Static Electricity and Circuits

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to static electricity and electrical circuits.

Electrostatics

The build up of stationary charges

Neutral Object

Object with the same number of protons and electrons

Negative Charge

Gained electrons

Positive Charge

Lost electrons

Charge is Conserved

A principle stating that electrons cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred

q

Symbol for charge

Coulombs (C)

Unit for charge

Like Charges

Charges repel

Opposite Charges

Charges attract

Coulomb's Law

Force between charged objects

Insulator

Materials where charges don’t flow, leading to charge build-up

Conductor

Materials where charges flow freely, preventing charge build-up

Conduction

Transfer of electrons through direct contact

Induction

Separation of electrons without direct contact

Grounding

Transfer of charge to a larger object

Battery

Uses a chemical reaction that creates a continuous separation of charge released slowly

Capacitor

A way to store a single separation of charge that can be released quickly

Electricity

The flow of charge created by opposite charges attracting

Electrical Circuit

A complete path for charges to flow through, including a voltage source

Voltage

The potential charges have to flow (potential energy)

Current

How fast the charges flow

Resistance

Fights against and slows down charges (friction)

Ohm's Law

Relates voltage, current, and resistance: V = IR

Series Circuit

One path, all devices in a row, electrons flow through devices in order

Parallel Circuit

Each device has its own path, electrons flow through devices simultaneously

Energy

The ability to do work or move an object

Power

Rate at which energy is transferred