Electricity Flashcards
Multiple Choice: In which type of circuit do voltage drops add up to equal the source voltage?
A) Series
B) Parallel
A) Series
Fill in the blank: The process of transferring electrons from one object to another is called ______.
Charging
What is the relationship between total current and individual branch currents in a parallel circuit?
The total current is the sum of the currents through each branch.
What is the effect of adding resistors in series on total resistance?
It increases the total resistance.
What is a discharge?
A discharge is the sudden release of accumulated electric charge. It occurs when an object with a high electric potential difference finds a path for the charge to flow, neutralizing the imbalance.
What is a series circuit?
A circuit in which components are connected end-to-end so that there is only one path for current to flow.
What is the definition of voltage and what is it measured in?
Voltage is the amount of current, electrical potential that is lost at every component in a circuit. It is measured in volts (V).
How is the total resistance calculated in a parallel circuit?
Using the formula 1/R_total = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + … for all resistors.
Fill in the blank: In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each component is ________.
The same
What is electrical potential?
Electrical potential is the amount of electric potential energy per unit charge (energy a charge has due to its position in an electric field) at a specific point in an electric field. It represents the ability of an electric field to do work in moving a charge from one point to another.
What is the main difference between series and parallel circuits?
Series circuits have a single path for current, while parallel circuits have multiple paths.
What is electric current and what is it measured in?
Electric current is the flow of electric charge (electrons) through a conductor, such as a wire. It is measured in amperes (A).
Fill in the blank: In a series circuit, the current ________ through each component.
Remains the same
Multiple Choice: Which of the following materials is a good insulator?
A) Copper
B) Rubber
C) Aluminum
B) Rubber
What is Ampère’s law?
Ampère’s Law states that the magnetic field around a closed loop is directly proportional to the total electric current passing through the loop. It mathematically describes how electric currents create magnetic fields. This is the equation:
What is resistance and what is it measured in?
Resistance is the opposition to the flow of electric current in a material. It determines how much a material slows down the movement of electrons, converting electrical energy into heat; it is measured in ohms (Ω).
What happens to the total current in a parallel circuit if more branches are added?
The total current increases.
True or False: The total voltage in a series circuit is equal to the sum of the individual voltages across each component.
True
True or False: Static electricity can only be produced by friction.
False
Fill in the blank: In a series circuit, the total voltage is ________ across all components.
Divided
What is the principle behind a Van de Graaff generator?
It generates high voltages through the accumulation of static electric charge.
What are the two different charges?
Positive and negative
How is resistance calculated?
Resistance (Ω) = Voltage (V) ÷ Amperes (A)
What is a parallel circuit?
A circuit in which components are connected across common points or junctions, providing multiple paths for current to flow.
What are the two types of electric charge?
Positive charge and negative charge.
What happens when two objects with the same type of charge come into contact?
They repel each other.
True or False: Static electricity can cause sparks or electric shocks.
True
What is static electricity?
Static electricity is the buildup of electric charge on the surface of an object. This occurs when two materials come into contact and then separate, causing electrons to transfer from one material to another. The object that gains electrons becomes negatively charged, while the one that loses electrons becomes positively charged.
True or False: In a series circuit, if one component fails, the entire circuit stops working.
True
Fill in the blank: The phenomenon where charged objects attract neutral objects is called ______.
polarization
How can an object get positively or negatively charged?
An object can become electrically charged when it gains or loses electrons, creating an imbalance of positive and negative charges. It mainly gets charged because of friction, conduction, or induction.
True or False: In a parallel circuit, if one component fails, the rest can still operate.
True
What is the total resistance in a series circuit?
The sum of the individual resistances of all components.
