Basic Electricity I

Question 1

What is an element?

Answer 1

A substance that cannot be reduced to a simpler form by chemical means.

Question 2

What is a compound?

Answer 2

A chemical combination of two or more elements.

Question 3

What is a molecule?

Answer 3

The smallest particle of matter that can exist and still retain its identity.

Question 4

What are the three subatomic particles in an atom?

Answer 4

Protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Question 5

What is the energy level of an electron defined as?

Answer 5

The amount of energy an electron requires to stay in an orbit.

Question 6

What is the formula for electron capacity?

Answer 6

Electron capacity = 2n²

n represents the energy level in question.

Question 7

What is valence?

Answer 7

The number o chemical bonds an atom can form.

Question 8

What are valence electrons?

Answer 8

Electrons that can participate in chemical bonds with other atoms.

Question 9

What is ionization?

Answer 9

The process by which an atom loses or gains electrons.

Question 10

When an atom loses electrons it becomes positively charged. What is this positively charged atom called?

Answer 10

A positive ion or a cation.

Question 11

When an atom gains electrons it becomes negatively charged. What is this negatively-charged atom called?

Answer 11

A negative ion or an anion.

Question 12

What are conductors?

Answer 12

Elements such as gold, copper, and silver possess many free electrons and make good conductors.

Question 13

What are insulators?

Answer 13

Insulators are materials that do not conduct electrical current very well or not at all, such as glass, ceramic, and plastic.

Question 14

What are semiconductors?

Answer 14

The material properties of semiconductors fall in between conductors and insulators. In their pure state, they are not good at conducting or insulating.

Question 15

What does the prefix Mega (M) mean?

Answer 15

One million (1,000,000)

Question 16

What is static electricity?

Answer 16

Electricity where the electrons are at rest rather than in motion.

Question 17

What is an electrostatic (dielectric) field?

Answer 17

A field of force around a charged body. Represented by lines extending in all directions from the charged body and terminating where there is an equal and opposite charge.

Question 18

Define ESD

Answer 18

Electrostatic discharge

Question 19

Define LRU

Answer 19

Line replaceable unit

Question 20

What is magnetic flux?

Answer 20

The lines of force that make up a magnetic field.

Question 21

What is reluctance?

Answer 21

The measure of opposition to magnetic lines of force through a material.

Question 22

What are the two types of magnets?

Answer 22

Natural and artificial

Question 23

What are the two types of artificial magnets?

Answer 23

Permanent and temporary

Question 24

What is a permanent magnet?

Answer 24

A magnet which retains its magnetism long after the magnetizing force has been removed.

Question 25

What is a temporary magnet?

Answer 25

A magnet that quickly loses most of its magnetism when the external magnetizing force is removed.

Question 26

What are the most common categories of magnet materials made out of?

Answer 26

Alnicos (aluminum-nickel-cobalt), ferrites/ceramics (strontium-iron), neo magnets (neodynium-iron-boron), and samarium-cobalt.

Question 27

What is the relationship between charged particles and magnetic fields?

Answer 27

The greater the current flow, the greater the magnetic field.

Question 28

What is the left-hand rule?

Answer 28

If a conductor is grasped in the left hand with the thumb pointing in the direction of current flow, the fingers will be wrapped around the conductor in the same direction as the lines of the magnetic field.

Question 29

What direction does current flow?

Answer 29

From positive to negative.

Question 30

How do you increase the strength of the magnetic field of an electromagnet?

Answer 30

You can increase the current or the number of loops in the coil. The type of metal in the core is a factor as well.

Question 31

What is an electromagnet?

Answer 31

An iron core in a coil of wire loops

Question 32

What is current?

Answer 32

A measurement of a rate at which a charge flows through some region of space or a conductor.

Question 33

What is electromotive force?

Answer 33

The push or pressure felt in a conductor that ultimately moves the electrons in a flow. More commonly referred to as voltage. The symbol for emf is E.