Chapter 10 Terms

Question 1

Stationary electrical charges

Answer 1

Static electricity

Question 2

The force between electrical charges.

Answer 2

Electrostatic force

Question 3

Like charges repel; unlike charges attract (opposites attract).

Answer 3

Law of charges

Question 4

An inclination to attract or associate.

Answer 4

Affinity

Question 5

The SI unit for electrical charge.

Answer 5

Coulomb (KOO lohm)

Question 6

Lines used to show direction of a force exerted on an object.

Answer 6

Lines of force

Question 7

The creation of a charged region on a neutral object when exposed to a nearby electrical charge.

Answer 7

Electrical induction

Question 8

A neutral molecule whose electrons have shifted to form positive & negative ends, or poles (dipoles di = two, poles…well, poles)

Answer 8

Dipole

Question 9

An instrument that can detect electrical charges.

Answer 9

Electroscope

Question 10

Materials that offer little resistance to electrical motion (metals like copper, silver, aluminum, gold)

Answer 10

Electrical conductors

Question 11

Materials that do NOT allow electrons to move easily (glass, wood & rubber)

Answer 11

Electical insulators

Question 12

Materials that allow limited electron flow or conduct only under certain conditions (silicon and germanium)

Answer 12

Semiconductors

Question 13

The loss of static charge as electrons move to another object.

Answer 13

Electrical discharge

Question 14

A device used to protect buildings from lightning strikes.

Answer 14

Lightning rod

Question 15

A means of storing a strong electrical charge (Invented by Pieter van Musschenbroek)

Answer 15

Leyden jar

Question 16

Modern charge storing devices.

Answer 16

Capacitors

Question 17

Electricity that involves continuously moving charges.

Answer 17

Electrical current

Question 18

Old computer monitors or TVs that used vacuum tube screens that displayed images “painted” by electrons.

Answer 18

Cathode-ray tube (CRT)

Question 19

Electrons waiting to flow from a point of higher potential in a conductor to a lower potential.

Answer 19

Electrical potential energy

Question 20

The flow of positive charges through a conductor, which is the OPPOSITE of the flow of electrons.

Answer 20

Conventional current

Question 21

Current that flows in one direction through a conductor. (Cell phone, digital camera are powered by this)

Answer 21

Direct current (DC)

Question 22

A complete path from a source of electrons through a conductor and back to an electron sink.

Answer 22

Electrical circuit

Question 23

Something that converts electricity to some other form of energy (e.g. light bulb).

Answer 23

Electrical load

Question 24

A device that allows you to open or close a circuit by opening or closing a gap in the current path.

Answer 24

Switch

Question 25

Device that consists of one or more electrochemical cells that supply electrons released by a chemical reaction.

Answer 25

Battery

Question 26

Device capable of supplying electrons released by a chemical reaction.

Answer 26

Electrochemical cells

Question 27

Unit used to measure potential difference of electrical potential.

Answer 27

Volt (V)

Question 28

Unit used to measure electrical current (also known as Amps).

Answer 28

Ampere (A)

Question 29

The property of a component in a circuit that hinders (slows) the flow of charges to some extent.

Answer 29

Electrical resistance

Question 30

Special device that can change the voltage within portions of a circuit.

Answer 30

Resistor

Question 31

Current (I) = Voltage source (V) / Resistance (R) i=v/r

Answer 31

Ohm's law

Question 32

Unit to measure electrical resistance.

Answer 32

Ohm

Question 33

Unit used to dispense and bill electrical energy (energy = power * time interval).

Answer 33

Kilowatt-hours (kWh)

Question 34

Electrical loads (e.g. light bulbs) connected one after another in the circuit path.

Answer 34

Series circuit

Question 35

Electrical loads (e.g. light bulbs) connected in separate branches of the circuit.

Answer 35

Parallel circuit

Question 36

Two wires that touch which makes a shortcut of the path of the circuit.

Answer 36

Short circuit

Question 37

Ability to prevent currents in faulty circuits from starting fires.

Answer 37

Overcurrent protection

Question 38

A switch that is manually closed but will automatically trip open if the current gets too high.

Answer 38

Circuit breakers

Question 39

Circuit breaker that detects very high, short-duration currents caused by arcing.

Answer 39

Arc-fault circuit interrupt (AFCI)

Question 40

Metal & glass container with a thin strip of metal inside that allows current to flow from the supply to the load.

Answer 40

Fuses

Question 41

Device that monitors voltages between wires supplying an appliance or outlet.(GFCI)

Answer 41

Ground-fault circuit interrupters