Electric Circuits Flashcards
Another name for voltage?
Electric potential difference
What happens when a potential difference exists between two points?
Charge will flow from one point to the other.
Electric current? Symbol? Unit?
A measure of the flow of charge in a conductor. Symbol: I Unit: A
Voltage? Symbol? Unit?
Electric potential difference. Symbol: V Unit: v
What do voltage sources do? What are three types of sources of voltage?
Voltage sources create a potential difference between two points on a conductor.
- Battery
- Wall outlet
- Generator
Electrical resistance? Symbol? Unit?
A measure of the difficulty charge has in moving across a potential difference. An opposition to the flow of current. Symbol: R Unit: Ohm
Ohm’s Law
I = V/R
Current in a conductor = voltage across the conductor/resistance of the conductor
Circuit
A closed path along which current can travel
True/False:
All conductors have some resistance.
True
Resistor
A device in a circuit that has some definit resistance. Resistors take electrical energy and turn it into some other kind of energy.
Series circuit
- The current through each part of the circuit is the same.
- Voltage lost across each part may be different.
Parallel circuit
- Current through each element may be different.
- Voltage along each parallel path is the same.
Equivalent resistance
It is possible to replace any combination of resistors in a circuit with a single resistor of the “equivalent resistance” of the resistors replaced.
Direct current
Voltage applied to a circuit that always drives charge in one direction creates a direct current. (battery)
Alternating current
Voltage applied to a circuit changes in a way that drives charge first in one direction, then in the opposite direction. (wall sockets, most generators)
