Circuits And Currents Flashcards
1
Q
Current
A
- the flow of electrical charge (electrons) around a complete circuit per second
- current flows in opposite direction of the electrons
2
Q
Ammeter
A
- a device for measuring of an electric current in a circuit
3
Q
Amps
A
- unit of measurement of an electric current
- symbol A
4
Q
Battery
A
-two or more electrical cells joined
5
Q
Cell
A
Power supply which pushes the charge around the circuit
6
Q
Motor
A
Component/machine that spins when a current flows through
7
Q
Switch
A
Component that controls the current by making or breaking the circuit
8
Q
Wires
A
Carry the current between components
9
Q
Measurements of charge and current
A
- coulombs measure electric charge
- amps measure current
- 1A = 1 coulomb
10
Q
Electric circuit must have:
A
- source of energy
- a component
- component loop
- no short circuits
11
Q
Short circuit
A
- The part of the circuit with no component
- current will always take the route with the least resistance (the short circuit)
- it has a choice of where it will go
12
Q
Series circuit
A
- Components followed by each other on the same loop
- if one bulb or component breaks the circuit will fail
13
Q
Parallel circuit
A
- Has More than one loop
- allows you to control the bulbs separately
14
Q
Current in a series circuit
A
- would measure all the same
- adding another component would make the current decrease
15
Q
Current in a parallel circuit
A
- current will vary due to branches
- it splits between the loops so it will have different measurements
- total current =sum of all current measured in all branches