Chapter 4 - Fundamentals Of Electricity, Magnetism, And Electronics

Question 1

Alternating current (AC)

Answer 1

Electric current that alternately changes direction.

Question 2

Ammeter

Answer 2

An instrument for measuring the flow of electric current.

Question 3

Ampere (A)

Answer 3

A unit of measurement for flow of electric current.

Question 4

Atom

Answer 4

The smallest particle of an element that can exist, alone or in combination.

Question 5

Base

Answer 5

One of the three elements in a transistor.

Question 6

Bound electron

Answer 6

A closely held electron that never leaves an atom.

Question 7

Circuit breaker

Answer 7

A switch that trips to the open position to stop excess current flow in a circuit. After a breaker trips, it can be reset to allow current flow through the circuit.

Question 8

Collector

Answer 8

One of the three elements in a transistor.

Question 9

Conductors

Answer 9

A material along or through which electricity will flow with slight resistance; silver, copper, and carbon are good conductors.

Question 10

Direct current (DC)

Answer 10

Electric current that flows continuously in one direction, such as that generated by a storage battery.

Question 11

Domain

Answer 11

A group of atoms having the same magnetic polarity.

Question 12

Electronic

Answer 12

Term used to describe any electrical component, assembly, circuit, or system that uses semiconductor, or solid state, devices.

Question 13

Electron

Answer 13

Negatively (-) charged particle that travels in orbit around the center of the atom.

Question 14

Emitter

Answer 14

One of the three elements in a transistor.

Question 15

Forward biased

Answer 15

Term used to describe a diode that is connected in a circuit in such a way that it acts as a conductor.

Question 16

Free electron

Answer 16

An electron that can be freed to move from one atom to another when electricity is applied.

Question 17

Fuse

Answer 17

Circuit protection device that contains an internal conductor that is designed to melt when current in the circuit exceeds the current rating of the fuse.

Question 18

Fusible link

Answer 18

A special type of wire that is designed to melt when too much current is flowing through a circuit. This type of circuit protection device is generally used in circuits that carry large amounts of current.

Question 19

Insulator

Answer 19

A nonconductor of electricity. Material in which the majority of atoms contain bound electrons. Can also refer to the aluminum-oxide ceramic material that surrounds a spark plug’s center electrode and forms top portion of the spark plug.

Question 20

Jumper wire

Answer 20

A length of wire with alligator clips at each end used to bypass components or to apply source voltage directly to a component.

Question 21

Magnetic field

Answer 21

Force produced by a magnet and evidenced by lines of force, or magnetic flux, around the magnet.

Question 22

Multimeter

Answer 22

A measuring instrument that is a combination ammeter, ohmmeter, and voltmeter.

Question 23

Neutron

Answer 23

An electrically neutral particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Question 24

Ohmmeter

Answer 24

An instrument that measures the resistance to the flow of electrical current through a conductor.

Question 25

Ohm

Answer 25

A measurement of the resistance to the flow of an electrical current through a conductor.

Question 26

Ohm’s law

Answer 26

Formula used to calculate an unknown circuit value when two other values are known.

Question 27

Parallel circuit

Answer 27

An electrical circuit in which there is more than one path for the current to flow.

Question 28

Peak inverse voltage (PIV)

Answer 28

The amount of voltage a diode can take in the reverse direction without being damaged.

Question 29

Proton

Answer 29

A large, heavy, positively (+) charged particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Question 30

Relay

Answer 30

A device used as an electrical switch, allowing a relatively low current to be used to control a high current.

Question 31

Reverse biased

Answer 31

A term used to describe a diode that is connected in a circuit in such a way that it acts as an insulator.

Question 32

Semiconductor diode

Answer 32

A two-element solid state electronic device that permits current to flow in only one direction.

Question 33

Semiconductor material

Answer 33

A material that can act as a conductor under certain conditions and and insulator under other conditions. Common semiconductor materials include silicon, germanium, and selenium.

Question 34

Series circuit

Answer 34

Electrical circuit in which the current passes from the power source to each device in turn and then flows back to other terminal of the battery.

Question 35

Series-parallel circuit

Answer 35

Electrical circuit in which some electrical devices are connected in series and other are in parallel.

Question 36

Silicon-controlled rectifier

Answer 36

A semiconductor component that conducts electricity only when dc voltage is applied to its gate.

Question 37

Solenoid

Answer 37

An iron core, surrounded by a coil of wire, that moves due to magnetic attraction when an electrical current is fed to the coil. Solenoids are often used to actuate mechanisms by electrical means.

Question 38

Solid-state device

Answer 38

A term used to describe electrical devices that have no moving parts. These devices are made from semiconductor materials.

Question 39

Switch

Answer 39

A device used to control the flow of current in an electrical circuit.

Question 40

Test light

Answer 40

A diagnostic tool used to check for continuity or the presence of voltage in an electrical circuit.

Question 41

Transformer

Answer 41

An electrical device designed to increase or decrease voltage or current levels.

Question 42

Transistor

Answer 42

A semiconductor device that is often used for switching applications.

Question 43

Volt (V)

Answer 43

A unit of electrical force that will cause a current of one ampere to flow through a resistance of one ohm.

Question 44

Voltmeter

Answer 44

An instrument for measuring the voltage in an electrical circuit.