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Physics > Electricity GCSE > Flashcards

Electricity GCSE Flashcards

1
Q

cell/battery

A

Provides the circuit with a voltage

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2
Q

Switch

A

Turns on/off circuit

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3
Q

Fixed Resistor

A

Resistor limits flow of CURRENT. Resistance cannot be changed

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4
Q

Variable resistor

A

A resistor with a slider that can change its resistance

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5
Q

Thermistor

A

Resistor depends on temperature, as temperature increases, resistance decreases

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6
Q

Light dependent resistor

A

Resistance depends on light intensity, as light intensity increases, resistance decreases

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7
Q

Diode

A

Allows current to flow in one direction only

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8
Q

Light-Emitting Diode

A

Diode which emits light as current passes through it

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9
Q

Ammeter

A

Used to measure current in circuit

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10
Q

Voltmeter

A

Used to measure voltage in a circuit

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11
Q

What does a circuit require to work effectively

A

An energy source of PD

A complete circuit as a loop

Electrical components

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12
Q

How is an ammeter connected to a circuit?

A

In SERIES

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13
Q

How is a voltmeter connected to a circuit?

A

In PARALLEL to the component which’s voltage is being measured

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14
Q

What is the direction of flow in a circuit?

A

From the POSITIVE to NEGATIVE terminal of the power supply

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15
Q

What are some sources of PD?

A

Cells, batteries, electrical generators

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16
Q

What is PD?

A

Energy transferred per unit of charge

V = E / Q

17
Q

What is current?

A

Rate of flow of electric charge

18
Q

What is the unit for charge?

A

Coulomb (c)

19
Q

What is the equation for Charge?

A

Q = IT

20
Q

What is convectional current?

A

The flow of positive charge from the POSITIVE TO NEGATIVE terminals of a cell

21
Q

What is special about current in a closed circuit?

A

Current is the same at every point of a closed series circuit

22
Q

What do resistors do?

A

Resist current, the higher the resistor the lower the current.

Good conductors have low resistance, bad conductors have high resistance

23
Q

What is the unit for resistance?

A

Ω

1 volt per amp

24
Q

What does the current through a component depend on?

A
  • Resistance of component

- Potential difference across component

25
Q

Equation for voltage

A

V = IR

26
Q

Required Practical for Resistance

A

Measuring how resistance changes as length of wire changes

  • Length of wire is directly proportional to the resistance

Errors
- Systematic (Crocodile clips could have not started on 0. Ammeter and Voltmeter could be faulty)

  • Random (current could have NOT been turned off, so temp of wire increased affecting precision)

Safety considerations -

  • High current means high temperature, so wire could be hot
  • No liquids close to the experiment
27
Q

What is Ohms law?

A

The current through a conductor is DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL to the potential difference across it. ONLY RELEVENT AT CONSTANT TEMPERATURES

V = IR

Ohmic conductors are conductors that obey this law

28
Q

What is special about a filament lamp (ohms law)?

A
  • Non Ohmic conductor
  • Because resistance of lamp increases as temperature of lamp increases
  • Temp increases because of higher current
29
Q

Why does temp increase as current increases in a filament lamp?

A
  • As current increases, temp increases
  • So the fixed atoms of the lamp vibrate more
  • Causing an increase in resistance because electrons find it harder to pass through
  • Causing the current to increase at a SLOWER RATE
30
Q

Linear Electrical Components

A
  • Fixed resistors
  • Wires
  • Heating elements
31
Q

Non-Linear Electrical Components

A
  • Filament lamps
  • Diodes & LEDs
  • LDRs
  • Thermistors
32
Q

How can thermistors be used

A
  • Ovens
  • Fridges
  • Thermometers
  • Fire alarms
33
Q

How can LDRs be used?

A
  • Alarm clocks

- Security lights

34
Q

Characteristics of a Series Circuit

A
  • Current is same at all points
  • Total PD is shared between components
  • Total resistance is sum of all resistors
35
Q

Characteristics of a Parallel Circuit

A
  • Total current through whole circuit is SUM of the currents through the separate branches
  • PD across each component is the same
  • Total resistance of two resistors is less than the resistance of the smallest individual resistor
36
Q

What is static electricity?

A
  • Where two electrically insulating materials are rubbed against each other
  • And electrons are transferred from one to the other

Physics (19 decks)

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