Electricity And Circuits Flashcards
What does an ammeter measure
Current
What does a voltmeter measure
Potential difference (voltage)
What is electric current (I)
The amount of electricity flowing through a circuit per second
What is electric current measured in
Amps (A)
What is potential difference/voltage
Energy per unit of charge that is transferred by a component
Must ammeters be wired in series or in parallel
Series
What is the current rule
The total current into a junction must equal the total current out of the junction
Must voltmeters be wired in series or in parallel
In parallel
What is the Volt rule
Total potential difference over everything in each loop equals the potential difference over the supply
Current =
Charge divided by time
Energy transferred =
Charge x potential difference
Charge =
Current x time
Potential difference =
Current x resistance
What is resistance measured in
Ohms Ω
Why do resistors transfer heat
Because the electrons collide with the ions in the lattice of the material
How do you reduce the energy transfer coming out of a wire
Cool the wire
use low resistance wire
make the wires thicker
make the wires as short as possible
Energy transferred =
Current x potential difference x time
What is power measured in
Watts W
Electrical power =
Current (squared) x resistance
What happens in a direct current
Voltage is always constant and electricity flows in a certain direction
What happens in an alternating current
Voltage changes from neg to pos and pos to neg.
Direction also changes 
Do cells and batteries supply direct or alternating current
Direct
Describe the UK domestic supply
Alternating current
Frequency of 50 Hz
Voltage of 230V
What does the live wire do
Carries the current which enters the device