Grade 6 Physics: Electricity & Measurement

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers essential concepts in Grade 6 physics, including static electricity, methods of charging, types of materials, and standard SI measurement units and prefixes.

Static Electricity

Electric charge that stays on the surface of an object rather than flowing as a current.

Proton

A particle within an atom that carries a positive ($+$) charge and does not move.

Electron

A particle within an atom that carries a negative ($-$) charge and is capable of moving from one object to another.

Neutron

A particle within an atom that is neutral and has no electric charge.

Negative Object

An object that possesses more electrons than protons.

Positive Object

An object that possesses fewer electrons than protons.

Neutral Object

An object that possesses the same number of electrons and protons.

Charging by Friction

The process of rubbing two different materials together, causing electrons to move from one material to the other.

Insulator

A material, such as rubber, plastic, glass, or wool, through which electrons cannot flow easily and can be charged by friction.

Conductor

A material, such as copper or aluminum, through which electrons can flow easily and generally cannot be charged by friction.

Conduction

A method of charging where a charged object touches a neutral object, such as getting a shock from a doorknob.

Induction

A method of charging where a charged object comes close to a neutral object without touching, causing the neutral object to get the opposite charge.

Conservation of Charge

The rule that total electric charge never changes; it is only transferred through the movement of electrons.

Qualitative Measurement

A description of quality using words rather than numbers, such as "tall," "heavy," or "hot."

Quantitative Measurement

A measurement that uses numbers and units to describe quantity, such as "$1.5\,\text{m}$," "$10\,\text{kg}$," or "$30^\circ\text{C}$."

SI Units

The International System of units used as standard measurements by scientists worldwide.

Meter ($\text{m}$)

The standard SI unit for measuring length.

Kilogram ($\text{kg}$)

The standard SI unit for measuring mass.

Second ($\text{s}$)

The standard SI unit for measuring time.

Kelvin ($\text{K}$)

The standard SI unit for measuring temperature, though degrees Celsius ($^\circ\text{C}$) is also used.

Newton ($\text{N}$)

The standard SI unit for measuring force and weight.

Ampere ($\text{A}$)

The standard SI unit for measuring electric current.

Kilo ($\text{k}$)

A metric prefix meaning $1000 \times$ the base unit.

Hecto ($\text{h}$)

A metric prefix meaning $100 \times$ the base unit.

Deca ($\text{da}$)

A metric prefix meaning $10 \times$ the base unit.

Deci ($\text{d}$)

A metric prefix meaning $0.1 \times$ the base unit (divide by $10$).

Centi ($\text{c}$)

A metric prefix meaning $0.01 \times$ the base unit (divide by $100$).

Milli ($\text{m}$)

A metric prefix meaning $0.001 \times$ the base unit (divide by $1000$).

Derived Units

Units created by combining base units through multiplication or division, such as speed ($\text{m/s}$) or momentum ($\text{kg} \cdot \text{m/s}$).