Semester 1 - Physics Flashcards
atom
the basic unit of matter and the smallest particle that retains its characteristics in a chemical reaction
charge seperation
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
electric current
the flow of charges from one location to another, measured in amperes (A)
electrical resistance
the opposition to electron flow provided by a material, measured in ohms (Ω)
elementary charge
the size of the charge of a single electron or proton
EMF
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
ion
a particle that has a positive or negative charge
load
any part of an electrical circuit that transforms electrical potential energy into another kind of energy
potential difference
the energy (per unit charge) transformed by a load, measured in volts (V)
power
the amount of energy that is transformed by a load every second
resistor
an object that resists the flow of electrons
