Unit 5: Electrical Systems Flashcards
What is electric charge in a circuit?
Electric charge refers to the quantity of electricity held by an object or particle, which can be positive or negative. It is measured in coulombs (C).
Advantage of Circuits in Series:
- It is simpler to construct
Which types of particles carry Electric charge (+/-) ? [PIE]
- Protons
- Ions
- Electrons
(Generally Electrons.)
Difference between Electric charge vs Electric current:
- Electric charge refers to the quantity of electricity held by an object or particle, which can be positive or negative. It is measured in coulombs (C).
- Electric current (I) is the flow of electric charge through a conductor or circuit. It measures how much charge passes a point per unit of time and is measured in amperes (A).
Definition of Electric current:
- Flow of electric charge per unit time
SI unit of Electric Current:
An Ampere (I)
Relationship between flow of electric charge per unit time and the electric current.
The greater the flow of electric charge per unit time, the greater the electric current
How do we measure electric current?
We measure how much electric charge is flowing past a point in a circuit per unit time.
How to use an Ammeter?
- Must be connected in series
- Its negative terminal must be connected to the negative terminal of the power source
- Same goes for its positive terminal.
What is the direction of electric current in a closed circuit?
- It flows from the positive terminal to the negative terminal of the power source
What is an Ammeter used for?
To measure the electric current flowing through the circuit
Definition of Potential Difference in a Circuit
The amount of energy needed to move a unit charge between two points in an electric circuit.
What happens when there is a potential difference in a circuit?
Unit charge will flow from a high potential point to a low potential point by itself to ensure a continuous flow in the circuit.
What does the power source do to aid potential difference in the circuit
The power source provides energy to push the charge from a low to a high potential point (in order to create and maintain this potential difference)
Why is it important for potential difference to exist in a circuit?
- Once a unit charge “naturally” flows from a higher to a lower potential point, it will stop moving since it cannot move to the high potential point by itself (requires energy from the power source to “push” it)
Flow from High to Low Potential:
- This flow doesn’t need extra energy because the charge “falls” down the potential difference, similar to how a ball rolls downhill due to gravity.
Flow from Low to High Potential:
To move a charge from a low potential point back to a high potential point, energy is required, just like lifting a ball uphill.
This energy is supplied by a power source (like a battery), which “pumps” the charge back to the high potential side, allowing the current to flow continuously.
SI unit of Potential Difference
Volt (V)
What is Potential Difference called:
Voltage
What is the instrument used to measure the current flowing through a circuit?
Ammeter
What is the instrument used to measure the potential difference (voltage)
Voltmeter
How to use a Voltmeter?
- Must be connected in parallel
- Its negative terminal must be connected to the negative terminal of the power source
- Same goes for its positive terminal.
Where is Unit Charge found in?
The electrons, which are already present in the conductive material (wire) of a circuit.
What is Positive Unit charge carried by:
Protons