Physics P2 Flashcards
What is current?
The flow of electrical charge
What is meant by potential difference?
Potential difference (or current) is the driving force that pushes the charge around
What is the unit for potential difference?
Volt, V
What is resistance?
Anything that slows the flow down
What is the unit for resistance?
ohms
Name a linear component
fixed resistor
Name a non-linear component
filament lamp
diode
Does the resistance of an LDR increase with light intensity?
No.
In bright light, resistance falls
In darkness, resistance increases
What happens to the resistance of a thermistor as it gets hotter?
It drops
Is potential difference shared between components in a series circuit?
yes
How does the current through each component vary in a series circuit?
The same current flows through all components.
The size of the current is determined by the total potential difference of the cells and the total resistance of the circuit.
What is an alternating current?
one that changes direction
What is the potential difference and frequency of the UK mains supply?
230V
50Hz
What are the three wires and the colours in a three-core cable?
LIVE WIRE - brown
NEUTRAL WIRE - blue
EARTH WIRE - green and yellow
Why are the wires in a three-core cable colour-coded?
To make it easy to tell them apart