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Physics Paper 1 > 2-Electricity > Flashcards

2-Electricity Flashcards

1
Q

What is current

A

The flow of electric charge

I

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2
Q

What is the unit of current

A

Ampere

A

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3
Q

What is potential difference

A

The driving force that pushes charge around

V

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4
Q

What is the unit for potential difference

A

Volt

V

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5
Q

What is resistance

A

Slows the flow down

R

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6
Q

What is the unit of resistance

A

Ohms

Omega symbol

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7
Q

What does greater resistance do to the current

A

The greater the resistance, the smaller the current

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8
Q

What is the equation for charge flow

A

Charge flow (C) = Current (A) x Time (s)

Q=It

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9
Q

What is the equation linking potential difference, current and resistance

A

Potential difference (V) = Current (A) x Resistance (ohms)

V=IR

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10
Q

What is the ammeter used to measure

A

The current in amps

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11
Q

How do u use an ammeter

A

Must always be placed in series with whatever is being investigated

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12
Q

What does the voltmeter measure

A

Potential difference in volts

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13
Q

How is the voltmeter used

A

Must always be placed in parallel around whatever is being investigated

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14
Q

How r resistance and length of wire linked

A

They r directly proportional

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15
Q

What systematic error can be made whilst doing the length of wire practical

A

The first clip might not be attached exactly at 0cm so all lengths may be slightly out

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16
Q

What should I-V graph for an ohmic conductor look like

A

A straight line as they are directly proportional

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17
Q

What should the I-V graph for a filament lamp look like

A

Starts out as a straight line and then curves into a plateau

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18
Q

Why does the I-V graph for filament lamp curve

A

Because as the current increases, the temperature increases so the resistance increases. The current then decreases

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19
Q

What does the I-V graph for a diode look like

A

Steep line on the right side that goes into the x axis and stays along there

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20
Q

Why does the diode I-V look as it does

A

Because the current only flows in one direction so has a very high resistance in the reverse direction

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21
Q

What does LDR stand for

A

Light dependent resistor

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22
Q

When does an LDR have the most resistance

A

In darkness

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23
Q

When is an LDR have the least resistance

A

In bright light

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24
Q

What can LDRs be used for

A

Automatic night lights, burglar detectors and outdoor lighting

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25
Q

What is a thermistor

A

A temperature dependent resistor

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26
Q

When does a thermistor have the most resistance

A

Cold conditions

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27
Q

When does a thermistor have the least resistance

A

Hot conditions

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28
Q

What can thermistors be used for

A

Car engine temperature sensors and electronic thermostats

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29
Q

What is a sensing circuit

A

Can be used to turn on or increase the power to components depending on the conditions that they r in

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30
Q

What happens in a series circuit if u remove or disconnect one component

A

The circuit is broken and they all stop

31
Q

How is potential difference distributed through a series circuit

A

The total pd of the supply is shared between the components

32
Q

How do u calculate the total pd round a series circuit

A

Add up all the voltages

V(total) = V(1) + V(1) + …

33
Q

How is current distributed throughout a series circuit

A

The same current flows through all the components

34
Q

How his total resistance calculated in a series circuit

A

The sum of all the resistance

35
Q

How is pd distributed throughout a parallel circuit

A

The pd is the same across all the components

36
Q

How is current distributed in a parallel circuit

A

The current is shared between each branch

37
Q

What does adding another resistor in parallel mean

A

The total resistance decreases

38
Q

Why does the total resistance decrease when another resistor is added in parallel

A

Because there r more areas for the current to go so the current increases.
An increase in current means a decrease in resistance

39
Q

What does ac stand for

A

Alternating current

40
Q

What does dc stand for

A

Direct current

41
Q

How is the current flowing in ac supplies

A

Constantly changing direction

42
Q

How is the current flowing in dc supplies

A

All flowing in the same direction

43
Q

What is the voltage type in ac supplies

A

Alternating voltage

44
Q

What is the voltage type in dc supplies

A

Direct voltage

45
Q

What is frequency or cycles per second’s unit

A

Hertz

Hz

46
Q

What colour is the neutral wire

A

Blue

47
Q

What is the colour of the live wire

A

Brown

48
Q

What is the colour of the earth wire

A

Green and yellow

49
Q

What is the function of the neutral wire

A

It completes the circuit. When the appliance is working the current flows through live and neutral wires

50
Q

What is the pd of the neutral wire

A

0V

51
Q

What is the function of the live wire

A

Provides the alternating pd

52
Q

What pd is the live wire

A

230V

53
Q

What is the function of the earth wire

A

Stops appliance casing from becoming live.

If there is a fault it sends the current to the ground

54
Q

What is the pd of the earth wire

A

0V

55
Q

Why can the live wire cause an electric shock

A

Your body provides a link between the wire and the earth and the current flows through you.
There is a large pd across your body because the earth is 0V and the wire is 230V

56
Q

What is the equation for energy transferred linking to power

A

Energy transferred (J) = Power (W) x Time (s)

E=Pt

57
Q

What is the equation for energy transferred linking to charge flow

A

Energy transferred (J) = Charge flow (C) x Potential difference (V)

E=QV

58
Q

What is the equation for power linking current and pd

A

Power (W) = Potential difference (V) x Current (A)

P=VI

59
Q

What is the equation for power linking current and resistance

A

Power (W) = Current*2 (A) x Resistance (ohms)

P=I*2R

60
Q

What is the national grid made up of

A

A giant system of cables and transformers that connects power stations and consumers

61
Q

Why is having really high voltage better than current

A

Because having high current means that the wire heats up and lots of energy is lost to the surroundings

62
Q

What pd are the wires for transporting energy on the national grid

A

400,000V

63
Q

If the transformers are nearly 100% efficient then how could the power of them be written

A

Power in primary coil = power in secondary coil

64
Q

What materials are rubbed together to build up static

A

Certain insulating materials

65
Q

What does rubbing the two insulators do to electrons

A

The electrons are scraped off one and dumped on the other

66
Q

What r typical examples of materials used for static

A

Polythene rod or acetate rod with a cloth duster

67
Q

Why can sparks occur

A

When the electric charge from static builds up too much and the pd gets large enough the electrons can jump across the gap between the charged object and the earth or any earthed conductors (could be people)

68
Q

What is it called when objects move due to having the same or different charges

A

Electrostatic attraction / repulsion

69
Q

How can u show electric fields

A

Field lines

70
Q

If the object is positively charged then what direction r the arrows going in the field lines

A

Away from the object

71
Q

If the object is negatively charged what direction r the arrows going on the field lines

A

Towards the object

72
Q

What happens to a charged object when placed in an electric field

A

It feels a force, either attraction or repulsion

73
Q

What does a strong electric field do to air

A

The electrons in the particles are removed.

Ionised

74
Q

What happens to air when it is ionised

A

It becomes much more conductive so the current flows through it if there is a higher enough pd and this is spark

Physics Paper 1 (4 decks)

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