Basic Electricity 1 Flashcards
Define Electrostatic Force
Force of attraction generated between an electron and the nucleus of an atom.
Define Potential Difference
Size of electrostatic force between 2 objects
Define electromotive Force
Sum of the potential differences of all charged particles in the electrostatic field.
Define Ion Charge
Positive or negative Charge gained by an atom based on losing or gaining electrons
Define Coulombs Law
The strength of the attraction/repulsion force between 2 charged objects depends upon:
1: Amount of charge on each object.
2: Distance between the objects.
Define conductor
Materials with electrons loosely bound to their atoms. (Free motion of a large number of electrons)
Define Insulator
Materials with electrons tightly bound to their atoms and require large amounts of energy to free the electrons from the influence of the nucleus.
Define Resistor.
Made of materials that conduct electricity but offer more opposition to current flow than good conductors.
Common conductor materials
Copper, Silver, Gold
Common insulator materials
Rubber, plastics, glass and dry wood
Common Resistor Materials
Carbon, silicon, germanium, tin, lead.
Define Voltage
Potential Difference that causes one coulomb of current to do one joule of work. “E” or sometimes “V”
What is a Coulomb?
6.28x10^18 electrons
Define Current
Movement or flow of Free Electrons from one atom to the next magnitude of potential difference applied.
“I” or sometimes “A”
Describe Electron Flow
Flow of electrons from negative potential to positive potential.
Describe Conventional Current
Flow of positive charges in opposite direction of current flow due to holes left by moving electrons.
Describe Direct Current
Current flow continuously in one direction.
Describe Alternating Current
Current that periodically reverses direction.
Describe Ideal Source
Theoretical concept of current or voltage supply (like a battery) that has no losses and is a perfect voltage or current supply.
Describe a Real Source
A source that has losses and not perfect.
Describe Resistance
Opposition to current flow. Depends on amount of free electrons of a material.
“R”. Unit-Ohms.
1 ohm limits 1 amp when voltage is 1 volt.
What is Ohm’s Law?
E=IR
Describe Conductance
Opposite (reciprocal) of Resistance
“G”
G=1/R
Describe Power with respect to electricity.
Rate of performing work or heat generation in electrical components.
P=IE=IIR
P=I^2R
Watts
Describe Inductance
Ability of a coil to store energy, induce a voltage in itself, and oppose changes in current flow through it.
“L”
Unit-Henry (H)
L=delta current / delta time.
Voltage induced in a coil (VsubL)
VsubL=-L(delta current / delta time)
What is a Henry?
Unit of Inductance
1 Henry = amount of inductance that induces 1 volt when the current is 1 amp per second.
Describe Capacitance
Ability to store electric charge
“C”
Unit-Farads
Amount of charge (Q) stored divided by voltage applied.
C=Q/E
Describe Frequency
Number of alternating voltage or current cycles per second.
Hertz
Describe electron domains
Electrons spin in the same direction around atoms and form domains which produce magnetic poles.
How is Magnetism produced
As a result of electrons spinning on their axis around the nucleus of an atom.
What is the Law of Magnetism?
Like magnetic poles repel and unlike poles attract.
Define Magnetic Flux
Group of magnetic field lines emitted outward from the North Pole of a magnet.
Greek letter phi. Units of Weber (Wb)
1 Wb=1x10^8 magnetic field lines.
Describe Magnetic Flux Density (B)
B=amount of magnetic flux that passes thru a certain area perpendicular to direction of magnetic flow.
Weber/ m^2
Describe Permeability
Ability of material to form magnetic field in itself, or magnetization a material obtains when magnetic field is applied.
If high->more likely to become magnetized.
Describe Magnetomotive Force (MMF)
Strength of a magnetic field in a coil of wire.
Describe Reluctance
Opposition to production of flux in a material.
Inversely proportional to permeability.
Describe Ferromagnetic Materials
Higher Permeability. Properties of iron
Iron, steel, nickel, cobalt, Al icon and peralloy (commercial alloys). These materials keep magnetism after removal of magnetic field.
Describe Paramagnetic Materials
Materials with permeability slightly higher than 1. Lose magnetism upon removal of magnetic field.
Aluminum, platinum, manganese, chromium.
Describe Diamagnetic Materials
Relative permeability <1.
Magnetic field repels them.
Bismuth, antimony, copper, zinc, mercury, gold, and silver.
Left Hand Rule for Current Carrying Conductors
Thumb points in direction of current flow and fingers wrap around in direction of magnetic field.
Left Hand Rule for Coils
Fingers wrap around coil in direction of current flow. Thumb points to the North pole of induced field.
What is Hysteresis?
After magnetizing ferromagnetic material in one direction, the material won’t relax back to zero magnetism upon removal of magnetic field.
Examples of magnetic components that use hysteresis and electromagnetism
Contactors, starters, relays, solenoids.
Faradays Law (induced voltage, EMF)
V=-N(delta flux/delta time)
Factors
1: number of turns of a coil
2: how fast conductor cuts across magnetic lines of force, or flux.
Know electrical symbols on prints
I don’t have pictures of these.
What are schematics?
Uses symbols for components to show info about circuits. Shows relationship of components with one another. It’s possible to trace operation of the circuit with schematics.