Ch. 6: Circuits

Question 1

Current

Answer 1

The movement of charge that occurs between two points that have diff electrical potentials. By convention, current is defined as the movement of positive charge from the high potential end of a voltage source to the low potential end. In reality current is negatively charged particles (electrons) that move in a circuit, from low potential to high potential

Question 2

Conductive materials

Answer 2

Current flows only in conductive materials

Question 3

Metallic conduction

Answer 3

Relies on uniform movement of free electrons in metallic bonds

Question 4

Electrolytic conduction

Answer 4

Relies on the ion concentration of a solution

Question 5

Insulators

Answer 5

Materials that do not conduct a current

Question 6

Kirchhoff’s laws

Answer 6

Express conservation of charge and energy.

Question 7

Kirchhoff’s junction rule

Answer 7

States that the sum of currents directed into a point within a circuit equals the sum of the currents directed away from that point

Question 8

Kirchhoff’s loop rule

Answer 8

States that in a closed loop, the sum of voltage sources is always equal to the sum of voltage drops

Question 9

Resistance

Answer 9

Opposition to the movement of electrons through a material. Calculated using the resistivity, length, and cross-sectional area of the material in question

Question 10

Resistors

Answer 10

Conductive materials w a moderate amount of resistance that slow down electrons without stopping them. Can be combined to calculate the equivalent resistance of a full or partial circuit

Question 11

Ohm’s law

Answer 11

States that for a given resistance, the magnitude of the current through a resistor is proportional to the voltage drop across the resistor

Question 12

Resistors in series

Answer 12

Additive and sum together to create total resistance of a circuit

Question 13

Resistors in parallel

Answer 13

Cause a decrease in equivalent resistance of a circuit

Question 14

Across each resistor in a circuit

Answer 14

A certain amount of power is dissipated, which is dependent on the current through the resistor and the voltage drop across the resistor

Question 15

Capacitors

Answer 15

Have the ability to store and discharge electrical potential energy. In series, cause a decrease in the equivalent capacitance of a circuit. In parallel, sum together to create a larger equivalent capacitance.

Question 16

Capacitance

Answer 16

In parallel plate capacitors is determined by the area of the plates and the distance between the plates

Question 17

Dielectric materials

Answer 17

Insulators placed between the plates of a capacitor that increases capacitance by a factor equal to the material’s dielectric constant 𝓚

Question 18

Anmeters

Answer 18

Inserted in series in a circuit to measure current; they have negligible resistance

Question 19

Voltmeters

Answer 19

Inserted in parallel in a circuit to measure a voltage drop; they have very large resistances

Question 20

Ohmmeters

Answer 20

Inserted around a resistive element to measure resistance; they are self powered and have negligible resistance