PHYSICS Flashcards
what is potential energy?
potential energy is energy stored in an object relative to some other thing.
another way of saying “relative”?
= “in comparison to”
how is electrical potenital energy determined?
electrical potential is determined by the relative difference in the strength of positive and negative charges.
- also dependent on the distance between charges.
the harder it is to separate two opposing charges…?
the more potential energy there is between them.
what is static energy?
static energy is the build-up of an unbalanced charge in one area.
what does a simple circuit require?
- a supply of energy - battery
- a closed loop for the current to flow through.
- somewhere to drop that energy/ something to power. - load
what is the potential difference?
the difference of electrical potential between two points.
what is it called when a circuit only has a power supply and conductor?
- a short circuit
what do loads do?
they take all the excess energy from the electrons and slow down their travel.
what is current?
the number of electrons flowing through a circuit at a particular point per second.
measurement for current?
Amperes (Amps)
how to measure current in a circuit?
ammeters are tools we use to measure. we place them in the circuit in series to the lightbulb.
what is voltage?
the amount of potential energy between two points in a circuit
how to measure voltage?
Voltmeters are used to measure voltage in a circuit. They need to be connected to 2 different points in a circuit. They are positioned parallel to the lightbulb.
current remains…
CONSTANT AS IT FLOWS THROUGH A CIRCUIT
what is the rule for current in a series circuit?
The current in a series circuit is the same at each resistor present in the circuit.
what is the rule for current in a parallel circuit?
The total current in a parallel circuit equals the sum of the individual branch currents.
what is the rule for voltage in a series circuit?
the total voltage is the total sum of the voltages across each component
what is the rule for voltage in a parallel circuit?
the voltage across each of the components stays the same.
what is an insulator and conductor?
Insulators = materials that do not allow electricity to pass through them
Conductors = allow electricity to flow through them.
two reasons why insulation is important
- provide protection
- make the flow of energy more efficient
what is resistance? and its measurement unit
the friction encountered by an electron as it moves through a circuit. Measured in Ohms
what happens when resistance is high?
electron moves slower, meaning current is reduced
what is ohms law?
voltage is directly proportional to current when the resistance is constant.
