P5 Electricity in the Home Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the two types of current

A

Alternating current
Direct current

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2
Q

What type of current is the main

A

Alternating

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3
Q

What does DC stand for

A

Direct current

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4
Q

What does AC stand for

A

Alternating current

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5
Q

Where will you find direct current

A

A cell or battery

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6
Q

What is direct current

A

current that flows in one direction, it is either positive or negative and found in batteries and cells

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7
Q

What would an oscilloscope graph look like for direct current

A

A straight line

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8
Q

What is the voltage for the mains supply

A

230V

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9
Q

What is the frequency for the mains supply

A

50Hz

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10
Q

What is alternating current

A

A current where the electrons move in alternating directions while moving around the circuit, fluctuating 50 times per second between positive or negative

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11
Q

What would an oscilloscope graph of alternating current look like

A

A wiggly line going above and below the 0V line

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12
Q

What colour is the live wire

A

brown

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13
Q

What is the live wire

A

The wire which the electricity enters the appliance though, after the fuse

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14
Q

What colour is the neutral wire

A

blue

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15
Q

What is the neutral wire

A

It is the wire that completes the circuit, the current comes back into the plug through it

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16
Q

What colour is the earth wire

A

Yellow and green

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17
Q

What is the earth wire

A

it is the safety wire, making appliances safer to touch

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18
Q

When is the earth wire needed

A

For appliances with metal casing

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19
Q

How does the earth wire make appliances safer

A
  • the earth wire carries free electrons (in the appliances metal casing) down to earth
  • the prevents electric shocks and does not affect the circuit
20
Q

What is A

A

The live wire

21
Q

What is B

A

Fuse

22
Q

What is C

A

Cable grip

23
Q

What is D

A

Outer insulation

24
Q

What is E

A

Neutral wire

25
Q

What is F

A

earth wire

26
Q

What is the core of a wire made from

A

Copper

27
Q

What insulator do the wires have

A

A coloured plastic coating

28
Q

Why is the cable surrounded by rubber

A

Because rubber is an insulator and makes it safe to touch

29
Q

Why does the plug have a plastic coating

A

To insulate the plug making it safe to touch

30
Q

What is the purpose of a fuse

A

A fuse is a thin wire that will melt from the heating affect of the current, to stop the circuit

31
Q

What is a disadvantage of a fuse

A

It cannot be reused

32
Q

What is the advantage of a circuit breaker

A

It can be used again and again

33
Q

What does energy transferred depend on

A

power

34
Q

What are the three power equations

A

P = energy / time
P = current^2 x resistance
P = current x voltage

35
Q

Define potential difference (voltage)

A

voltage is the amount of energy carried per charge

36
Q

Define current

A

The rate of flow of charge

37
Q

What is the national grid

A

It is a giant system of cables and transformers that covers the UK and connects power stations to consumers

38
Q

What is the potential difference like in the national grid

A

High

39
Q

What is the current like in the national grid

A

Low

40
Q

What do step up transformers do

A

Increase the voltage to 400,000V

41
Q

What do step down transformers do

A

Decrease the voltage to 230V

42
Q

Why do power stations run below their maximum power output

A

So there’s space capacity to cope with a high demand

43
Q

Why does the national grid have a low current

A

To keep the heating affect as low as possible so no energy is wasted

44
Q

Why is there a step down trasformer

A

So that electricity is safer to use and so it doesn’t blow the appliances

45
Q

Are transformers efficient prove it

A

Yes
power in primary coil = power in secondary coil

46
Q

What is the average voltage for DC

A

1.5V

47
Q

Why are the pins on a plug made of Brass

A
  • it is difficult to bend ~ strong
  • very good electric conductor