Electricity Flashcards
(18 cards)
what is current?
rate of the flow of charge
whats the unit for current
amps (A)
what is the equation for current?
I=Q/t
Q=Coulombs (Charge) t=Seconds (s)
where is current conserved in a circuit?
at a junction
what instrument is current measured with?
with an ammeter in series
What is potential difference/voltage and what is it measured in?
Volts (V)
1V= 1JC
-it is the work done per unit charge
what instrument is potential difference measured with
voltmeter in parallel
what is the formula for potential difference?
V= current x resistance
the higher the potential difference, the higher the current
what is resistance?
opposition to the flow of current measure in Ohms (Ω)
what is the equation for resistance?
R=V/I
the greater the resistance that harder it is for current to flow through the component
what happens when current is increased in a circuit?
as the current increases, so does the temperature, which means electrons and ions vibrate more & collide more, increasing resistance (rates of reaction topic)
how does a series circuit work?
components are connected end to end in one loop
how is current and potential difference shared across a series circuit?
-current is equal
-voltage adds
in relation the the components
how is resistance calculated in a series circuit?
the total resistance= sum of the resistances of each component
how do parallel circuits work?
-components are separated by branches
how is current and potential difference shared across a parallel circuit?
-current adds
-voltage is equal
why is connecting lamps in parallel advantageous?
if one breaks, current can still pass through the rest
what are some dangers of electricity?
electric shock, fire hazard, overheating of cables which melt the insulation
