S2 Electricity Flashcards
What are the 3 fossil fuels?
Coal, oil and natural gas
What are 3 disadvantages of fossil fuels?
They are finite
They contribute to acid rain
They produce greenhouse gases which contribute to global warming
What does the word ‘finite’ mean?
It is limited in supply and will one day run out
Why will we never run out of renewable sources?
They are replenished at the same rate as they are used up
What are the 4 main renewable sources?
Solar, wind, hydroelectric and biomass
What is the name of the particle responsible for electricity?
The electron
What type of charge do electrons have?
Negative
What happens when a positive and a negative charge are close to each other?
They attract
What happens when two negative charges are close to each other?
They repel
What happens when to positive charges are close to each other?
They repel
What is static electricity?
The build up of charge in one place
What is the name of the particle which is transferred to cause static electricity?
Electrons
What is electric current?
The flow of charged particles (electrons)
What is the unit used to measure current?
Amps (A)
What device is used to measure current?
Ammeter
What is voltage?
The energy given to each charge as it passes through the power supply
What unit is used to measure voltage?
Volts (V)
What device is used to measure voltage?
Voltmeter
How is an ammeter connected in circuits?
It is placed in series with the other components in the circuit.
How is a voltmeter connected in circuits?
It is placed across (in parallel) the component you wish to measure the voltage of.
What is the energy change that takes place in a cell?
Chemical energy –> electrical energy
What is an electrochemical cell made of?
Electrodes (two different metals) and an electrolyte
What is a battery made of?
Multiple cells joined together
What is a series circuit?
A circuit that has only one path that the electrical current can flow – a continuous loop.
What is a parallel circuit?
A circuit that has branches.
The current has many paths it can take.
In a series circuit with multiple lamps, what happens if one lamp breaks?
All the lamps go out - there is now a gap in the circuit.
In a parallel circuit with multiple lamps, what happens if one lamp breaks?
The other lamps stay on - there is multiple paths for the current to flow.
Which type of circuit is used in household lighting?
Parallel circuits are used for household lighting.
What happens to current in a series circuit?
Current is the same at all points in a series circuit.
What happens to voltage in a series circuit?
The voltage from the battery splits across each of the different component.
What happens to current in a parallel circuit?
The current from the supply splits across each of the branches in a parallel circuit.
What happens to voltage in a parallel circuit?
Each branch recieves the supply voltage.
