Electricity

Question 1

Define electricity. (1)

Answer 1

Describes phenomena arising from the presence and flow of electric charge.

Question 2

What are the two types of electricity?

Answer 2

1. Static
2. Current

Question 3

What two laws explain most electrical phenomena?

Answer 3

1. Opposite charges attract and like charges repel
2. Only electrons (negative charges) can move

Question 4

Describe static electricity. (2)

Answer 4

• Build-up of static electricity requires insulators
• Discharge or static electricity requires conductors

Question 5

Define grounding.

Answer 5

The discharging of electrons.
* Named this because excess charge ultimately ends up in the ground

Question 6

What are the three methods to charge objects?

Answer 6

1. Friction
2. Induction
3. Conduction

Question 7

Describe charging with friction.

Answer 7

• Physical contact or rubbing two objects cause one to steal electrons from the other
• Occurs with 2 neutral-charge objects

Question 8

Describe charging with induction.

Answer 8

• Even without charging, charges in different objects affect each other. So, one can induce a charge on a neutral object
• Occurs between a negatively/positively charged object and a neutral object.

Question 9

Describe current electricity. (2)

Answer 9

• Moving electricity, or the flow of electrons
• We control the flow of electricity through paths called circuits

Question 10

What 4 components are in a complete circuit?

Answer 10

1. Source of electricity
2. Electrical load
3. Control device
4. Connectors

Question 11

What are the two types of circuits?

Answer 11

1. Series
2. Parallel

Question 12

What is the difference between series and parallel circuits?

Answer 12

In a series circuit, one break anywhere shuts down everything. In a parallel circuit, one break may not shut down everything, depending on where it is.

Question 13

What is the purpose of the source of electricity in a circuit? List examples. (3)

Answer 13

• Pushes electrons through the circuit
• Works by separating charge (i.e producing voltage)
• e.g., generator, solar panel, cells, batteries

Question 14

What is the purpose of the electrical load in a circuit? (3)

Answer 14

• Consumes electricity
• Converts electricity into the desired energy (heat, light, motion)
• Any electrical device or appliance

Question 15

What is the purpose of a control device in a circuit? (2)

Answer 15

• Allows you to turn a device on/off
• Not necessary but convenient

Question 16

What is the purpose of connectors in a circuit? (2)

Answer 16

• Connect parts together
• Any breaks will stop the flow of electricity

Question 17

Define / describe cells (batteries).

Answer 17

• Use a combination of two different metals and a chemical to separate charge
• When you submerge two metals in the chemical, a chemical reaction occurs which forces one to steal electrons
• One metal becomes negatively charged while the other is positive
• This produces a voltage, which them pushes electrons through the circuit

Question 18

What kind of environment does static electricity occur more often in?

Answer 18

Dry environments. Wet environments assist in discharging static build up.

Question 19

What is another name for voltage?

Answer 19

Potential Difference