Characteristics Workbook | AQA GCSE Physics

Teach I-V characteristics for AQA GCSE Physics Required Practical 4 with a student workbook, teacher guide, answers and editable Word files.

This 44-page resource pack explores current-voltage relationships for a fixed resistor at constant temperature, a filament lamp and a diode. Students develop skills in circuit construction, practical measurements, resistance calculations, graph plotting and evaluation.

Designed for KS4, Years 10–11, studying AQA GCSE Physics 8463.

WHAT IS INCLUDED

• 28-page student workbook and 16-page teacher guide.
• Printable PDFs and editable DOCX versions of both documents.
• 88 coded questions and tasks, including the assessment.
• 9 worked examples covering conversions, resistance, gradient and repeated readings.
• 30-mark assessment with a mark scheme and six-mark practical-method model response.

The PDF and Word versions contain the same 44 pages of content.

TOPICS AND SKILLS COVERED

• Circuit symbols, ammeter and voltmeter connections, and measurement circuits.
• Current direction, supply polarity, variables and safe circuit changes.
• Recording readings, converting mA to A and calculating resistance using V = IR.
• Plotting and interpreting I-V graphs, including gradients and best-fit lines or curves.
• Ohm’s law, constant temperature and filament-lamp resistance.
• Forward and reverse diode behaviour, including protective resistors.
• Thermistors, LDRs and their applications.

PRACTICAL AND GRAPH ACTIVITIES

• Results tables for resistor, filament lamp and diode investigations.
• Practice datasets, blank graph grids and model characteristics.
• Questions on repeats, means, half-range, resolution and unusual readings.
• Fault-finding activities and common graph misconceptions.
• Distinguishing resistance at a point from an I-V graph gradient.

TEACHER SUPPORT

• Answers organised by question code and student-page references.
• Technician notes, apparatus guidance and diode protection.
• Curriculum map, worked checkpoints and assessment guidance.

HOW TO USE

Suitable for practical preparation, classroom investigations, graph-skills lessons, homework, retrieval practice and GCSE Physics revision.

EDITABLE FORMAT

Text, tables and equations are editable in Microsoft Word. Scientific diagrams and graphs are embedded images that can be resized or replaced.

Unit 04 in the Lumivora Education GCSE Physics practical resource series.