Principles of electricity Flashcards
Definition of current flow
The flow of excited valance electrons in a specific direction is also referred to as current flow
Definition of Ampere
An amp(A) is a unit of electric current equal to a flow of one coulomb(C) per second (s)
The definition of potential difference
The potential difference(PD) the voltage measured across the terminals of an electrical energy of a closed circuit.
Definition of coulomb
The coulomb is a unit of electrical charge equal to the quantity of electricity conveyed in 1 second by a current of 1 A
Definition of Volt
The Volt is the potential difference between two points of a conducting wire carrying a constant current of 1A when the power dissipated between these points is equal to 1W
Definition of electromotive force
EMF is the voltage measured across the ends of a voltage source of an open circuit, that is, when no current is flowing
What are the sources of electromotive force
Cells or batteries
Generators
Solar energy
Heat
Friction
Definition of potential difference
PD is the voltage measured across the terminals of an electrical energy source of a closed circuit
Definition of resistance
Resistance is the opposition that a substance offers to the flow of electrical current. in the process of resisting current flow, heat is produced
Definition of Ohm
The ohm(Ω) is the unit of electrical resistance(R), transmitting a current 1A when subjected to a potential difference of 1V
What are the different groups of materials used in the electrical industry?
•Conductors
•Insulators
•Semiconductors
What is a conductor
It is any substance that allows current to flow through it
What is an insulator?
Give examples.
It is any substance that does not allow current to pass through it. it has an extremely high resistance
•Glass
•Ceramic
•Paper
•PVC
•Asbestos
•Mica
•Porcelain
What is a semiconductor?
Give examples.
They have conducting properties that lie between those of conductors and insulator. usually used for diodes and transistors
•Germanium
•Silicon
What is resistance used in electric Circuits for?
To produce voltage drops
To limit current flow
Definition of ohms law
The current flowing in any closed circuit is directly proportional to the voltage producing it and inversely proportional to the resistance of the circuit, provided the temperature remains constant
Definition of power
Power is defined as the rate at which work is done or the rate at which energy is consumed
Definition of energy
The capacity for doing work
Definition of joules law
The heat generated an electric circuit is proportional to the products of
- The square of the current
- The resistance of the circuit
- The time during which current flows
Q = I²Rt
Definition of joule
Is the energy dissipated as heat when an electric current (A) passes through a resistance (Ω) an equivalent amount of time (t)
Name the factors that influence the resistance of a conductor?
•Length (l)
•Resistivity (ρ)
•cross-sectional area (a)
•Temperature (t)
How does length effect Resistivity?
the resistance of a conductor is directly proportionalto its length.
the longer the higher the resistance.
How does the cross sectional area effect the resistance?
The Resistance is inversely proportional to the cross sectional area.
the bigger the smaller the resistance.
name materials that experience an increase in resistance with an increase in temperature?
•silver
•Copper
•gold
•aluminum
name materials that experience an decrease in resistance with an increase in temperature?
•Carbon
•electrolytes
•silicon and germanium
•asbestos
•mica
•porcelain
•PVC
•bakelite
What are the characteristics of magnetic lines of flux?
•always flow from the North Pole to the south pole
•always form closed loops
•behave like stretched elastic bands, Always trying to shorten themselves •they never intersect one another
•when two are flowing parallel in the same direction they will repel each other
•They are vector quantities
What are the types of Magnets?
•natural magnets
•permanent magnets
•electromagnets
What is Kirchhoff’s first law?
Kirchhoff’s current law
The Sum of the currents flowing towards any junction equals the sum of the currents flowing away from that junction.
What is Kirchhoff’s second law?
Kirchhoff’s voltage law
the sum of the applied EMFs in a closed circuit equals the sum of the voltage drops.
What is Norton’s theorem?
Any two-terminal active network containing voltage sources and resistances, when viewed from its output terminals, is equivalent to a constant-current source in parallel with a resistor.