Physics 2024 Flashcards
atom
the basic unit of matter and the smallest particle that retains its characteristics in a chemical reaction
charge separation
the imbalance of charges between two locations (also known as ‘static electricity’)
conductor
a material that has free electrons and allows electrons to flow through it
current
electric current
the flow of charges from one location to another, measured in amperes (A)
1 amp = 6, 250, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000 electrons per sec
elementary charge
the size of the charge of a single electron or proton
resistance
electrical resistance
the opposition to electron flow provided by a material, measured in ohms (Ω)
1 ohm = 1 volt/1 amp
EMF
voltage
the energy (per unit charge) provided to a circuit by a power source, measured in volts (V)
energy
the ability to do work, measured in joules (J)
free electron
an electron that is not tightly held by its nucleus
insulator
a material that does not have free electrons and typically does not allow charge to flow through it
load
any part of an electrical circuit that transforms electrical potential energy into another kind of energy
resistor
an object that resists the flow of electrons
ion
a particle that has a positive or negative charge; an atom (or molecule) that is not electrically neutral.
potential difference
the energy (per unit charge*) transformed by a load, measured in volts (V)
*joules per electron that travels through a certain point
power
the amount of energy that is transformed by a load every second, measured in watts (W)
1 Watt = 1 joule/1 second
5 types of potential energy
electric, gravitational, chemical, elastic, nuclear
4 types of moving energy
thermal, light, sound, kinetic
Kens Gel Ct
kinetic energy, elastic potential energy, nuclear potential energy, sound energy, gravitational potential energy, electrical potential energy, light energy, chemical potential energy, thermal energy
the Law of Conservation of Energy
Energy cannot be created nor destroyed; only transformed or transferred.
the Law of Electrostatic Attraction
opposites attract, likes repel.
Objects that are oppositely charged will feel an attractive force towards one another, but objects that are similarly charged will feel a repulsive force away from each other.
the relationship between the EMF across an object and the current through the object
as the emf increases across an object, the current thorugh the object increases.
3 ways a charge can be neutralised
brought near an oppositely charged object, contact with the ground, sat in the air
the relationship between the resistance of an object and the current through the object
as the resistance of an object increases, the current through the object decreases.
(if the voltage is constant)
4 factors that affect resistance in a wire
material, length, thickness, temperature
