Electric current Flashcards
What happens when two objects are rubbed together?
They become charged because electrons are transferred from one object to the other
What is electric current and what is it measured in?
It is the flow of a charge, it is measured in amperes
How does electrostatic attraction and repulsion work?
When two objects have been rubbed and one gains an electron, it is now negatively charged, and one loses an electron, it is now positively charged. These charges mean similar charges will repel these objects and opposites will attract them.
How does current work in a circuit?
The metal conductors in components and wires contain charges free to move and when a circuit is made the battery causes these charges to flow round the circuit.
What happens to current and the moving charges in the wires as they flow round the circuit?
The flowing free electrons are not used but flow in a continuous loop as long as there is something charging them with energy
How is an insulator different to a conductor? what causes this?
Insulators do not conduct electricity as conductors do, this is because they do not contain charges that are free to move.
