Cells, Series and Parallel Circuits Flashcards
Cells are a source of what type of energy?
Electrical energy
What do we call a cell in common everyday language?
A battery
What is an electrolyte?
- Is a solution
- that can conduct
- an electrical current
What does an electrolyte consist of?
- positive (+) and negative (-) particles
- we call these ions
What happens when a circuit is closed?
- a chemical reaction occurs
- the chemical energy is converted into electrical energy
- A current flows
How is current conducted?
- in the electrolyte there are pieces of two different metals eg zinc and copper
- The two metals make the + and - poles of the cell (they are known as electrodes)
- When they are connected to an external circuit, the + ions are attracted to the - pole and the - ions are attracted to the + pole.
- There is potential difference between the poles
- Energy is transferred to charges in an external circuit
- The current flows through the external circuit
Schematic representation
chemical potential energy (ions before they are separated) ——-> Kinetic (movement) energy of charges (electrical energy)
Draw the components of a circuit
-
-
What are the factors that influence resistance?
-Type of conductor
What is a connector?
- substances that conduct an electrical current
- offer little resistance against the flow of charge
- metals like copper, silver and iron
[TRUE or FALSE]
All conductors, even good conductors, heat up if current flows through it
True
What when current flows?
the electrons collide with the particles of the conductor
What is a rheostat?
- It is a variable resistor
- used for example to set a stove plate higher or lower
Resistor?
- has high resistance against the flow of current
- is the component in a circuit that can control the energy transfer in the current and comes into useful forms
- is a weak conductor of electricity
What is the unit of resistance?
ohm (Ω)
What does Potential difference mean?
the difference in potential energy between two points
What is the symbol for potential difference
V (volts)
What is used to measure potential difference
voltmeter
How is a voltmeter connected?
- always connected in parallel
- over a resistor or a cell/battery
Potential difference is measured in
volts (V)
Potential difference is also called?
voltage
What are Conductors?
- metals that are used as connectors in a circuit
- offer resistance against the flow of charge (although very little)
- Little of the energy is lost due to heat(check this one)
What happens when a conductor heats up?
-current is weaker (resistance increases)
What happens when a conductor heats up?
-current is weaker (resistance increases)
What is a light bulb?
A resistor
[FILL IN THE MISSING WORD]
The more light bulbs (resistors) connected in parallel the 1)_________ the resistance
1) less