operating time.
Example: A 40 A MCB marking is a current rating. To establish operating time, use the actual current and that device’s time–current curve.
Check: Keep the device’s actual operating time separate from the maximum time permitted for the circuit.
Read Schneider Electric’s breaker characteristics guide. Permitted disconnection times depend on the relevant circuit and earthing conditions; refer to your current course guidance.
Use these self-checks to decide what to practise next.
Quiz answers stay in your current session. Share your own working with your tutor when you need help.