Electricity, Circuits, and Components Vocabulary

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to electricity, circuits, and components, based on lecture notes.

Circuit

A closed path through which a current flows.

Conductor

Material that allows the flow of electrical current through it.

Insulator

Material that does not allow the free flow of current through it.

Actual Current Flow

Current flows from the negative terminal to the positive terminal.

Conventional Current

Flow is from the positive side of the battery to the negative terminal.

Current

Measured in Amperes (A). It is the flow of electrons in the circuit.

Voltage

Measured in Volts (V). It relates energy converted to the number of electrons in the circuit.

Resistance

Property of a circuit that slows down the flow of current.

Series Circuit

A circuit with one pathway for current to flow.

Parallel Circuit

A circuit with many pathways for current to flow.

Circuit Components

Components that make up a circuit, such as batteries, bulbs, and switches.

Cell

A single source of current for a circuit, represented by two vertical lines (one short, one long).

Battery

Made up of more than one cell joined together, from positive to negative.

Connecting Wires

Used to connect other circuit components to each other.

Switch

Used to open and close the circuit, stopping or allowing current flow.

Bulb/Filament Lamp

Provides a source of light in a circuit.

Voltmeter

Measures the voltage of a circuit in Volts (V).

Ammeter

Measures the current in Amperes (A).

Resistors

Fixed: Reduces current flow by a fixed amount. Variable: Can alter resistance values.