Electricity Flashcards
What is electricity?
Electricity is the presence of charged particles such as electrons and protons.
Electrical energy is the movement of electrons in an electrical conductor.
In an electrical current, the number of electrons in motion is called what?
Amperage or Current
Amperage, or Current, is measured in what?
Amperess or Amps
What is a Direct Current circuit?
A current that moves in one direction only
What is an Alternating Current circuit?
A current that changes directions
What is Voltage?
Voltage is the difference in electrical potential between two points in a circuit. It’s the push or pressure behind current flow through a circuit, and is measured in (V) volts
What is Current?
Current is what flows on a wire or conductor like water flowing down a river. Current flows from negative to positive on the surface of a conductor. Current is measured in (A) amperes or amps
What is Resistance?
Resistance determines how much current will flow through a component. Resistors are used to control voltage and current levels. A very high resistance allows a small amount of current to flow. A very low resistance allows a large amount of current to flow. Resistance is measured in ohms.
What is Power (wattage)?
Power is the amount of current times the voltage level at a given point measured in wattage or watts.
What is OHMS Law?
E=IxR, or Voltage equals Current times Resistance.
What is JOULE’s Law?
P=IxE, or Power equals Current times Voltage.
What letter represents Voltage?
E - measured in volts
What letter represents resistance?
R - measured in Ohms
What letter represents current?
I - measured in amps
What letter represents power?
P - measured in watts
Which way does current actually flow?
Negative to Positive
What is the voltage for AA, AAA, C, and D batteries?
1.5 Volts
What is magnetic induction?
The process by which an object or material is magnetized by an external magnetic field.
What are electromagnetic waves?
Electromagnetic fields plus electric fields. Created by vibrations of an electrical charge.
What is energy?
The capacity to do mechanical work.
What are forms of energy?
Thermal, Chemical, Radiant, Nuclear, Magnetic, Elastic, Sound, Mechanical, Luminous, Mass, and Electrical.
What surrounds anything with an electrical charge?
Electric fields
What are electromagnetic fields?
Radiating waves of magnetic energy in all directions.
What are resistors?
They resist the flow of electricity. The electricity is dissipated in the form of heat.
Compare fixed vs. variable resistors
Fixed always have the same resistance whereas variable resistors, or rheostat or potentiometer, have different resistances available
What are capacitors?
Capacitors store electrical charges, like batteries, for later use
What are diodes?
Diodes allow one way flow of energy, convert AC to Pulsating DC, and protects equipment from voltage surges. They regulate surges.
What are transistors?
Transistors switch, amplify, or reduce voltage.
What are transformers, or coils?
Transformers amplify or reduce AC
What are some characteristics of a series circuit?
Loads are connected end to end. Only one path for current to flow. Current remains the same. Total resistance is the sum of individual resistances. Total voltage is the sum of individual resistance drops.
What are some characteristics of a parallel circuit?
Current has two or more paths to flow. Volts remain the same. Total resistance is ALWAYS SMALLER than the smallest load resistance. Current splits between parallel loads depending upon resistance.
In what kind of circuit does the current remain the same throughout the circuit?
A series circuit
In what kind of circuit does voltage remain the same throughout the circuit?
A parallel circuit
What are the three parts of a circuit?
Source, Path, and Load
What does a source do in a circuit?
Provide power
What is a path in a circuit?
A conductor by which current flows
What is a load in a circuit?
Where the work is being done
