7.2/7.3 vocab Flashcards
Circuit
a complete path in which electrons flow; that includes an energy source, electrical load, and conducting wires.
transistor
a tiny device that acts as a switch or amplifier in a circuit.
microchip
a set of electronic circuits on a small flat piece of silicon.
circuit diagram
a model used by engineers and designers in order to design and analyze an electrical circuit.
series circuit
an electrical circuit in which the components are arranged one after another; an electrical circuit that only has one path along which electrons can flow
parallel circuit
an electrical circuit in which components are arranged in parallel paths; an electric circuit that has multiple paths along which electrons can flow
voltage
the difference in electrical energy between two points in a circuit
current
a measure of the amount of electric charge that passes by a point in a given time interval
resistance
the degree to which a substance opposes the flow of electric current through it
ohm’s law
the law that establishes that relationships between voltage, current and resistance. As long as temperature stays the same, V=IR.
short circuit
an accidental low-resistance connection between two points in a circuit, often causing excess current flow.
fuse
a safety device in an electrical circuit which has a metallic conductor with a low melting point compared to the circuits wires, and which melts when there is excess current in the circuit.
circuit breaker
a safety device in which a wire heats up and bends when there is excess current in the circuit, triggering a spring mechanism that turns off the flow of electricity
three pronged plug
a safety device that grounds any excess current in the circuit. the two main prong connect and close the circuit, making electricity flow, and the third prong diverts any excess current into the grounding wire in the building.
GFCI
a safety device that detects a change in current and opens the circuit , stopping the current
