4.2 Energy, Power & Resistance Flashcards
what does a switch do?
turns an electric current on and off
what does a cell do?
provides the circuit with a source of energy or emf
what does a lamp do?
transforms electrical energy to light energy as a useful form
what does a resistor do?
controls the amount of electric current flowing in a circuit or through a component
what does a variable resistor do?
controls the amount of electric current flowing in a circuit or through a component but different to a normal resistor because the resistance can be controlled
what does a fuse do?
acts as a safety device - will melt or ‘blow’ if the current gets too high
what does a battery do? how is it different to a cell?
provides the circuit with a source of energy or emf, a battery is two or more cells
what is an ammeter?
measures the amount of electrical current flowing in a circuit or through an electrical component, measured in amps
what is a voltmeter?
measures the size of the potential difference in a circuit or through an electrical component, measured in amps
what is a thermistor?
a electric component that responds to the temperature of the environment and changes its resistance as a result
what is a diode?
a component that allows current to flow only in one direction, often used to protect delicate components from having large currents through them
what does LED stand for?
light-emitting diode
what does LDR stand for?
dependent resistor
what does a LED do?
like a diode, allows electrical current to flow through it in only one direction, when current flows through it, it emits light (lamp)
what is the unit for potential difference?
volts, V
define potential difference or voltage (p.d)
the p.d measured across a component is the energy lost per unit charge by the charges passing through the component (transfers electrical energy to other forms of energy), is it measured in volts
define electromotive force (e.m.f)
the e.m.f of a supply is the energy gained per unit charge by charges passing through the supply, when a form of energy is transferred to electrical energy carried by the charges, measured in volts
what is an example of a source of emf?
a cell or battery
what is the distinction between emf in terms of energy transfer?
p.d = transfers electrical energy into other sources emf = transfers energy from other sources into electrical energy