Yr 9 Electricity Flashcards
AC Meaning
Alternating Current, switches direction 50 times per second
DC Meaning
Direct Current, flows from negative to positive
Series Circuit
Circuit connected in sequence, only one path
Parallel Circuit
Circuit with components connected in parallel with multiple paths
Advantages of Parallel Circuits
Full voltage goes to each component in parallel rather than splitting the voltage like in series circuits. Can turn each component in the circuit on and off individually and it is easier to troubleshoot for this reason
Voltage
Pressure or force that pushes electrons down a conducting path
Current (Amperage)
The amount of electrons, grouped in coulombs, passing through a given point per second
Resistance
A measure of how difficult it is for electricity to flow through a certain material
Voltmeter
Measures voltage, should never be in the flow
Ammeter
Measures current, should be in the flow
Ohms Law
V = IR
How to calculate Power and what is it measured in?
VI, measured in watts
Black Coal
Older, low water content, higher in value, mor chemical potential energy, less pollution
Brown Coal (lignite)
Cheap, high water content, must be dried, more pollution
3 Amps = ? coulombs per second
3
What is electricity and how does it work?
Metals often have only a few electrons in the outer shell which aren’t as tightly bound. These electrons can swap places with the electrons of other atoms. When force is applied the electrons will travel across to other atoms freely creating an electric current
What is a coulomb?
A group of electrons, used as a form of measure
How do electric motors work?
When a wire carrying a current is placed in a magnetic field there is a force. One wire experiences upwards force while the other wire experiences a downwards force as it is travelling the other direction. When connected in a coil this causes it to spin.
