Chapter 16 Vocab

Question 1

The region around a charged object where the object’s electric force is exerted on other charged objects

Answer 1

Electric Field

Question 2

A buildup of charges on an object

Answer 2

Static Electricity

Question 3

The law that states that charges are neither created nor destroyed

Answer 3

Conservation of Charge

Question 4

The transfer of electrons from one uncharged object to another uncharged object by rubbing

Answer 4

Friction

Question 5

A method of charging an object by allowing electrons to flow from one object to another object through direct contact

Answer 5

Conduction

Question 6

A method of redistributing the charge on an object by means of the electric field of another object; the objects have no direct contact

Answer 6

Induction

Question 7

The process through which electrons are attracted to or repelled by an external electric field, causing the electrons to move within their own atoms

Answer 7

Polarization

Question 8

The loss of static electricity as electric charges transfer from one object to another

Answer 8

Static Discharge

Question 9

The continuous flow of electric charges through a material

Answer 9

Electric Current

Question 10

A complete, unbroken path through which electric charges can flow

Answer 10

Electric Circuit

Question 11

A material that allows electric charges to flow.

Answer 11

Conductor

Question 12

A material that does not easily allow electric charges to flow

Answer 12

Insulator

Question 13

The force between charged objects

Answer 13

Electric Force

Question 14

The difference in electrical potential energy per charge between two places in a circuit

Answer 14

Voltage

Question 15

The measurement of how difficult it is for charges to flow through an object

Answer 15

Resistance

Question 16

The law that states that resistance in a circuit is equal to voltage divided by current

Answer 16

Ohm’s Law

Question 17

An electric circuit in which all parts are connected one after another along one path

Answer 17

Series Circuit

Question 18

An electric circuit in which different parts of the circuit are on separate branches

Answer 18

Parallel Circuit

Question 19

The rate at which one form of energy is transformed into another

Answer 19

Power

Question 20

A connection that allows current to take the path of least resistance

Answer 20

Short Circuit

Question 21

The round prong of a plug that connects any metal pieces in an appliance to the safety grounding wire of a building

Answer 21

Third Prong

Question 22

Allowing charges to flow directly from the circuit into the building’s ground wire and then into Earth in the event of a short circuit

Answer 22

Grounded

Question 23

A safety device with a thin metal strip that will melt if too much current passes through a circuit

Answer 23

Fuse

Question 24

A reusable safety switch that breaks the circuit when the current becomes too high

Answer 24

Circuit Breakers