Free Electricty Flashcards
(24 cards)
Electric Field
A region around a charged object where the object’s electric force is exerted on other charged objects
Static electricity
The buildup of charges on an object
Conservation of charge
Charges are neither created nor destroyed
Friction
Is the transfer of electrons from one uncharged object to another by rubbing the objects together
Conduction
Is the transfer of electrons from one to another by direct contact
Induction
A method of redistributing the charge on an object by means of the electric field of another object; the objects have no direct contact
Polarization
The process through which electrons are attracted to or repelled by an external electric field, causing the electrons to move within their own atoms.
Static Discharge
The loss of static electricity as electric charges transfer from one object to another
Electric current
Is the continuous flow of electric charges through a material
Electric circuit
A complete, unbroken path that charges can flow through
Conductor
Is a material through which charges can flow easily
Insulators
Are materials such as rubber, that do not allow charges to flow
Voltage
Is the difference in electric potential energy per charge between two points in a circuit
Resistance
Is the measure of how difficult it is for charges to flow through an object
Ohm’s Law
Says the resistance in a circuit is equal to voltage divided by current
Series circuit
An electric circuit in which all parts are connected one after another along one path.
Parallel Circuit
An electric circuit in which different parts of the circuit are on separate branches
Power
The rate at which one form of energy is transformed into another
Short Circuit
Is a connection that allows current to take the path of least resistance
Third Prong
You may have seen on electrical plugs connects the metal parts of appliances to the safety grounding wire of a building
Grounded
Allowing charges to flow directly from the circuit into the building’s ground wire and then into Earth in the event of a short circuit.
Fuses
Are devices that melt if they get too hot
Circuit breakers
Are switches that will bend away from circuits as they help us
Electric Force
The force between charged objects
