Electricity Flashcards
What is the national grid?
A system of transformers and high voltage cables
What does the step up transformer do?
Increases the potential difference to several hundred thousand volts
Why does the step up transformer increase potential difference?
Less energy is lost in the power cables when the potential difference is very high
What does the step down transformer do?
Reduces the potential difference to around 230 V
Why are wires coated in plastic?
Because it does not conduct electricity
What is the brown wire?
The live wire—> 230V
What is the blue wire?
Neutral wire —> 0V
What is the green/yellow striped wire?
Earth wire—> safety wire to stop the appliance from becoming live
What does DC stand for?
What is it?
Direct current
Current moves one way
What does AC stand for?
What is it?
Alternating current
Current is constantly changing direction
What is the benefit of AC?
Very easy to use a transformer to increase or decrease the potential difference
What is power?
The rate at which energy is transferred
