Unit 5: Electrical Systems Flashcards

1
Q

What is electric charge in a circuit?

A

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).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Advantage of Circuits in Series:

A
  • It is simpler to construct
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Which types of particles carry Electric charge (+/-) ? [PIE]

A
  • Protons
  • Ions
  • Electrons

(Generally Electrons.)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Difference between Electric charge vs Electric current:

A
  • 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).
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Definition of Electric current:

A
  • Flow of electric charge per unit time
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

SI unit of Electric Current:

A

An Ampere (I)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Relationship between flow of electric charge per unit time and the electric current.

A

The greater the flow of electric charge per unit time, the greater the electric current

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How do we measure electric current?

A

We measure how much electric charge is flowing past a point in a circuit per unit time.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How to use an Ammeter?

A
  • 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.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the direction of electric current in a closed circuit?

A
  • It flows from the positive terminal to the negative terminal of the power source
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is an Ammeter used for?

A

To measure the electric current flowing through the circuit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Definition of Potential Difference in a Circuit

A

The amount of energy needed to move a unit charge between two points in an electric circuit.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What happens when there is a potential difference in a circuit?

A

Unit charge will flow from a high potential point to a low potential point by itself to ensure a continuous flow in the circuit.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What does the power source do to aid potential difference in the circuit

A

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)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Why is it important for potential difference to exist in a circuit?

A
  • 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)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Flow from High to Low Potential:

A
  • 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.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Flow from Low to High Potential:

A

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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

SI unit of Potential Difference

A

Volt (V)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is Potential Difference called:

A

Voltage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the instrument used to measure the current flowing through a circuit?

A

Ammeter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the instrument used to measure the potential difference (voltage)

A

Voltmeter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

How to use a Voltmeter?

A
  • 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.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Where is Unit Charge found in?

A

The electrons, which are already present in the conductive material (wire) of a circuit.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is Positive Unit charge carried by:

A

Protons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is Negative Unit charge carried by:

A

Electrons

24
Q

SI unit of Unit charge:

A

A coulomb (C)

25
Q

Volt, Joule, Coulomb relations

A

One Volt may be defined as the one joule of work-done to move a charge of one coulomb.

26
Q

SI unit of Resistance:

A

The Ohm (Ω)

Symbol: R

27
Q

Definition of the electrical resistance of a component

A

It is the measure of how much the component opposes the flow of electric current.

28
Q

Electrical conductor with Low electrical resistance

A
  • Copper
  • Silver
29
Q

Electrical conductor with High electrical resistance

A
  • Tungsten
  • Nichrome
30
Q

What is a Resistor in a Circuit?

A

It is an electrical component that is designed to provide a specific resistance to regulate the amount of current flowing in a circuit.

30
Q

What are Fixed Resistors used for?

A

To reduce the amount of current and voltage in electrical components

31
Q

Which terminal has either high or low potential difference.

A

Electric charge flowing from the Positive terminal has a High Potential and afterwards it has a Low Potential.

32
Q

How is the resistance value of Variable Resistors changed?

A

By adjusting the slider along the metal rod to change the length of wire which current flows.

33
Q

How does moving the slider of a Variable Resistor reduce the current in a circuit?

A

When it allows for more length of the conducting wires in which current flows, its resistance increases. Thus the current in the circuit decreases.

34
Q

How are Resistors important to the functions of a circuit? (3 points)

A
  • To keep the amount of current flowing through a circuit at a safe level to prevent overheating
  • To maintain a fixed amount of current in a circuit
  • Resistors in series divide the total voltage supplied by a power source. (Set-up desirable voltage)
35
Q

What is the effect of Resistance in a circuit in series:

A

It is the sum of all the resistance in each electrical component

R = R1+R2+R3 …

  • The greater the resistance of a circuit, the smaller the current
36
Q

How a Variable resistor works (moving slider)

A

Increase (Length)
Increased (Resistance)
Decreased (Current) [Ampere]

Decrease (Length)
Decrease (Resistance)
Increase (Current) [Ampere]

37
Q

What is the effect of Resistance in a circuit in parallel:

A

The overall resistance of a circuit is less than the resistance of one resistor.

When more components are arrnaged in parallel, the resistances becomes smaller.

  • The smaller the resistance of a circuit, the greater the current.
38
Q

Equation to find the Voltage Across a Resistor

A

V = I x R (Voltage = Current x Resistance)

39
Q

Relationship between electric current (A) and electric charge (C)

A

1 Ampere equals to 1 Coulomb of charge passing through a point per second (unit time)

39
Q

Definition of a heating element:

A

It is made out of a high-resistance material (such as Nichrome), which can also withstand high temperatures due to its high melting point

40
Q

Why does a heating element need to have high resistance to electric current?

A

When electricity flows through, it generates large amount of heat and light energy due to its high resistance

41
Q

The three types of heating effects of an electric current:

A
  • Household appliances
  • Infant incubator
  • Autoclaves
42
Q

The three types of chemical effects of an electric current:

A
  • Electrolysis
  • Electroplating
  • Extracting pure metals from impurities
43
Q

Definition of Electrolysis and what is involved in this process:

A

Electrolysis is a chemical method to break down a compound into its respective elements

  • Electrode: An electrical contact which allows electric current to flow between the electrolyte and the conducting wire, forming a closed circuit.
  • Electrolyte: A liquid or a solution that can conduct electricity.
43
Q

Ways to strengthen an Electromagnet (4 ways)

A
  • Tighten the coils
  • Add more coils
  • Increase power supply
  • Use an iron core
44
Q

Definition of Electroplating and what is involved in this process:

A

Electroplating is the process of coating an object with a layer of metal

Purpose:
- Used as a protective layer of metal (Gold, Silver, Copper)
- To make something more stronger and durable

  • The object to be coated is placed at the negative terminal
  • The metal that coats the other object is placed at the positive terminal
44
Q

3 Applications of the magnetic effect of an electric current:

A
  • Robot systems
  • Magnetically controlled micobots (surgery)
  • MRI scan (produce detailed images of soft tissues)
45
Q

Definition of Electrolysis (extracting metals from impurities) and what is involved in this process:

A

This method helps purify metals by separating pure metal from unwanted impurities using electric current.

  • Impure metal (Anode) - Positive Terminal
  • Pure metal (Cathode) - Negative Terminal
46
Q

Definition of the magnetic effect of an electric current:

A

When an electric current flows through a coil of wire, it generates a magnetic field similar to the one produced by a bar magnet

Known as: The magnetic effect of an electric current

47
Q

2 harmful effects of electricity:

A
  • Electrical fire:
    (when large amounts of electrical current is drawn from the power supply -> caused by overloading of power socket)
  • Electrical shock:
    (Water is a conductor of electricity)
    (When the insulated layers of a wire wears of and we touch the bare wire)
48
Q

2 safety devices for electricity:

A
  • Use of a a fuse in a circuit (has its own fixed rating with a maximum current it allows to flow through, when current is too excessifefef
49
Q

Definition of Power (W):

A

The rate of converting electrical energy into other forms of energy

50
Q

Equation for Power (W)

A

Power (W) = Energy (J) / Time (s)

SI unit:
Power -> Watt (W)rt5cxD
Energy -> Joule (J)

51
Q

Formula to find the amount of energy consumed:

A

Energy consumed (kWh) = Power (kW) x Time (h)

to find joules ->
kWh must be made into W
hours must be made into seconds

52
Q

Relationship between the resistance and the current:

A

The smaller the resistance, the greater the current

53
Q

What does a rheostat do?

A

It affects the resistanmce

54
Q
A