SP10/11 - Electricity and Cicuits Flashcards

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1
Q

Which way does the conventional current flow?

A

From the positive terminal to the negative terminal

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2
Q

What do all metals contain?

A

‘Free’ electrons

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3
Q

What is a series circuit?

A

When there is one route the current can take around the circuit

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4
Q

What is a parallel circuit?

A

When there are junctions that allow the current to take different routes

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5
Q

What is current?

A

The rate of flow of charge

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6
Q

What is the unit for current?

A

Amperes (Amps)

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7
Q

What is used to measure the current?

A

Ammeter

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8
Q

What is potential difference?

A

The amount of energy transferred per unit of charge

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9
Q

What is the unit of potential difference?

A

Volts

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10
Q

What is used to measure potential difference?

A

Voltmeter

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11
Q

What is the rule for current in a series circuit?

A

Current is the same everywhere

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12
Q

What is the rule for current in a parallel circuit?

A

The current is different everywhere

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13
Q

What is the unit for charge?

A

Coulombs

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14
Q

What is the formula for current?

A

charge
current = ————-
time

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15
Q

What is the formula for potential differnce?

A

energy
potential difference = ————
charge

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16
Q

What is resistance?

A

A measure of how hard it is for current to flow

17
Q

What is the unit for resistance?

A

Ohms

18
Q

What is the formula for resistance?

A

potential difference
resistance = ——————————–
current

19
Q

Study rules for series circuits

A

Study rules for parallel circuits

20
Q

What is a LED?

A

Light Emitting Diode

21
Q

How does a thermistor work?

A

The resistance changes with temperature
High temperature = resistance decreases
Low temperature = resistance increases

22
Q

How does a Light Dependent Resistor work?

A

The resistance changes with light
Dark = resistance increases
Light = resistance decreases

23
Q

What is power (electrical)?

A

The amount of energy transferred each second

24
Q

What are the 2 formulas for power?

A

power = current x potential difference
power = (current)^2 x resistance

25
Q

What does DC and AC stand for?

A

Direct current
Alternating current

26
Q

What is direct current?

A

When the current doesn’t change direction (stays positive) and flows in one direction

27
Q

What is alternating current?

A

When the current changes (switches between positive and negative) and flows in both directions

28
Q

What are the three wires that are found in a plug?

A

Live wire
Neutral wire
Earth wire

29
Q

What colour is the live wire?

A

Brown

30
Q

What colour is the neutral wire?

A

Blue

31
Q

What colour is the earth wire?

A

Green / Yellow

32
Q

What is the potential difference of the live wire?

A

230V

33
Q

What is the potential difference of the neutral wire?

A

0V

34
Q

What is the potential difference of the earth wire?

A

0V

35
Q

How do the earth wire and fuse stop the plug from being a safety hazard?

A

If the live wire touches the metal casing. The earth wire draws the current to the earth, stopping the appliance from being live and increasing the current because of less resistance. The increase in current causes the fuse to heat up and melt, breaking the circuit.

36
Q

What are circuit breakers?

A

Devices that cut off the current if the current becomes too high.

37
Q

What are Residual Current Devices?

A

A type of circuit breaker

38
Q

What are the advantages of circuit breakers over fuses?

A

Fuses have to be replace whereas circuit breakers can be switched back on again.