Current electricity Flashcards
(59 cards)
current electricity
controlled flow of electrons through a conductor
a steady flow between two objects
used to power devices
electric circuit
continuous path where electrons can flow
includes: energy source, load, wires, sometimes a switch
energy source
could be small and portable like a battery
or large like a generating station
load
something on a circuit that converts electrical energy to another form of energy
ex: lightbulb= electrical energy- light energy
switch
controls the flow of the electrons by opening or closing the path
wires
joins all parts together creating a pathway that has to be full circle
copper/ aluminum,
electrical energy
energy provided by the flow of electrons in a circuit
measured in joules
makes devised work
sources of electrical energy
can be a better which gives small amounts or
electric generating systems which gives large amounts from wires to your home
electric cells
a device that converts chemical energy to electrical energy and is portable
is consists of two electrodes (a negative and a positive)
and a electrolyte that is the source for electrons
the electrons leave the negative side (repelled) and go in the positive side (attract)
primary cells
electric cell that can only be used once because the chemical reactions they produce cannot be reversible
they cannot recharge
secondary cells
electric cells that can be recharged and used multiple times
like how you can recharge batteries
and reverse the chemical reactions
fuel cells
kind of electric cell where a continuous supply of chemicals is pumped as the cell operates
waste products are removed
and they can operate longer
direct current
flow of electrons in one direction around the circuit
produced by a cell
powers portable electric devices
alternating current
flow of electrons alternates direction in a electric circuit, goes back and forth
works in a generator not a cell
distributing energy over long distances
generating electricity
electrical generator takes energy produced by a non electrical source and converts it to electrical energy
uses one type of energy to make another
how does a generator work
external evergy– turns turbine– turns a coil witha magnet on it– send electrons up the coil– electricity– wires–homes
sir Micheal Faraday
invented the generator
providing a constant flow of electrons
generating current energy
to run a current you need elecctrical energy which uses generators
generators need a external energy source
can be moving water steam or wind
moving water
pro
con
hydroelectric generation -falling water turns the turbines - comes from rivers, lakes, waterfalls, dams -180 in Canada PRO- no air or water pollution CON- (dams) changes the ecology of a area migration of fish is disrupted flooding expensive, money for taxpayers
tidal generation
uses moving water- tidal energy= energy from moving ocean water to turn turbines
twice a day
renewable
thermal generation
heating water to produce steam
steam turns turbines
fossil fuels- steam
it is energy stored in dead cells
can be burned to create steam non renewable
OLD WAY coal= pollution, CO2 heats up the earth, mercury, acid precipitation, smog
NEW WAY gas= cleaner less C02 not a lot left
radioactive materials= steam
uranium is put in a reactor and when the nucleus collide with uranium it creates nuclear fission
the nucleus break creating energy to heat water to create steam
non renewable
must be mined creating pollution and habitat loss
puts high temperature water back in lakes
radioactive waste can cause cancer
expensive/ dangerous
biomass=steam
using biological material to to burned to cream steam
renewable
may not be enough for the energy we need
