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PPL Aircraft General > Electrical System > Flashcards

Electrical System Flashcards

1
Q

Electrical current measurement

A

Amps

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2
Q

Amps measures…?

A

Electrical current

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3
Q

What is electrical current?

A

Rate of flow of electric charge

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4
Q

Rate of flow of electric charge is known as?

A

Current

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5
Q

What is needed to make a current flow through a component?

A

Potential difference (voltage)

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6
Q

Voltage is also known as..?

A

Potential difference

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7
Q

What current comes from a battery or generator?

A

DC

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8
Q

What converts DC to AC?

A

Inverter

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9
Q

What does an inverter do?

A

Converts DC to AC

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10
Q

What type of current flows only in one direction?

A

DC

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11
Q

Voltage measures what?

A

The force driving electricity through a circuit

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12
Q

What is the reciprocal of resistance?

A

Conductivity

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13
Q

What is the reciprocal of conductivity?

A

Resistance

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14
Q

Ohm’s Law

A

V = IR

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15
Q

What symbol represents current?

A

I

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16
Q

The symbol I represents what?

A

Current

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17
Q

An AC current changes its flow at regular intervals known as?

A

Cycles

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18
Q

What is a complete cycle of an AC current?

A

Current flowing to a maximum and minimum point then back to 0

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19
Q

What is frequency?

A

Rate at which AC changes direction

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20
Q

What does Hertz essentially mean?

A

Cycles per second

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21
Q

Measurement of frequency is?

A

Hertz

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22
Q

Cycles per second is known as?

A

Hertz

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23
Q

What changes AC to DC?

A

Rectifier

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24
Q

What does a Rectifier do?

A

Changes AC to DC

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25
Q

What voltage is easier to produce? AC or DC?

A

AC

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26
Q

What is amplitude?

A

Maximum value of a wave relative to zero

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27
Q

What is the maximum value of a wave relative to zero known as?

A

Amplitude

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28
Q

What is a Phase?

A

Position in the waveform relative to 360 degrees

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29
Q

In teerms of phases, how many degrees is one complete cycle of a wave?

A

360

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30
Q

Frequency and wavelength relationship type?

A

Inverse

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31
Q

Frequency and wavelength relationship?

A

Higher frequency = Shorter wavelength

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32
Q

What symbol represents one wavelength?

A

Lambda

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33
Q

An electric current passing through a coppeer wire does what?

A

Generates a magnetic field

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34
Q

What is the electrical system typically in a light aircraft?

A

DC

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35
Q

What must be done to electricity generated by an aircraft’s alternator?

A

It must be rectified into DC

36
Q

What connects a batteery/alternator and an aircraft’s various electrical components?

A

Bus bar

37
Q

If a Bus bar is Earthed, what does that mean for an aircraft’s electrical components?

A

They are also Earthed

38
Q

What is Common Earth?

A

Thee notion that aa Bus Bar’s components are Earthed due to the Bus Bar being Earthed

39
Q

What is the ‘exhaust’ of a typical battery?

A

Hydrogen and oxygen

40
Q

The ‘exhaust’ of hydrogen and oxygen from a charging battery means what for its storage?

A

It must be vented

41
Q

When is the largest current draw on the battery?

A

Start-up

42
Q

For batteries in series, what is added together?

A

Voltage

43
Q

How are battery voltages added together?

A

In series

44
Q

For batteries in parallel, what is added together?

A

Capacity

45
Q

How are battery capacities added together?

A

In parallel

46
Q

Aircraft batteries are typically arranged in what system?

A

Parallel

47
Q

What remains constant for batteries in parallel?

A

Voltage

48
Q

What changes for batteries in parallel?

A

Amps

49
Q

Where must battery fluid be in relation to its plates?

A

The fluid should coveer the plates

50
Q

How is electricity generated in a generator?

A

Moving a wire armature within a magnetic field

51
Q

The output of a compound wound generator is relatively…?

A

Constant

52
Q

How is a generator electrically self-sufficient?

A

It has its own permanent magnetic field

53
Q

Why is an alternator not electrically self-sufficient?

A

It doesn’t have a permanent magnetic field

54
Q

What current does a generator produce?

A

AC

55
Q

Principles of an alternator?

A

Magnetic field spins within a wire

56
Q

What characterises the wires of an alternator (known as the stator)?

A

They are stationary

57
Q

What is a stator?

A

Stationary set of wires in an alternator

58
Q

What rectifies AC in an alternator?

A

Diodes

59
Q

What do diodes do in an alternator?

A

Rectify AC into DC

60
Q

How do diodes rectify in an alternator?

A

They only permit one direction of flow

61
Q

What is the secondary operation of a diode in an alternator?

A

Preventing reverse current flow from the battery into the alternator

62
Q

What controls the flow of current in an alternator?

A

Diode

63
Q

What is the relationship between an alternator’s voltage and battery voltage?

A

The alternator voltage is marginally higher than the battery voltage

64
Q

Why is the alternator voltage marginally higher than the battery voltage?

A

To allow the battery to be fully recharged

65
Q

What system characteristic allows an aircraft battery to be fully recharged?

A

Alternator voltage is higher than the battery voltage

66
Q

What are thee main advantages of an alternator?

A

Provides constant electrical output
Lighter than generators
Easier to maintain

67
Q

What is the principle disadvantage of an alternator?

A

It requires an initial current to create a magnetic field

68
Q

Significant issue with an alternator’s setup of a magnetic field spinning within a wire?

A

The magnetic field requires a battery

69
Q

Current out of a battery is known as?

A

Discharge

70
Q

What is discharge?

A

Current out of a battery

71
Q

Solenoids are used in what electrical device?

A

Relay

72
Q

How is a typical relay contact held open (meaning the circuit is incomplete)?

A

By a spring

73
Q

What is often the cause of an excessive current?

A

Faulty voltage regulator

74
Q

What component prevents excessive currents?

A

Voltage regulator

75
Q

What type of material prevents electrostatic charge from dissipating easily?

A

Insulator

76
Q

What type of material allows electrostatic charge to dissipate easily?

A

Conductor

77
Q

A continuous conducting path on an aircraft is essential to preventing what?

A

Differential electrical charge between parts that can produce sparks

78
Q

What is necessary to prevent differential electrical charge between parts that can produce sparks?

A

Continuous conducting path

79
Q

What components ensure conducting paths are continuous on aircraft?

A

Bonding wires

80
Q

What key component prevents differential electrical charge on aircraft?

A

Bonding wires

81
Q

What dissipates static charge into the atmosphere?

A

Static wickss

82
Q

What do static wicks do?

A

Dissipate static charge

83
Q

In terms of electricty, what kind of material are aircraft tyres?

A

Conductors

84
Q

What do aircraft tyres do on landing in relation to electricity?

A

Earth built-up static electricity

85
Q

What kind of instruments are not electrically powered?

A

Pitot-static instruments

86
Q

Are pitot-static instruments electrically-powered?

A

No

PPL Aircraft General (10 decks)

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