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A level physics > Electrical Circuits > Flashcards

Electrical Circuits Flashcards

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1
Q

Switch

A

Opens / closes a circuit

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2
Q

Cell

A

Provides power to a circuit

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3
Q

Lamp / Bulb

A

Emits light by heating a filament

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4
Q

Resistor

A

Slows down the flow of electricity (current), providing resistance to a circuit

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5
Q

Variable resistor

A

Same as resistor, but the level of resistance can be changed

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6
Q

LDR

A

Changes resistance depending on the intensity of light. As the intensity increases, the resistance decreases

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7
Q

Thermistor

A

Changes resistance depending on temperature. As the temperature increases, resistance decreases.

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8
Q

Diode

A

Allows current to flow in one direction

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9
Q

LED

A

Light emitting diode
Converts electrical energy to light

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10
Q

Ammeter

A

Measures current

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11
Q

Voltmeter

A

Measures P.D

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12
Q

Fuse

A

Breaks a circuit when at a certain current

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13
Q

Energy

A

Capacity for doing work
Symbol: E
Unit: J, Joule
Equation: E = QV, E= Pt, E = FS
Base units: kgm^2 s-2

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14
Q

Frequency

A

Number of oscillations in a given time period (1s)
Symbol: f
Unit: Hertz, Hz
Equation: f = 1/T, f = v/λ
Base units: s^-1

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15
Q

Current

A

Rate of flow of electrical charge
Symbol: I
Unit: Amperes, A
Equation: I = Q/t, I = V/R, I = P/V
Base units: A

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16
Q

Potential difference

A

The energy supplied per coulomb of charge
Symbol: V
Unit: Volts, V
Equation: V = E/Q, V = IR
Base units: kgm^2 s^-3 A^-1

17
Q

Power

A

Rate of energy transfer / work done
Symbol: P
Unit: Watts, W
Equation: P = E/t, P = IV, P = I^2R
Base units: kgm^2 s^-3

18
Q

Charge

A

The physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field
Symbol: Q
Units: Coulombs, C
Equation: Q = It, Q = E/V
Base units: As

19
Q

Resistance

A

The ratio of P.D across a component to current though it
Symbol: R
Unit: Ohms, Ω
Equation: R = V/I, R = P/I^2
Base units: kg ^2 s^-3 A^-2

20
Q

Resistivity

A

Specific property of a material that measures its electrical resistance
Symbol: ρ
Units: Ohm meter, Ωm
Equations: ρ = RA/L (A = cross sectional area, L = length of wire)
Base units: kgm^4 s^-3 A^-2

21
Q

Time period

A

Time take for one complete oscillation of a wave
Symbol: T
Unit: second, s
Equation: T = 1/f
Base units: s

22
Q

Time

A

Measurable duration of an action, process, or condition
Symbol: t
Unit: second, s
Equation: t = E/P, t = Q/I
Base units: s

23
Q

Ohm’s law

A

Voltage is directly proportional to current at a constant resistance.
V = R x I

24
Q

Kirchhoff’s first law

A

The total current into a junction equals the total current out a junction
I 1 = I 2 + I 3 + ……

25
Q

Kirchhoff’s second law

A

In any loop around a circuit, the sum of the EMFs equal the sum of the P.Ds

26
Q

Current in a series circuit

A

Current is constant in all parts
I 1 = I 2 = I 3

27
Q

Current in a parallel circuit

A

Current is split between branches based on resistance
I total = I 1 + I 2 + I 3

28
Q

Voltage in a series circuit

A

Shared amongst components
V total = V 1 + V 2 + V 3

29
Q

Voltage in a parallel circuit

A

All components get the full voltage
V total = V 1 = V 2 = V 3

30
Q

Resistance in a series circuit

A

Total resistance in the sum of the individual resistance of each component
R total = R 1 + R 2 + R 3

31
Q

Resistance in a parallel circuit

A

Reciprocal of total resistance in the sum of the reciprocals of the individual resistances
1/R T = 1/R 1 + 1/R 2 + …. 1/R n

32
Q

Typical trigger voltage for a diode

A

0.6V

33
Q

Forward bias

A

When a diode is setup in a way that allowed current to flow through

34
Q

Backward bias

A

When a diode is set up in a way that does not allow current to flow through

35
Q

Potential divider

A

A circuit with two or more resistors in series with each other. There is a source of fixed P.D between them, which is divided between the components in the circuit.

36
Q

Relationship between resistance of a component to the P.D over it in a potential divider

A

The proportion of resistance to the total resistance is equal to the proportion of the P.D to the total P.D over the component

37
Q

Potential divider equation

A

V1 = (V0 x R1) / (R1 + R2 + … Rn)

38
Q

What is the gradient of an IV graph?

A

1/R
Therefore, a steeper gradient is a lower resistance

A level physics (5 decks)

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