Fundamentals Flashcards
A battery is essentially a _____ _____.
Power source
The potential of something to do work.
Energy
This determines how much current is pulled from/for (certain portions of) the current.
Resistor
What is the base unit of resistors/resistance?
Ohm
Varying resistor values/strengths are typically denoted by…
different colored bands on the resistor.
This device stores electric charge for some time and then, at a later time, its charge is steadily pulled upon or bled out, such as to feed another part of the circuit.
Capacitor
A Farad (F) is the base unit of a…
Capacitor
The two plates of a capacitor should…
NEVER touch.
The two plates of a capacitor are often covered with a _____ _____.
non-conductive material
What is the base unit of an inductor?
Henry (H)
An inductor _______ a magnetic field to make it stronger, so that even more energy can be stores inside that magnetic field.
concentrates
Magnetic fields of an inductor increase with the _____ _ _____.
amount of coils
What is the main difference between inductors and capacitors?
Inductors store a magnetic field, while capacitors store an electric field.
What is the purpose of a diode?
It makes it so that the electric current only flows in one direction.
In a diagram that features a diode, the current flows in the direction that the….
triangle/arrow is pointing.
What does LED stand for?
Light-emitting diode
What is a transistor’s 2 main functions?
- Act as an on/off switch
2. Act as an amplifier
A transformer allows a _____ to be increased or decreased inside of a circuit.
voltage
Transformers affect the size of what?
a magnetic field
These are commonly used to keep electronics and sound technology from “blowing out”
Transformers
This is a closed loop that carriers electricity
Circuit
Current is….
the flow of electronics in a circuit
Electrons always have a _____ charge.
Negative
This describes the equal and opposite number of positive charges going in the opposite direction of the electric current.
the “hole current”
what is the mathematical/engineering symbol used for the hole current in calculations?
i
What is the base unit for current?
Amperes or “A”
Amps = ______/seconds
Coulumbs
Define voltage
The “push”/source that CAUSES the current to flow.
This opposes the current flow in a circuit.
Resistance
When it comes to measuring resistance, the more ohms….
the more resistance to the current flow.
DC stands for the…
direct current
What is a prime example of direct current?
a battery
AC stands for…
alternating current
In this current, the directions of the current alternative such as in a wave or pendulum
Alternating current
“Somewhere along the path, the circuit is broken.” This describes a _____ ______
open circuit
What is a prime example of an open circuit?
Light switch
What is a prime example of an alternating current?
a wall socket
When electricity goes through a wire that creates an unintended path of least resistance in a larger system, we call this a
short circuit
Electricity always chooses the ____ _ _____ ______.
path of least resistance.
