Electricity Flashcards
What is current
Current is the flow of electrical charge.
Electrical current is the flow of electrical charge round
How do you work our charge?
Charge = current x time
What are current, time and charge measured in?
Current=Amps
Charge=coulombs
Time=seconds
What is the formula linking Potential difference and resistance?
Potential different=current x resistance
What is an ohmic conductor?
Ohmic conductors have a constant resistance and it doesn’t change with the current. The current in one is directly proportional to the potential difference.
Parts of a circuit
Ammeter: measures the current in amps flowing through
Voltmeter: measures the potential difference across the circuit
Must always be placed in parallel yo what your investigating
Cell: the battery in the circuit
Resistance - how do you change it?
The resistance of a circuit can depend on a number of factors like if it is series or parallel
If it’s a long or short circuit
And if the circuit contains resistors
What is an LDR?
A light dependent resistor is a resistor that depends on the intensity of light. With no light the resistance is the highest. They are used in -automatic lights -solar lights -burglar alarms
What is a thermistor
A thermistor is a temperature dependant resistor that in hot conditions the resistance drops and in cold conditions increases.
They are used in
-temperature dectectors
-car engines
Series circuits
What are the key features
- different components in a line, end to end
- if you remove a component the circuit won’t work as the current can’t travel around
- the potential different is shared and adds up across the circuit
Parallel circuits
What are the key features?
- Each component is separately connected to the supply
- If you remove a component the circuit still works
- they are normally used in houses for lights and other electrics
- the potential difference is the same across all components
Mains supply
- is alternating current
- the frequency is 50 cycles per second
- is 230 volts
Plugs Which is which Blue Green Brown
Blue - neutral
Brown - live
Green -earth