Chapter 10- Electricity Flashcards
Electric circuit
a path for electrons to follow, consisting of a power supply, one or more loads, and conductors joining the power supply and loads.
Electric charge
physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force when near other electrically charged matter. Electric charge can be positive or negative.
Nucleus
central part of an atom, made up of protons and neutrons; roundish structure inside a cell that acts as the control centre for the cell. Plural = nuclei.
Electrons
negatively charged, very light particles in an atom. Electrons move around the nucleus of the atom.
Negative electric charge
the charge on an atom or object with more electrons than protons.
Protons
positively charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom.
Positivity charged
having more protons than electrons (more positive charges than negative charges)
Negatively charged
having more electrons than protons (more negative charges than positive charges)
Neutral
having the same number of protons and electrons
Power supply
a device that can provide an electric current
Load
device that uses electrical energy and converts it into other forms of energy
Electric current
a measure of the number of electrons flowing through a circuit every second. An increase in current means an increase in the rate of flow of electrons in the circuit.
Filament
coil of wire made from a metal that glows brightly when it gets hot. The filaments in light globes heat up when electricity flows through them.
Switch
device that opens and closes the conducting path through which a current flows
Resistance
measure of the electrical energy required for an electric current to pass through an object. The energy is changed to heat.
