Electricity in the Home Flashcards
Alternating Current
a current which is constantly changing direction, usually from the mains
Cable
insulated wire used for transmitting electricity
Cable Grip
holds cable in place
Direct Current
current which always flows in the same direction, usually from cells or batteries
Double Insulation
improves safety by making sure an item has two cases without any wires touching the case. This means that the case cannot become live because plastic down not conduct electricity. This means that if one layer of insulation is damaged, the appliance is still safe for usage
Earth Terminal
connects to the neutral case of an appliance, so that if a fault occurs the current flows down the earth wire, preventing electric shocks, is yellow and green
Earth Wire
the yellow and green wire, goes through the middle, connects to the metal case of an appliance, occurs when the current flows down from the earth wire instead of through you if you touch it, prevents electric shock
Frequency
the amount of waves per second
Fuse
a thin piece of wire that gets too hot and blows if too high a current flows, breaking the current and preventing fires, can be 3A 5A or 13A
Live Terminal
the brown terminal which carries live current, often with risk of electric shocks if it touched
Mains Cable
cables that consist of several brass wires encased in plastic
National Grid
a system of transformers and cables
Neutral Terminal
the blue wire inside the fuse
Neutral Wire
the blue wire, goes on the left
Oscilloscope
allows a visual representation of electrical signals, such as sound signals or electrical signals from someone’s heart
Period
the time for one wave
Plug
contains the cable, cable grip, three wires and a fuse, made of copper because it is flexible, brass because it’s an alloy, strong and durable, copper because it is a good conductor, plastic because it is an insulating, hence a casing
Pins
the part of a plug that attaches into the socket, made of brass due to it being durable, an alloy and a good conductor, with a neutral, hot and ground pin
RCCB
Residual Current Circuit Breaker
resettable fuses, usually found in homes, for sensitive than plug fuses
RCD
Residual Current Devices
resettable fuses, usually found in homes, more sensitive than plug fuses
Transformer
a device that can change the potential difference or voltage of an alternating current, so that less energy is wasted when it is transported from the national grid to other buildings
Step-Up Transformer
increases the potential difference, which reduces the energy loss in transmission cables
Step-Down Transformer
reduces the potential difference before the electricity crosses to homes
Watts
unit of power
