Basics of electricity for anaesthetists Flashcards
In electronics, what are the solids classified into?
Conductors Insulators Semi-conductors Based on their ability to move/”conduct” electrons
What is Ohm’s law?
Describes the relationship between the three basic quantities of electricity. V = IR
What is the RMS?
It’s the root mean square voltage = mains voltage
What is the peak voltage?
Peak voltage = 1.413 x root mean square voltage
Where is the neutral wire attached to earth?
At the substation
What are the 4 common classes of components in electrical circuits?
Resistors Capacitors Inductors Transformers
What is a conductor?
Has outer electrons of their atoms loosely bound and are free to move through the material under the influence of an electrical potential - they conduct electricity
What material makes a good conductor?
Metals Non-metals like carbon Solutions containing ions, such as saline
What is an insulator?
Has outer electrons which are firmly bound, and application of electrical potential has no effect on them
What materials are insulators?
Rubber Mica Glass
What is a semi-conductor?
Group of materials that normally behave as non-conductors but under certain circumstances (eg temp change) can perform like conductors
What is an example of a semi-conductor?
Thermistors Transistors Diodes
What materials are semiconductors made of?
Silicon Germanium Lead sulphide Selenium Gallium arsenide
What is direct current?
Charge flows in one direction: the current (or voltage) does not change with time
What is alternating current?
It varies sinusoidally, driving an alternating current around the circuit which reverses it’s direction in a sinusoidal manner from positive to negative and back, repeating the pattern 50 x a second (frequancy = 50Hz)
Why are high frequencies not used in AC?
Because they can’t be economically transmitted over long distance
What is the disadvantage of using lower frequency to transmit AC power?
At low frequencies, excitable tissues such as muscle and nerve are at greater risk of excitation and damage, so increased risk of electrical shock
What is a magnetic field?
The region throughout which a magnet or current-carrying conductor exerts it’s effects
How are magnets used to generate power?
When you move a magnet in and out of a conductor coil, or move a coil in and out of a magnetic field this produces movement of electrons in the conductor
What happens at a power station to generate power?
Water/steam drives turbine Turbine connected to generator Generator made of magnet surrounded by coils Spinning magnet generates movement of electrons in coils Produces electricty
What is the peak voltage in the UK?
1.413 x 240V = 340V
What is transmission voltage in the UK?
16 kV
What is responsible for wasted energy in transmission cables?
Resistive heating due to current
How is wasted energy minimized in transmission cables?
Resistive power loss = I (squared) x R Therefore need to keep current low - transfer at high voltage
How is the voltage brought down from high voltage transmission cables?
Step down transformers at the substations