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GCSE CCEA Physics unit 2 And 3 > Electricity > Flashcards

Electricity Flashcards

1
Q

What are the two types of current?

A
  • alternating current (ac)
  • direct current (dc)
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2
Q

Where does alternating current come from?

A

Mains (from a generator)

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3
Q

Where does direct current come from?

A

Batteries

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4
Q

What causes electricity?

A

The movement of electrons

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5
Q

What is the relative charge and atomic mass of an electron?

A
  • charge = -1
  • mass = 1/1836
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6
Q

What is the relative charge and atomic mass of a proton?

A
  • charge = +1
  • mass = 1
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7
Q

How is a negative ion formed from a neutral atom? What makes it negative?

A
  • gain of electrons
  • more electrons than protons
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8
Q

How is a positive ion formed from a neutral atom? What makes it positive?

A
  • loss of electrons
  • more protons than electrons
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9
Q

What allows a conductor to conduct electricity?

A

Free electrons which can move and carry a charge

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10
Q

What materials are conductors of electricity?

A
  • most metals
  • graphite
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11
Q

Why do insulators not conduct electricity?

A

They have very few free electrons

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12
Q

What is the name of the measuring device for volts?

A

A voltmeter

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13
Q

What is the name of the measuring device for amperes?

A

An ammeter

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14
Q

How does a voltmeter connect to a circuit?

A

Across the component

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15
Q

How does an ammeter connect to a circuit?

A

Connects directly to the circuit

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16
Q

What does Ohms Law state? (3)

A

-The current in an electrical conductor (including graphite)
- is directly proportional to the voltage across it’s ends,
- provided the temperature remains constant

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17
Q

The four factors that the resistance of a wire depends upon are:

A
  • material
  • length
  • cross-sectional area
  • temperature
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18
Q

The resistance of an insulator is ___ ____ the resistance of a conductor

A

Greater than

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19
Q

What is the relationship between resistance of a wire and its length

(At constant temp)

A

directly proportional

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20
Q

What is the relationship between resistance of a wire and its cross-sectional area

(At constant temp)

A

Inversely proportional

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21
Q

What is the gradient of a voltage current graph?

A

Resistance

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22
Q

Why does a filament bulb NOT obey Ohm’s Law

A
  • It’s temperature changes
  • when current flows through it
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23
Q

What shape would a voltage current graph be for a filament bulb?

A

A curve - not a straight line

24
Q

What is the only non-metal conductor?

A

Graphite

25
Q

What is another term for free electrons?

A

Delocalised

26
Q

What is the difference between a cell and a battery?

A

A battery is made from two or more cells

27
Q

In what direction do electrons move in an electrical circuit?

A

Negative to positive terminal

(Cathode to anode)

28
Q

What is Conventional current?

A

The flow of imaginary positive charges from the anode to cathode

29
Q

What way is an Ammeter always placed?

A

In series

30
Q

What way is a Voltmeter always placed in a circuit?

A

In parallel

31
Q

What is resistance?

A

The opposition to the movement of electrons

32
Q

What does the term ‘series’ mean

A

The components have the same current but the voltage splits

33
Q

State Ohm’s Law

A
  • Voltage is proportional to current
  • provided the temperature remains constant
34
Q

What is the equation for Ohm’s Law?

Give units

A

V=IR

Voltage = current x resistance

Volts = Amperes x Ohms

V
I R

35
Q

State the equation linking current and charge

Give units

A

Q = I x t

Charge = current x time

Coulombs = Amperes x seconds

Q
I t

36
Q

State the equation linking work done, Charge and Voltage

Give units

A

W = QV

Work done = charge x voltage

Joules = Coulombs x Volts

W
QV

37
Q

What is conventional current based on?

A

The plum pudding model

38
Q

Which side of a cell is positive and what is its name?

A

Long side
Anode

39
Q

Which side of a cell is negative and what is its name?

A

Short side
Cathode

40
Q

State the equation for resistance in a series circuit

A

Rtotal = R1 + R2 + R3

41
Q

State the equation for resistance in a parallel circuit

What do you have to do to find the final answer?

A

1/ Rtotal = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3

Invert

42
Q

Explain by collision theory how heat is generated by movement of charges (3)

A
  • electrons strike positive ions in lattice
  • kinetic energy converted to thermal
  • positive ions heat up material
43
Q

What happens to resistance as temperature increases?

A

Resistance increases

44
Q

How many joules are in 1 KWh?

A

3 600 000 J

45
Q

What is 1 KWh?

A

1000J / 1sec for 3600 sec
Or
1000J / 1sec for 1 hr

46
Q

What is the equation for KWh?

A

KW x h = KWh
Kilowatt x hour = kilowatt hour

47
Q

Why is an earth wire essential?

A

It can prevent electric shock / damage to an appliance along with a fuse

48
Q

What is the other name for a variable resistor?

How is variable resistor displayed?

A
  • Rheostat
  • resistor with arrow diagonally through
49
Q

What are the 3 wires in a three pin plug (+colour)

Where are they connected?

A
    • live wire (brown)
    • neutral wire (blue)
    • earth wire (green/yellow)
    • neutral wire in left hand pin
    • live wire in right hand pin
    • earth wire in top pin
50
Q

What is the symbol for double insulation?

A

A square inside a square

51
Q

What form of current moves in the opposite direction to conventional current?

A

Electron flow (cathode to anode)

52
Q

What size of current flows through components in series?

What does the voltage of the supply equal?

A
  • the same current through each component
  • the sum of the voltages across the separate components
53
Q

What size of voltage is observed through components in parallel?

What does the total current from the supply equal?

A
  • the same voltage as the supply
  • the sum of the currents through the components
54
Q

Why does electron flow cause heat production?

A

Free electrons-atom collisions

55
Q

Where are switches placed in a circuit?

A

The positive side (live side)

56
Q

What is alternating current? (2)

A
  • current that reverses direction
  • periodically

GCSE CCEA Physics unit 2 And 3 (8 decks)

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