Topic 2 - Electricity - Key Words

Question 1

Current

Answer 1

The flow of electric charge

Question 2

Potential Difference

Answer 2

Also known as volatge, the driving force that pushes charge around the circuit causing current

Question 3

Resistance

Answer 3

Anything in a circuit that slows down the current/flow

Question 4

Charge

Answer 4

Measured in coulombs, property of a body which experiences a force in an electric field

Question 5

Ohmic Conductor

Answer 5

A component whose resistance does not change with the current, therefore the current flowing through it is directly proportional to the potential difference across it

Question 6

Ammeter

Answer 6

A components that measures the current in a circuit, always placed in series

Question 7

Voltmeter

Answer 7

Measures the potential difference over a component, this is always placed in parallel

Question 8

Systematic Error

Answer 8

A mistake which occurs during a practical affecting the results

Question 9

I-V Characteristic

Answer 9

Refers to a graph showing how the current flowing through a component changes as the potential difference across it is increased

Question 10

Linear Components

Answer 10

Have an I-V characteristic that is a straight line

Question 11

Non-linear Components

Answer 11

Have an I-V characteristic that is a curved line

Question 12

Light Dependent Resistor

Answer 12

A resistor that is dependent on the level of light - as the brightness increases the resistance decreases and vice versa - they are inversely proportional

Question 13

Thermisistor

Answer 13

A resistor that is dependent on the temperature, as the temperature increases the resitance decreases, they are inversely proportional

Question 14

Sensing Curcuits

Answer 14

Circuits that are designed to turn on or increase the power flowing through a component depending on the conditions they’re in