Electricity and Circuits

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on electricity, circuits, and related principles.

Electrical Circuit

A closed loop that contains something for the electrons to flow through.

Current

The measure of the flow of electrons, denoted by 'I' and measured in Amps (A).

Potential Difference

The force driving the flow of current, measured in Volts (V).

Resistance

Anything that slows down the flow of current, measured in Ohms (Ω).

Static Electricity

Electric charge created by rubbing insulating materials together, resulting in one object gaining a positive charge and the other gaining a negative charge.

Sparks

Caused when electric charge builds up enough to jump across an object to Earth, typically due to high potential difference.

Electrostatic Force

The force of attraction between two objects with opposite charges.

Charge (Q)

A measure of the total electrical current over a certain period, calculated with the equation Q=Ixt.

Ohmic Conductors

Materials that follow Ohm's Law, where current and voltage are directly proportional.

Filament Lamp

A device where the resistance increases with temperature, causing more thermal energy and slowing current as it increases.

Series Circuit

A circuit type where components are connected in a single loop, and the total potential difference is shared among components.

Parallel Circuit

A circuit type where components are connected separately, allowing each to receive the full potential difference.

Ammeter

An instrument used to measure current in a circuit.

Variable Resistor

A resistor whose resistance can be adjusted in order to control the current.

LDR (Light Dependent Resistor)

A resistor whose resistance decreases with increasing incident light intensity.

Power (P)

The rate at which energy is transferred, calculated as Power = Current x Potential Difference.

Current Direction

Current will reverse direction in certain devices, preventing the flow of current.

Current Equation

Describes the relationship between charge, current, and time: Q = I x t.

Resistance Equation

The formula for resistance, defined as R = V / I.