Science Vocab Unit electricity

Question 1

Static electricity

Answer 1

The result of an imbalance between negative and positive charges in an object.

Question 2

Proton

Answer 2

positively charged particle in the nucleus of an atom

Question 3

Electron

Answer 3

Negatively charged particle in the nucleus of an atom

Question 4

Neutral

Answer 4

An object that has equal amounts of positive and negative charges.

Question 5

Charge separation

Answer 5

When electrons get excited; When a charged object approaches, it turns these neutrons positively charged.

Question 6

Electrical discharge

Answer 6

Sudden transfer of electrical charge from one object to another.

Question 7

Van De Graff Generator

Answer 7

An electrostatic generator that uses friction to accumulate and create electricity.

Question 8

Fuses

Answer 8

Thin piece of metal that melts to break an electrical circuit when excess current flow occurs.

Question 9

Circuit breakers

Answer 9

Special wire that heats up and turns off switch when excess current flows through an electrical circuit.

Question 10

Electrical breakers

Answer 10

Electrical current steady flow of charged particles.

Question 11

Circuit

Answer 11

Complete path that charged particles flow through

Question 12

Amperes (A)

Answer 12

A unit of electrical current

Question 13

Conductors

Answer 13

A material that electric charge can move through easily.

Question 14

Load

Answer 14

A device in a circuit that converts electrical energy to another form of energy.

Question 15

voltage/potential difference

Answer 15

External work needed to bring a charge from one location in an electric field

Question 16

volt (V)

Answer 16

The unit of voltage

Question 17

Voltmeter

Answer 17

Instrument for measuring electric potential in volts

Question 18

insulators

Answer 18

substance that strongly resists the flow of electricity

Question 19

Electrochemical cell

Answer 19

Package of chemicals designed to produce small amounts of electricity

Question 20

Dry cell

Answer 20

Cell that has its electrolyte in the form of a paste, usually in a sealed case

Question 21

Electrolyte

Answer 21

Liquid or paste that conducts electricity because it contains ions.

Question 22

Electrodes

Answer 22

Conductor through which electric current enters or leaves a device or material

Question 23

Wet cells

Answer 23

Electrochemical primary cell having a liquid electrolyte

Question 24

Primary cells

Answer 24

Cell that produces electricity by means of a chemical reaction that cannot be reversed

Question 25

Secondary cell

Answer 25

Rechargeable cell

Question 26

Battery

Answer 26

Set of cells connected together

Question 27

Electrochemistry

Answer 27

Study of chemical reactions involving electricity

Question 28

Electrolysis

Answer 28

Decomposition of a substance by an electric current

Question 29

Electroplating

Answer 29

Use of electricity to coat a thin layer of metal onto an object

Question 30

Resistor

Answer 30

Device having resistance to the passage of electrical current often used to control current on a circuit

Question 31

Resistance

Answer 31

Measure of how difficult it is for electrons to flow through a substance

Question 32

Ohms

Answer 32

The unit of resistance

Question 33

Variable resistor/rheostat

Answer 33

Rheostat is a variable resistor which is used to control current

Question 34

Ohms law

Answer 34

Law stating that as long as the temperature remains constant, the resistance of a conductor remains constant and the current is directly proportional to the voltage applied

Question 35

Voltage drop

Answer 35

Voltage across resistor or other device in a circuit

Question 36

Millivoltmeters

Answer 36

Instrument used to measure small voltages

Question 37

Ammeters

Answer 37

Meter used to measure electrical current in amperes

Question 38

Galvanometer

Answer 38

Device for detecting and measuring small electric currents

Question 39

Multimeter

Answer 39

Meter that can measure voltage, current, or resistance in a circuit

Question 40

Series circuit

Answer 40

Circuit which there is only a single pathway for the current so the same current passes through all the components

Question 41

Parallel circuit

Answer 41

Circuit in which the current can flow in two or more paths

Question 42

Transistors

Answer 42

Device usually with 3 layers arranged such that a small voltage through the middle layer controls a current between the other layers, allowing the device to act as a switch or amplifier

Question 43

Microcircuits

Answer 43

Circuit made up of miniaturized components, especially an integrated circuit

Question 44

Chemical energy

Answer 44

Energy stored in chemicals and released when chemicals react

Question 45

Electrical energy

Answer 45

Energy of charged particles

Question 46

Mechanical energy

Answer 46

Energy possessed by an object because if it’s motion or it’s potential to move

Question 47

Thermal energy

Answer 47

Total kinetic energy of all the particles in a substance

Question 48

Thermocouple

Answer 48

Device consisting of two wires of different metals joined such that a voltage is produced between the ends in proportion to the difference in their temperatures

Question 49

Transformers

Answer 49

Device that changes electricity at one voltage into electricity at a different voltage

Question 50

Electromagnet

Answer 50

Coil of insulated wire that becomes a magnet when current flows through it

Question 51

Electromagnetic induction

Answer 51

Generation of electric current in a conductor by changing magnetic field

Question 52

Power

Answer 52

Rate at which device converts energy

Question 53

Watt

Answer 53

The unit of power, equal to one joule per second

Question 54

Kilowatt hour

Answer 54

Commonly used unit of electrical energy, equal to a power consumption of 100w for one hour

Question 55

Law conservation of matter

Answer 55

Fundamental principle that energy cannot be created or destroyed

Question 56

Geothermal energy

Answer 56

Energy from the internal heat if the earth

Question 57

Biomass

Answer 57

Organic matter ex food scraps converted into energy source