CHAPTER 8 Flashcards
ELECTRIC CURRENT
the rate of flow of charge, normally a flow of electrons in metals or a flow of ions in electrolytes
ELECTRIC CHARGE
a physical property, either positive or negative, measured in coulombs as a relative charge
ION
an atom that has either lost or gained electrons and so has a net charge
RELATIVE CHARGE
a simplified measurement of the electric charge of a particle or object, measured as multiples of the elementary charge
ELEMENTARY CHARGE
the electric charge equivalent to the charge on a proton, 1.60 x 10^-19
QUANTISED
the availability of some quantities, such as energy or charge, only in certain discrete values
FREE ELECTRONS
an electron in a metal that is not bound to an atom and is free to move- sometimes called a delocalised electron
CONVENTIONAL CURRENT
a model used to describe electric current in a circuit, conventional current travels from positive to negative, it is the direction in which positive charges would travel
ELECTROLYTE
a liquid containing ions that are free to move and so conduct electricity
IONIC SOLUTIONS
an ionic compound dissolved in a liquid to form an electrolyte
CATIONS
a positively charged ion which is attracted to the cathode
ANION
a negatively charged ion which is attracted to the the anode
CATHODE
a negatively charged electrode
ANODE
a positively charged electrode
RESISTANCE
a property of a component calculated by dividing the potential difference across it by the current in it
