ELECTRONICS

Question 1

Electricity

Answer 1

Form of energy that can travel invisibly through conductors, carried by moving charged particles, especially electrons.

Question 2

Conductor

Answer 2

A material that allows an easy flow of electrons. Silver, Copper, Aluminum are all good conductors.

Question 3

Insulator

Answer 3

A material that resists the flow of electrons. Rubber, Plastic, and Ceramic are good insulators.

Question 4

Circuit

Answer 4

Loop of conductors that takes electricity from its source to the load and back to the source.

Question 5

Load

Answer 5

Anything in a circuit, such as a heater, a light, or a motor, that uses power.

Question 6

Direct Current (DC)

Answer 6

Steady flowing type of electricity, produced by batteries and used in flashlights, boom boxes, and computers.

Question 7

Alternating Current (AC)

Answer 7

Type of current that changes direction many times per second. Used in home wiring, mainly for long-distance transport.

Question 8

Electric Current

Answer 8

The amount of electrons flowing through a conducting material.

Question 9

Electric Power

Answer 9

Amount of power consumed by an electrical device.

Question 10

Voltage

Answer 10

Annotated as a capital V, the force that affects the rate at which electricity flows through a conductor (electrical pressure).

Question 11

Voltage Drop

Answer 11

How much electrical pressure is used in a part of the circuit.

Question 12

Frequency

Answer 12

Number of complete alternations from one direction to the other and then back again that alternating current makes per second. Each complete alteration is called a cycle.

Question 13

Resistance

Answer 13

The opposition of a material to the flow of electricity through it. ALL circuits must have a resistance; otherwise, they are short circuits, which can lead to overheating.

Question 14

Amperes

Answer 14

Annotated as a capital A, represents current strength.

Question 15

Ohms

Answer 15

Annotated as Ώ, represents the measurement of resistance in any circuit.

Question 16

Watts

Answer 16

Annotated as a capital W, represents the measurement of power consumed by an electrical device.

Question 17

General Knowledge (Electricity and Magnetism)

Answer 17

There exists a close relationship between electricity and magnetism, explaining electromagnets, transformers, motors, and generators.

Question 18

Electromagnet

Answer 18

A current passing through a conductor creates a magnetic field around it. The conductor (Wire) is wrapped around an iron core.

Question 19

Transformer

Answer 19

Essentially two electromagnets placed next to each other. Transformers change the voltage and amperage of a current.

Question 20

Step up Transformer

Answer 20

Has more turns of wire on the output side, creating a stronger output voltage than input voltage.

Question 21

Step Down Transformer

Answer 21

The exact opposite of a step-up transformer.

Question 22

Motor

Answer 22

Changes electric energy into kinetic energy. In a motor each magnet has two poles (North and South). A rotor spins inside a stationary magnet as an electromagnet, repelling the magnet to create electricity.

Question 23

Generator

Answer 23

Changes kinetic energy into electric energy.

Question 24

Series Circuit

Answer 24

All moving electrons pass through every part of the circuit, including all loads and switches. Total voltage of the loads must equal the total voltage of the circuit.

Question 25

Parallel Circuit

Answer 25

Loads are placed between two supply wires, so all get the same voltage. Current can flow through any load even if one is switched off.

Question 26

Circuit Rule

Answer 26

Current is the same at all points in a series circuit. Voltage is the same at all points in a parallel circuit.

Question 27

Circuit Breaker Box

Answer 27

Breaks up the load in a building into multiple circuits and prevents excess current from flowing.

Question 28

Typical Wiring

Answer 28

Typical wiring includes three wires: Black (hot conductor), White (neutral), and Bare (emergency route).

Question 29

Semiconductor

Answer 29

Can act as an insulator or conductor. Silicon is the main semiconductor, forming the basis of computer memory and logic boards.

Question 30

Transistors

Answer 30

Device that can switch a current, regulate its flow, or amplify a current based on a smaller unit.

Question 31

Diodes

Answer 31

Devices that allow current to flow in one direction only.

Question 32

Ohm’s Law

Answer 32

Describes the relationship between voltage, amperage, and ohms: A = V/Ώ.

Question 33

The Law of Electrical Power

Answer 33

Used to calculate power consumed by a device: W = V x A.

Question 34

Finding Resistance in a Circuit (Series)

Answer 34

In a series circuit, add the resistance of each load.

Question 35

Finding Resistance in a Circuit (Parallel)

Answer 35

In a parallel circuit, add the inverses of the resistance.