Electricity Flashcards
(32 cards)
What can static electricity do?
Give an electric shock
Static electricity can create a sensation of shock when it discharges.
What causes charge to build up?
When two insulators rub together
What particles do all atoms have that carry charge?
- Electrons (negatively charged)
- Protons (positively charged)
What is the charge of most objects?
Neutral - no overall charge
What effect does friction have on electrons?
Gives them the ability to move from one object to another
What do insulators do regarding electricity?
Don’t allow electricity to pass through
True or False: Like charges attract each other.
False
What happens when a positively charged object encounters another positively charged object?
They repel each other
What happens when a negatively charged object encounters a positively charged object?
They attract each other
What are electric currents?
Flows of charge around the circuit.
What type of particles constitute the electric charge in a circuit?
Electrons.
What are materials that don’t allow current to pass through called?
Insulators.
What are materials that allow current to pass through them called?
Conductors.
Is current used up in a circuit?
No, it keeps going around the circuit.
What do volt meters measure?
Potential Difference in a circuit
What is the difference between current and potential difference?
Current refers to the flow of electrical charge, while potential difference (voltage) refers to the energy available to move electrical charge.
How is potential difference (voltage) measured?
Using a volt meter, measured in units volts.
How is current measured?
In amps using an ammeter.
What is a characteristic of series circuits?
All of the bulbs (or other electrical components) come on/off at the same time
In series circuits, the components are connected in a single path.
How are components arranged in a series circuit?
In a line
This arrangement means that the current flows through each component sequentially.
What happens to the current as more bulbs are added in a series circuit?
The current will decrease
Adding more components increases resistance, reducing the overall current.
What is a key feature of parallel circuits?
Each component in the circuit is independent
This independence allows each component to operate separately.
What is the effect of adding more components to a parallel circuit?
The current will increase
Each additional path allows more current to flow, decreasing overall resistance.
Fill in the blank: In a _______ circuit, all components come on/off at the same time.
series
