5.2 Cables and plugs Flashcards
What is the casing of a mains plug/socket made of and why
plastic, as good insulator, hard, stop wires touching causing short circuit, to stop someone being electrocuted, tough and flexible. It is double insulated
What is the earth wire of the socket connected too
ground at your home
How many volts does the earth wire carry
0V
What are the pins made of inside a three-pin plug
brass, as it is a good conductor and doesn’t rust or oxidise
What are the wires made out of in a plug and why
copper, good electrical conductor and flexible
Why would you need thicker cables and give example
- more current passes through
- less resistance
- stops heating effect on the current making the wires too hot
- cables that join together your wall sockets
What is a short circuit
If live wire touches the neutral wire, big current passes through, fuse blows cutting current off
What happens if someone touches a live wire
Big potential difference will act across their body, causing current to flow through them, completing circuit and giving them an electric shock
What colour are the live, neutral and earth wire
brown, blue, yellow and green striped
How many volts does the neutral terminal have
0V
How many volts does the live terminal have
230V
What does the live wire do
Carries a current that alternates between N and P potential difference
What does the neutral wire do
Completes the circuit
What does the earth wire do
Safety wire, making it safer to touch the appliance if it develops a fault
What is a fuse
Breaks the circuit if the current is too high, protecting the cable from overheating and catching fire
