electricity Flashcards
what are the atomic components and charges?
- proton (positive charge)
- neutron (no charge)
- electron (negative charge)
what are alike charges and how do they interact with each other?
things with the same charge repel each other
what are different charges and how do they interact with each other?
things with different charges attract each other
what is static electricity?
- static electricity refers to the imbalance of electric charges accumulated on the surface of an object.
- it occurs when there is an excess or deficiency of electrons, leading to the build-up of an electric charge. –
- however, there is no flow of electric current.
why do objects during static electricity become attracted?
- object that gain electrons becomes negatively charged
- object the loses electrons becomes positively charged
- as atoms always seek to be neutral (no. protons = no. electrons) and opposite charges attract, the two objects become attracted to each other
examples of static electricity (what two objects and charges)?
- balloons- when you rub a balloon against your hair, the friction between the balloon and your hair causes electrons to transfer. Hence the hair becomes attracted (sticks) to the balloon.
- carpets- when you rub your feet on a carpet, there is an imbalance of electric charges and your hand becomes negatively charged. When you touch something made of metal afterwards, which has a positive charge, the electrons from your hand jump to the metal which is experienced as a shock.
- lighting- as rain clouds move through the sky, they rub against the air around them and each other causing a huge build-up of electric charge. Eventually, when the charge is large enough, it sends to Earth as a bolt of lightning.
what is current electricity?
- current electricity involves the flow of electric charge through a conductor.
- it is a dynamic process where charges move from one point to another.
- it is present in electrical currents.
what are the requirements for an electrical circuit?
- have a closed pathway, or circuit, to flow around.
- have an energy source, such as a battery, causing the current to flow.
- flow through certain parts, or components, of the circuit that can use the energy to do something useful. e.g. lightbulb, motor.
what are insulators?
a material that prevents or reduces the flow of electricity or heat (resistors)
what are generators?
supply the electrical energy (battery)
what are conductors?
usually metal/copper wires allow electricity to flow through the circuit.
what is voltage (description)?
- measure of how much electrical potential energy is available/given to the electrons in a circuit, supplied by the battery.
- it is the force/pressure pushing electric charges through a circuit and the difference in potential energy between two different points in a circuit.
- along the way, the electrons moving transfer some of the energy to the components (e.g. light bulbs, motors).
what is voltage measured in (units)?
measured in volts (V)
what is voltage in an analogy with a water pipe?
similar to the pressure of water in a pipe or how much of the tap you open.
what is current (description)?
measure of the rate of flow of electric charge (speed of electrons) and the rate at which the electrons flow through a certain point in the circuit.
