Electricity in the Home

Question 1

Alternating Current

Answer 1

a current which is constantly changing direction, usually from the mains

Question 2

Cable

Answer 2

insulated wire used for transmitting electricity

Question 3

Cable Grip

Answer 3

holds cable in place

Question 4

Direct Current

Answer 4

current which always flows in the same direction, usually from cells or batteries

Question 5

Double Insulation

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Earth Terminal

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Earth Wire

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Frequency

Answer 8

the amount of waves per second

Question 9

Fuse

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Live Terminal

Answer 10

the brown terminal which carries live current, often with risk of electric shocks if it touched

Question 11

Mains Cable

Answer 11

cables that consist of several brass wires encased in plastic

Question 12

National Grid

Answer 12

a system of transformers and cables

Question 13

Neutral Terminal

Answer 13

the blue wire inside the fuse

Question 14

Neutral Wire

Answer 14

the blue wire, goes on the left

Question 15

Oscilloscope

Answer 15

allows a visual representation of electrical signals, such as sound signals or electrical signals from someone’s heart

Question 16

Period

Answer 16

the time for one wave

Question 17

Plug

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Pins

Answer 18

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

Question 19

RCCB

Answer 19

Residual Current Circuit Breaker

resettable fuses, usually found in homes, for sensitive than plug fuses

Question 20

RCD

Answer 20

Residual Current Devices

resettable fuses, usually found in homes, more sensitive than plug fuses

Question 21

Transformer

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Step-Up Transformer

Answer 22

increases the potential difference, which reduces the energy loss in transmission cables

Question 23

Step-Down Transformer

Answer 23

reduces the potential difference before the electricity crosses to homes

Question 24

Watts

Answer 24

unit of power