P3 - Electric Circuits Flashcards
(53 cards)
What is electrical current?
It’s the rate of flow of electrical charge. Cannot flow if the circuit is closed.
What is p.d?
pushes the electrical charge around. Voltage (v)
What is resistance?
Anything that resists the flow of charge. Unit: Ω
What is the equation for finding the amount of charge that has flowed through a component at a given time?
Charge(C) = current (A) x time (s)
what is the formula linking current, p.d, and resistance?
V = I x R
Potential difference (V) = current (A) x resistance (ohm)
how does the length of a wire affects its resistance?
(hint: practical)
resistance increases as you increase the length of the wire
what is a linear component?
linear components have a fixed resistance. Their i-v characteristic is a straight line
what is a non-linear component?
Their resistance changes depending on the size of the current. they have a curved i-v characteristic.
what is the term i-v characteristic?
refers to a graph of how the current (I) flowing through a component changes as the p.d (v) is increased.
true or false: resistance of a component varies
true
what is a diode?
made from a semiconductor material. Let’s current flow freely in one direction but not in the other
What is an LDR?
Light dependant resistor. In darkness, the resistance is the highest. As light increases, resistance fails
What is a thermistor?
hot conditions = resistance drops
cooler conditions = resistance increases
what are sensing circuits?
LDRs and thermistors can be used
can be used to turn on or increase the power of the components, depending the condition they are in
Where does an electrical current transfer energy from?
a power supply
how do charges transfer energy against a component?
they pass through it by doing work against the resistance of a component
What is the formula which relates to p.d between 2 points, the work done, either on or by a charge?
potential difference = work done (J/energy transferred) ÷ charge
What is power measured in?
Watts, W = 1J/s
what is the equation for calculating the power transfer in a circuit device in a given time?
power (W) = energy (J) ÷ time (s)
P = E ÷ T
what is the equation for calculating power using voltage and current?
power (W) = p.d (V) x current (A)
P = VI
what is the equation for using resistance and current to calculate the power?
power (W) = current² (A²) x resistance (Ω)
P = I²R
What is power rating?
it is the rate at which energy is transferred
What is the p.d of a series circuit?
the p.d of supply is shared between the various components
V(total) = V1 + V2 + V3
What is the current in a series circuit?
each charge has to flow through all the components to get round the circuit. So all the same current flows through all parts of circuit
I1 = I2 = I3