circuits Flashcards
What is a switch?
A switch opens or closes the electric circuit thus allowing the current to either flow or not flow through it.
What is a lamp?
A filament lamp is comprised of a thin wire in inert gas; the wire gets hot and glows when a current flows through it.
What is a cell?
A cell supplies the circuit with power and provides the potential difference needed to move charge around the circuit.
What is a battery?
A battery is a series of cells. Thus it has the same job as the cell.
What is a fuse?
The purpose of a fuse is to stop the current from flowing through the circuit when it gets very high. It achieves this by melting when the current gets too high.
What is a diode?
A diode only allows current to flow in one direction. It is used to restrict current in parts of a circuit.
What is an LED?
Just like the diode, LEDs only allow the current in a circuit to flow in one direction. The difference is that the LED emits lights when current flows through it.
What is a fixed resistor and a variable resistor?
These oppose the flow of current, helping to set the current in a circuit to the wanted value.
What is a thermistor?
A thermistor is a temperature-dependent resistor. It changes its resistance according to its temperature.
What is a voltmeter?
A voltmeter is used to measure the potential difference (in volts) across a given component. It is always in parallel with the components, even in series circuits.
What is an ammeter?
An ammeter is used to measure the current (in amps) in a component. It is always placed in series with the components in the circuit, even in parallel circuits.
What is an LDR?
An LDR is a resistor that changes its resistance depending on the amount of light shining on it.
