energy Flashcards
What is Electric Potential Energy?
The energy needed to move a charge against an electric field. More energy is required to move a charge further or in a stronger and electric field.
What happens when a charge is moved further or in a stronger electric field?
More energy is needed to move the charge.
What is Electric Potential also known as?
Voltage
What does Electric Potential show?
Shows how strong the electric field at a location
How can work done in moving a charge be calculated?
Work can be calculated in joules or the unit of electron-volts (eV).
The amount of acceleration is greatest when
when charges are opposite and one of them have the smallest mass
electric field strength only changes when
the distance or source charge changes, other than that it remains the same
what is a vector quantity?
the electric field strength only
What has a bigger mass than electrons?
A metal sephere
What is electric current?
total amount of charge (electrons) passing through a wire over a amount of time and its measured in Amperes (A)
In which direction do negatively charged electrons move in electric current?
Negatively charged electrons move in the direction opposite the electric field.
In which direction does current flow?
positive charges move from positive to negative terminal
What is needed for current to be sustained in a circuit?
If theres a difference in voltage (electric potential difference) between 2 points in a circuit
What is electric resistance?
The opposition to current flow in a circuit.
What happens to electrons as they travel through a conductor?
They collide with fixed atoms, causing resistance.
What encourages the movement of charge in a circuit?
Electric potential difference (voltage).
What is the unit of resistance?
Ohm (Ω)
How does the length of a wire affect resistance?
A longer wire has higher resistance; a shorter wire has lower resistance.
How does the cross-sectional area of a wire affect resistance?
A wider wire has lower resistance; a thinner wire has higher resistance.
How does temperature affect resistance?
Higher temperature increases resistance; lower temperature decreases resistance.
What factors affect a material’s resistivity?
The material’s electronic structure and its temperature.
What characteristics do ideal conductors have?
Low resistivity, short length, wide cross-section, and cold temperature.
