04 Electricity Definitions

Static Charge

result of charges transferred from one object to another by friction (rubbing)

friction

rubbing; provides enough energy to cause electrons to transfer from one object to another

triboelectric charging

the process of electron transfer by friction

insulator

does not allow an electrical charge to flow around, electrons stay in one place until removed.

conductor

electrons move around easily through the material, electrical charge is spread out and weakened.

charge seperation

the deliberate movement of electrons to one part of a material. it is responsible for most attraction forces seen in objects

electroscope

tool for determining whether an electric charge is present in an object

conduction

electric charge can travel by touching a charged object to a neutral object. neutral gains a charge

induction

a charged object is brought close to, but not allowed to touch a neutral object producing an opposite charge in the object.

grounding

connecting an object to the earth, allowing electrons to move freely between the object and the earth.

current

the huge number if electrons passing through the conductor

ammeter

a tool used to measure the current in a circuit. only records the huge number of electrons passing through the conductor.

voltage

the amount of energy (Joules, J) contained within a group of electrons (Coulombs, C) is called its potential difference.

potential difference

the difference between the electric potentials between two different points in a circuit, such as between the negative and positive electrodes of an electric cell.

voltmeter

measures the potential difference/drop of each resistor/load.

resistance

electrons lose energy as they move through things

electric potential

Coulombs (C)

resistor

electrical device in a circuit that takes potential energy from electrons; provides resistance

ohm’s law

states that the voltage drop in a load is equal to the product of the load’s resistance and the current that passes through it

electrical power

the rate at which everything is connected and the current is flowing

circuit

a pathway that allows the flow of electricity

closed circuit

a circuit in which everything is connected and current is flowing

open circuit

a circuit in which there is a gap, and the current is not making a complete circuit

series circuit

only one path for current to flow; current is the same at any point in the circuit

parallel circuit

more than one path for current to flow; current splits at junctions, causing the current to be different in different pathways.