Physics and Math Chapter 6: Circuits

Question 1

Current

Answer 1

The movement of charge that occurs between two points that have different electrical potentials

Question 2

Conventional definition of current/reality

Answer 2

the movement of positive charge from the high-potential end of a voltage source to the low-potential
reality - negitively-charged particles that move in a circuit from low potential to high potential

Question 3

Where does current flow?

Answer 3

In conductive materials

Question 4

Metallic conduction

Answer 4

Relies on uniform movement of free electrons in metallic bonds

Question 5

Electrolytic conduction

Answer 5

Relies on the ion concentration of a solution

Question 6

Insulators

Answer 6

Materials that do not conduct a current

Question 7

Kichhoff’s laws

Answer 7

express conservation of charge and energy

Question 8

Kichhoff’s junction rule

Answer 8

sum of currents directed into a point within a circuit equals the sum of the currents directed away from that point.

Question 9

Kirchhoff’s loop rule

Answer 9

states that in a closed loop, the sum of voltage sources is always equal to the sum of voltage drops

Question 10

Resistance

Answer 10

opposition to the movement of electrons through a material

Question 11

Resistors

Answer 11

conductive materials with a moderate amount of resistance that slow down electrons without stopping them.

Question 12

Resistance is calculated using:

Answer 12

resistivity, length and cross-sectional area of the material in question

Question 13

Ohm’s Law

Answer 13

For a given resistance, the magnitude of the current through a resistor is proortional to the voltage drop across the resistor.

Question 14

Resistance in a Series

Answer 14

Are additive and sum together to create the total resistance of a circuit

Question 15

Resistance in Parallel

Answer 15

Cause a decrease in equivalent resistance of a circuit

Question 16

Capacitors

Answer 16

have the ability to store and discharge electrical potential energy

Question 17

Capacitance

Answer 17

in parallel plate capacitors is determined by the area of the plates and the distance between the plates

Question 18

Capacitors in series

Answer 18

Cause a decrease in the equivalent capacitance of a circuit

Question 19

Capacitors in parallel

Answer 19

sum together to create a larger equivalent capacitance

Question 20

Dielectric materials

Answer 20

are insulators placed between the plates of a capacitor that increase the capacitance of the capacitator by a factor equal to the material’s dielectric constant, k

Question 21

Ammeters

Answer 21

inserted in series in a circuit to measure current; they have negligible resistance

Question 22

Voltmeters

Answer 22

inserted in parallel in a circuit to measure a voltage drop; they have very large resistances

Question 23

Ohmmeters

Answer 23

inserted around a resistive element to measure resistance; they are self-powered and have negligible resistance