Physics - Chap 11

Question 1

Alternating current (AC)

Answer 1

Electric current that flows back and forth at regular intervals called cycles

Question 2

Ammeter

Answer 2

Device used to measure the current in a circuit

Question 3

Ampere (A)

Answer 3

Unit of current; a measure of the amount of charge moving past a point in the circuit every second

Question 4

Battery

Answer 4

Combination of electrochemical cells

Question 5

Circuit breaker

Answer 5

Safety device in which a wire heats up and bends when there is excess current in the circuit; this triggers a spring mechanism that turns off the flow of electricity

Question 6

Circuit diagram

Answer 6

Drawing made with symbols that shows the components and connections in a circuit

Question 7

Current

Answer 7

Continuous flow of electrons in a circuit (number of electrons)

Unit (I): Measure of the amount of electric charge that was added by a point in a circuit each second

Question 8

Direct current (DC)

Answer 8

Electric current flowing in one direction

Question 9

Dry cell

Answer 9

Electrochemical cell that uses a paste instead of liquid electrolyte

Question 10

Circuit

Answer 10

Path for electrons to flow; includes energy source, electrical load, and conducting wires

Question 11

Load

Answer 11

Device that converts electrical energy to another form of energy

Question 12

Electrochemical cell

Answer 12

Package of chemicals that converts chemical energy into electrical energy that is sorted in charged particles

Question 13

Fuel cell

Answer 13

Electrochemical cell that generates electricity directly from a chemical reaction with a fuel, such as hydrogen

Question 14

Fuse

Answer 14

Safety device in a circuit that has a metal conductor with a low melting point; if the current gets too high, the metal in it melts and the current flow stops

Question 15

Parallel circuit

Answer 15

Circuit in which the parts are arranged so electrons can flow along more than one path

Question 16

Potential difference

Answer 16

Difference in electric potential energy between two points that will cause current to flow in a closed circuit; another term for voltage

Question 17

Potential energy

Answer 17

Energy stored in an object; each electric charge has it

Question 18

Resistance

Answer 18

Degree to which a substance opposes the flow of electric current through it

Question 19

Resistor

Answer 19

Any material that can slow current flow in a circuit, such as the filament in a light bulb

Question 20

Series circuit

Answer 20

Circuit in which the components are arranged one after another in a series

Question 21

Short circuit

Answer 21

Accidental low-resistance connection between two points in a circuit, often causing excess current flow

Question 22

Switch

Answer 22

Device that turns a circuit on or off by closing or opening the circuit

Question 23

Transistor

Answer 23

Tiny device that acts as a switch or amplifier in a circuit

Question 24

Volt (V)

Answer 24

SI unit for measuring potential differences

Question 25

Voltage (V)

Answer 25

Difference in electrical potential energy between two points that will cause current to flow in a closed circuit
-speed of electrons through a circuit

Question 26

Voltmeter

Answer 26

Device used to measure the potential difference between two locations in a closed circuit

Question 27

Wet cell

Answer 27

Electrochemical cell that has a liquid electrolyte

Question 28

Ohm

Answer 28

SI Unit for measuring resistance

Question 29

Ohmmeter

Answer 29

Device for measuring electrical resistance; usually a part of a multifunctional meter called a multimeter

Question 30

Ohm’s Law

Answer 30

Law stating that as long as temperature stays the same, V=IR, where V is potential difference, I is current, and R is resistance

Question 31

Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)

Answer 31

Residual current device that detects a charge in current and opens the circuit, stopping current flow

Question 32

Electrode

Answer 32

Metal strip that reacts with the electrolyte in an electrochemical cell

Question 33

Electrolyte

Answer 33

Liquid or paste that conducts electricity because it contains chemicals that lose or gain electrons to form ions