Physics Test Vocab Flashcards
(24 cards)
Lightning
a very large electrical discharge
Electric Charge
charged particles that exert a force on each other
Proton
A positively charged particle in an atom, located in the nucleus of the atom
Neutron
A neutral particle in an atom, located in the nucleus of an atom
Electron
A negatively charged particle in an atom, located outside of the nucleus
Nucleus
The Center of an atom, where all the atoms positive charge and most of the atoms mass is concentrated
Static electric charge
An electric charge that builds up on the surface of an object
Friction
The force that occurs when objects run against each other
Election Affinity
The tendency of a substance to hold on to electrons
Law of attraction
It states that Opposite charges attract each other
Law of repulsion
It states that like charges repel each other
Conductivity
The ability of a material to allow electrons to move freely within it
Insulator
A substance which does not allow electrons to move within it
Conductor
A substance that allows electrons to move freely within it.
Conduction
The movement of electrons through a substance.
Electroscope
An instrument that can detect static electric charges
Electrostatics
the study of static electric charges
Positive charge
A charge that exists in a substance that has fewer electrons than protons
Negative charge
A charge that exists in a substance that has more electrons than protons
Charging by contact
A form of charging in which a charged object touches a neutral object and transfers electrons to it
Charging by induction
A form of charging in which a charged object is used to induce the charge in a neutral object and then the newly charged object is grounded so it retains the charge. It requires no physical touch between the objects.
Induction
The movement of electrons within an object caused by a nearby charged object, without direct contact between the objects.
Grounding
The process of connecting a charged object to earths surface
Electrical discharge
The process by which electric charges are transferred very quickly