electricity definitions

Question 1

what is meant by the term
Alternating Potential Difference?

Answer 1

A continually oscillating current flow, which results in the potential difference across two points continually oscillating between a positive and negative value.

Question 2

what is meant by the term Amperes (Amps)?

Answer 2

​The unit of current.

Question 3

what is meant by the term Attraction?

Answer 3

​A force pulling two opposite charges together, when they are brought
near each other.

Question 4

what is meant by the term Coulomb?

Answer 4

The unit of charge.

Question 5

what is meant by the term Diode?

Answer 5

A component that only allows current to flow through in the forward direction. They have very large resistances in the reverse direction.

Question 6

what is meant by the term Direct Potential Difference?

Answer 6

A one-directional current flow.

Question 7

what is meant by the term Earth Wire?

Answer 7

The green and yellow striped safety wire that prevents an appliance
from becoming live.

Question 8

what is meant by the term Electric Field Lines?

Answer 8

Lines representing an electric field, that point in the direction in which a positive charge would experience an electric force

Question 9

what is meant by the term Electric Field?

Answer 9

A region in which a charge will experience a non-contact, electric force. All charged objects have an electric field around them, and this field is stronger the closer you are to the charge.

Question 10

what is meant by the term Electrical Current?

Answer 10

The rate of flow of electrical charge. Its value is the same at any position in a single closed loop.

Question 11

what is meant by the term Electrical Work?

Answer 11

When charge flows in a circuit, electrical work is said to be done.

Question 12

what is meant by the term Filament Lamp?

Answer 12

A light emitting component consisting of an enclosed metal
filament. Its resistance increases as the filament’s temperature increases.

Question 13

what is meant by the term Insulation?

Answer 13

The coating around power cables that prevents electrocution and is colour coded to allow for easy identification.

Question 14

what is meant by the term
Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)?

Answer 14

A light sensitive component whose resistance increases as its temperature decreases.

Question 15

what is meant by the term Live Wire?

Answer 15

The brown coloured wire that carries the alternating current from the supply in a mains power supply.

Question 16

what is meant by the term Mains Electricity?

Answer 16

An a.c supply, which in the UK has a frequency of 50Hz a value of 230V.

Question 17

what is meant by the term Neutral Wire?

Answer 17

The blue coloured wire that completes the circuit in a mains power supply.

Question 18

what is meant by the term Non-Contact Force?

Answer 18

A force experienced between two separated objects. Examples include gravity, and magnetic and electric forces.

Question 19

what is meant by the term Ohmic Conductor?

Answer 19

A conductor whose current flow is directly proportional to the potential difference across it, when held at a constant temperature.

Question 20

what is meant by the term Ohms?

Answer 20

The unit of resistance

Question 21

what is meant by the term Parallel?

Answer 21

​Components connected in parallel have the same potential difference across each component. The total current is equal to the sum of the currents flowing through each component.

Question 22

what is meant by the term Potential Difference?

Answer 22

The product of a component’s resistance and the magnitude of current flow through it.

Question 23

what is meant by the term Repulsion?

Answer 23

Caused when two like-charges are brought near each other.

Question 24

what is meant by the term Resistance?

Answer 24

A measure of the opposition to current flow.

Question 25

what is meant by the term Resistors in Parallel?

Answer 25

The total resistance is equal to the inverse of the sum of the inverses of the resistance of the parallel components. The total resistance of two parallel resistors is always less than the lowest individual resistor value.

Question 26

what is meant by the term Resistors in Series?

Answer 26

The total resistance is equal to the sum of the resistances of the individual components.

Question 27

what is meant by the term Series?

Answer 27

Components connected in series have the same current passing through each component but share the total potential difference of the power supply.

Question 28

what is meant by the term Static Charge?

Answer 28

The charge caused by an imbalance of positive and negative charges in, or on, an object’s surface. It is often caused by electrons being rubbed from one surface onto another.

Question 29

what is meant by the term Step-Down Transformers?

Answer 29

Devices found between the transmission cables and the consumer that lower the potential difference of the power so it is at safe, usable levels.

Question 30

what is meant by the term
Step-Up Transformers?

Answer 30

​Devices that increase the potential difference generated by a power station, so that the electrical power transmitted along the transmission cables is at a higher potential.

Question 31

what is meant by the term The National Grid?

Answer 31

The network of power stations, transformers and cables that connect consumers to power stations.

Question 32

what is meant by the term
Thermistor?

Answer 32

A temperature dependent component, whose resistance increases as its temperature decreases.

Question 33

what is meant by the term Volt?

Answer 33

The unit of potential difference.