Electricity 1: Introduction & Static Electricity Flashcards
What is an electron?
An electron is a subatomic particle with a negative charge of electricity
Electrons act as the main carrier of electricity in solids.
What is a proton?
A subatomic particles with a positive charge of electricity.
What is a neutron?
A subatomic particles no overall charge.
What is an electric field?
Area surrounding an electric charge that exerts a force on other charged particles.
What happens with charges of the same type?
e.g. positive + positive
or
Negative + negative
They repel each other.
What happens with charges of opposite types?
A positive + a negative charge will attract each other.
What is static electricity?
When surfaces rub together (producing friction), electrons can be removed from one surface and added to the other.
This creates an imbalance in charge. This is called static electricity.
What is a Van der Graaff Genrator
A machine that causes friction between a rubber belt and plastic rollers in order to build up electrical charge on a metal dome. A large potential difference is generated.
Describe how lightening is formed
Lightning is a discharge of electricity.
It happens when ice crystals within cloud they crash into each other. Electrons are knocked off of some ice crystals and added to others, this causes the bottom of the cloud to become more negatively charged. Lightning happens when the negative charges (electrons) in the bottom of the cloud are attracted to the positive charges (protons) in the ground.
Define current?
Current electricity refers to the flow of electrons in an electric circuit from one place to another.
What does current need to flow?
For current to flow in a circuit there must be a power supply and at least one full path (loop) of conducting materials.
What is a electrical conductor?
Materials which allow charges to move through them easily are called conductors?
What materials make good electrical conductors
Metals. Some common conductors are copper, aluminium, gold, and silver,
What is an electrical insulator?
An electrical insulator is a material in which electric current does not flow freely
What materials are described as good electrical insulators?
Some common electrical insulators are glass, air, plastic, rubber, and wood.
