Electricity and Circuits Vocabulary

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and definitions related to static and current electricity, circuits, and power generation.

Static Electricity

An imbalance of electric charge on the surface of an object.

Atomic Structure and Electric Charge

Atoms contain protons (+), electrons (–), and neutrons (0). Only the electrons can be added or removed from atoms.

Neutral Object

An object that has an equal number of protons and electrons.

Negatively Charged Object

An object that has more electrons than protons.

Positively Charged Object

An object that has fewer electrons than protons.

Charged Objects

Objects may become charged when electrons are transferred to or from another object.

Law of Electric Charges

Objects that have like charges repel each other, and objects that have opposite charges attract each other.

Induced Charge Separation

The induced movement of electrons in a neutral object by a nearby charged object.

Conductors

Materials that allow the movement of electrons.

Insulators

Materials that inhibit or prevent the movement of electrons.

Charging by Friction

Charging by friction occurs when two different neutral materials are rubbed together or come in contact and electric charges are transferred from one object to the other.

Electrostatic Series

A list of materials in order of increasing tendency to gain electrons.

Charging by Conduction

Charging by conduction occurs when two objects with different amounts of electric charge come in contact and electrons move from one object to the other.

Grounding

Removing the excess charge by transferring electrons between the object and a large neutral object such as Earth (the ground).

Charging by Induction

Charging a neutral object by bringing another charged object close to, but not touching, the neutral object.

Electroscope

A device that allows you to test whether an object is charged.

Current Electricity

The flow of electrons from one place to another through a conductor.

Circuit

A closed path of conducting material.

Current

The amount of charge (e-) that pass a single point in a circuit per second; measured in amperes (A).

Series Circuit

A circuit in which there is one path for electrons to follow.

Parallel Circuit

A circuit in which there is more than one path for electrons to follow.

Electrical Resistance

The ability of a material to oppose the flow of electric current; measured in Ohms (Ω).

Resistor

A device that reduces the flow of electric current.

Ohm's Law

the straight line relationship between voltage (potential difference) and current. R = V / I

Electrical power

Defined as the electrical energy that is converted into usable form every second; measured in Watts (W).

Efficiency

The ratio of the amount of useful energy produced to the total energy used; expressed as a percentage.

Voltaic cell

The first battery was created using 2 different metals (electrodes) were immersed in a solution that conducts electricity (electrolyte).

Electric Generating Stations

produce electrical energy by using external energy sources, such as Water, Steam, or Wind

Hydro Electric Generation

Fast moving water is used to turn a turbine, and generator to make electrical energy.

Thermal Generation

Thermal energy is created by burning fossil fuels, and radioactive energy to heat water to produce steam.