Section 6 - Electricity Flashcards
(209 cards)
What is current?
The rate of flow of charge in a circuit.
What are the conditions for current to pass through a circuit?
- Circuit must be complete
* Source of p.d.
What is the unit for current?
Ampere (A)
What are charge carriers?
Charged particles that move around a circuit, allowing current to flow.
What are the charge carriers in metals?
Conduction electrons.
What are the charge carriers in a salt solution?
Ions.
What is the unit for charge?
Coulomb (C)
Which way does conventional current flow?
From + to - terminals.
Which way do electrons flow in a circuit?
From - to + terminals.
What must be remembered about the direction of current in a circuit?
- Although electrons flow from - to + terminals, this is not used.
- Conventional current is in fact considered, which flows from + to - terminals.
What is the symbol for current?
I
What is the symbol for charge?
Q
What is an ampere defined by?
The magnetic force between two parallel wires when they carry the same current.
What is a coulomb defined as?
The amount of charge that passes in 1 second if the current is 1 ampere.
What is the equation relating charge, current and time?
Q = I x t
Where:
Q - Charge (C)
I - Current (A)
t - Time (s)
What device is used to measure current and how must it be connected?
- Ammeter
* Connected in series
Why can’t current flow in an insulator?
- Each electron is attached to an atom and can’t move away from the atom
- Therefore, electrons can’t flow
Why can current easily flow in a metallic conductor?
- Most electrons are attached to an atom, but some are delocalised
- These delocalised electrons act as charge carriers
What is a semiconductor and why does it behave like this?
- Number of charge carriers increases with temperature -> Resistance decreases
- This is because electrons break free and act as charge carriers
What is a pure semiconducting material called and why?
Intrinsic semiconductor (intrinsic means natural) -> Conduction is due to electrons that break free from atoms of the material
What are the uses of semiconductors?
Sensors for detecting changes in the environment (e.g. thermistors and diodes).
Give two examples of semiconductors.
Thermistors and diodes.
What must be done in order to make electric charge flow through a conductor?
Do work on it.
What is potential difference?
The work done (or energy transferred) per unit charge.