7.2 + 7.3 Electric Current

Question 1

What is electric current?

Answer 1

The rate of flow of charge. (How much charge passes a given point per second)

Question 2

How is current defined in an equation ?

Answer 2

I = Q/T

Question 3

What is current measured with and in what circuit?

Answer 3

Measured using an ammeter in series.

Question 4

What is special about ammeters to limit error.

Answer 4

They have very low resistance to avoid affecting current.

Question 5

What is Current measured in ?

Answer 5

Amperes

Question 6

What happens to current in series and why?

Answer 6

Stays the same since entering rate must equal leaving rate otherwise electrons would be lost.
(Links to Kirchoff’s 1st Law)

Question 7

What is Kirchoff’s 1st Law?

Answer 7

Total current entering a junction must be equal to total current leaving a junction.

Question 8

What happens to current in a parallel circuit?

Answer 8

Current splits along paths since it has more direction to flow through. Total Current = sum of currents in each part

Question 9

What law would be broken if current was lost in series?

Answer 9

Conservation of charge