Mains Electricity Flashcards
What does AC stand for?
Alternating Current
What does DC stand for?
Direct Current
In a plug, what is the inner layer of cable made of and why?
It is made of copper because it is ductile and has low resistance
In a plug, what is the outer layer of cable made of and why?
It is made of plastic (specifically thermosoftening) because it’s flexible and doesn’t conduct
In a plug, what is the plug case made of and why?
It is made of plastic (specifically thermosetting) because it doesn’t conduct
In a plug, what are the 3 plug pins made of and why?
They are made of brass because it is a good conductor, rigid and strong
How many volts and hertz are in the mains electricity?
230V
50Hz
How do we calculate the frequency of AC supply?
1/ time for one cycle
What does the Earth Wire do?
It’s designed to give a very low resistance to the other wires
What colour is an Earth Wire?
Green and yellow
What colour is the neutral wire?
Blue
What colour is the live wire?
Brown
What are the electrons doing in the direct current?
All electrons are going in the same direction
What current does the Mains Electricity use?
AC
In a circuit breaker, what happens to the electromagnet when the current flowing?
The electromagnet creates a magnetic field
