Electrical principles Flashcards
What is the definition of electrical current?
Rate of movement of charge
What is the definition of emf?
Force required to cause current to flow in a circuit
What is the unit of current?
Amps (A)
What is the unit of p.d?
Volts (V)
What are the two main effects of electrical current and give 3 examples of each?
Heating effect- cookers, irons, kettles
Magnetic effect - motors, generators, transformers
What is the difference between a.c and d.c?
D.c flows in one direction around a circuit
a.c constantly changes direction in a circuit
What is the unit to measure resistance?
Ohms
What is the unit to measure e.m.f?
Volts (V)
What is a conductor? and give two examples
A material with low resistance that allows electric current to flow e.g copper, aluminum
What is an insulator? and give two examples
A material with high resistance that doesn’t allow current to flow e.g plastic, rubber
What is a semi conductor? and give two examples
Material with electrical conductivity between and insulator and a conductor e.g silicon, germanium
What instrument is used to measure current?
Ammeter
What instrument is used to measure potential difference?
Voltmeter
What instrument is used to measure resistance?
Ohmmeter
What instrument is used to measure e.m.f?
Voltmeter
Complete sentence…
An ammeter has a … resistance and must be connected in … series with the load.
Low resistance
in series with load
Complete sentence…
A Voltmeter has a … resistance and must be connected in … series with the load.
High resistance
in parallel with load
What instrument is used to measure insulation resistance?
MIT 420
What instrument is used to measure power?
Wattmeter
What instrument is used to measure rotational speed?
Tachometer
What instrument is used to measure continuity?
MIT 420
State ohms law
V=IR
State 3 causes of short circuits
Dampness
break down of insulation
Accidental damage
What is the function of a fuse in an electrical circuit?
Used to prevent overloading of electrical circuits
State 4 types of resistor construction and give one practical application of each
Surface mount technology - electronic equipment
Wire wound resistance - power circuits
Metal oxide resistors - electronic equipment
Carbon resistors - electronic equipment
State 2 methods of resistor identification
Colour coding
Letter and digit code