Electrical Currents & Circuits Flashcards
What are the main properties of a parallel circuit?
- There is more than 1 path for current to flow.
- The potential difference across all parallel components is the same
- The total current is divided
- Current and resistance are inversely proportionate.
What are the 4 main properties of a series circuit?
- There is only 1 path for current to flow.
- The potential difference is split across all components of the circuit.
- The total current is the same throughout the whole circuit.
- Potential difference and resistance are directly proportionate to one another.
Define Potential Difference.
The energy transferred per unit charge between any two points in a circuit.
Define Electromotive force.
the amount of electrical energy transferred by the battery for unit charge.
Potential difference is split into 2 things. What are they?
Electromotive force (EMF)
Terminal potential difference
What is terminal potential difference?
The energy that remains while the battery is still in use.
Define electrical Current.
The rate at which electrical charge flows in a circuit
From which terminal does conventional current flow?
From the positive to the negative terminal of a battery.
Why are ammeters always connected in series?
Because the have little to no resistance.
Why are Voltmeters always connected in parallel?
Because they have a very high resistance which could cause your circuit to short circuit.
Define Resistance.
the ratio of the potential difference across a resistor to the current in the resistor.
What is a parallel circuit also known as?
A current divider.
What does Ohm’s law state?
the potential difference over a resistor is directly proportionate to the current flowing through the resistor provided the temperature of the resistor remains constant.
What is matter?
Everything that has a mass and occupies a space.
What are the states of matter?
Solid
Liquid
Gas
