Electric current Flashcards
(12 cards)
What is current in metals:
Is a flow of electrons
What is current measured in:
Amps by an ammeter
Where are ammeters put in a circuit:
Put in series with a component
Direct current:
Flow of charge is in one direction only
Supplied by batteries and cells
What is charge measured in:
Coulombs (C)
What is current like in the circuit:
Current is the same anywhere in a series circuit because the current leaving the battery is the same as the current flowing back in
What happens to the current in a parallel circuit:
Splits up when it reaches a junction
What is current:
Current is the rate of flow of charge
Why do things in a current get warmer:
When current flows through a wire, energy is transferred and it becomes hot.
This happens because the electrons flowing in the wire collide with the ions in the metal lattice
What does more current mean:
More heat energy transferred
Advantages of the heating effects of electrical currents:
Kettles
Electric blankets
Seat warmers
Disadvantages of the heating effect of electrical currents:
Anything where heat energy is wasted. E.g light bulbs
If too much current flows, component can get to hot and cause burns/catch on fire
