Symbols of Components

Each component in an electric circuit has a unique symbol for identification. These symbols are standard across international physics curriculums.
A straight line represents a wire connecting other components or parts of a circuit.
A cell, or battery, is symbolised by two lines. A longer line represents the positive terminal whilst the shorter line represents the negative terminal.
More than one cell connected together is depicted as several juxtaposed pairs of short and long lines.
A lamp (bulb) is displayed as a circle with an ‘X’ inside. This represents the filament within the bulb.
For resistors, a zig-zag or rectangular box is used. Resistors are components that resist the flow of electric current and reduce voltage.
A capacitor, which stores electric charge, is represented by two parallel lines with a gap between them. One line is often curved.
A fuse, a device designed to break a circuit if the current flowing through it is too high, is symbolised by a rectangular shape with a line going through it.
Switches are indicated by a break in the line. If the switch is closed, the break is paired with an adjacent line.
Diodes, which permit current flow in one direction only, are shown as a triangle facing a line.
The symbol for a voltmeter, a device that measures voltage, is a circle with a “V” in the middle.
The symbol for an ammeter, which measures current, is a circle with an “A”.

Remember, whilst understanding these symbols is paramount, so too is understanding how these components function within a circuit. This will help you to efficiently design, analyse and predict outcomes in different electric circuit setups.