Chapter 23: Electric Current Flashcards
Describe what potential difference is.
When the ends of an electrical conductor are at different electrical potentials, charge flows from one end to the other.
What is electric current?
Like the flow of water from a higher potential to a lower potential, electric current is the flow of electric charge.
Describe what a voltage sources does.
Charges flow only they are “driven” or “pushed”. A voltage source acts as a pumping device to provide a difference in electric potential.
Describe electrical resistance.
How much current is slowed down by the material.
What is direct current?
The flowing of charges in ONE direction.
What is alternating current?
Electrons in the circuit are moved first in one direction and then in the opposite direction.
How do you calculate voltage?
Voltage = Current (I) x Resistance (R)
How do you calculate current?
Current = Voltage (V) / Resistance (R)
How do you calculate total resistance?
Series: Req = R1 + R2 + R3 + …
Parallel: 1/Req = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + …
How do you calculate power?
Power (W) = Current (I) x Voltage (V)
Describe a series circuit.
When the loads of a circuit are attached one after the other in the same line of current flow.
Describe a parallel circuit.
When the loads of a circuit branch off from the main line of current flow creating nodes. The same voltage acts across each one and any single one completes the circuit independently of all the others.
