Current Electricity Terminology and Concepts

These flashcards cover essential terminology and concepts in the study of current electricity, important for understanding electrical circuits.

Current

The flow of electric charge, measured in Amperes (A).

Drift Velocity

The average velocity of charged particles, such as electrons, in a conductor due to an electric field.

Resistance

A measure of the opposition to the flow of current in an electrical circuit, measured in Ohms (Ω).

Ohm's Law

The relationship between voltage (V), current (I), and resistance (R), expressed as V=IR.

Kirchhoff's First Law

The total current entering a junction equals the total current leaving the junction.

Kirchhoff's Second Law

The sum of the electromotive forces (emf) in any closed loop is equal to the sum of potential drops across the resistances in that loop.

Electric Field (E)

A field around charged particles that exerts a force on other charged particles, measured in Volts per meter (V/m).

Power Dissipation

The rate at which electrical energy is converted to heat, calculated using P=I²R, where P is power, I is current, and R is resistance.

Potentiometer

An instrument used to measure the potential difference by balancing it against a known voltage with no current flow.

Equivalent Resistance

The total resistance of a circuit or combination of resistors, that will produce the same current flow as if all were replaced with a single resistor.

Internal Resistance

The resistance within a battery or cell that causes energy loss due to the flow of electric current.

Shunt Resistance

A low resistance connected in parallel with an ammeter to allow it to measure larger currents.

Voltage Drop

The reduction in voltage across a component in a circuit due to resistance.

Power Rating

The maximum amount of power a device can safely handle without being damaged, typically measured in Watts (W).

Heat Energy

The energy generated from electrical resistance, convert from electric energy, often measured in Joules (J).

Galvanometer

An instrument used to detect and measure small currents in a circuit.

Drift Speed Equation

Relates the drift speed of charge carriers to current density: j = nevd, where j is current density, n is charge carrier density, e is charge of the carrier, and vd is drift velocity.

Cell

A device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy, delivering voltage and current in circuits.

Battery

A combination of one or more electrochemical cells that store and provide electrical energy.

Series Circuit

An electrical circuit in which components are connected end-to-end, such that the current flows through each component sequentially.

Parallel Circuit

An electrical circuit in which components are connected across common points, allowing multiple pathways for current to flow.

Voltage Source

Any device that produces an electrical potential difference, such as a battery or power supply.

Electrical Energy

The energy derived from electric potential energy, used to perform work in electrical circuits.

Conductivity

A measure of how well a material accommodates the movement of electric charges.

Power Consumption

The rate at which a device uses electrical energy, equivalent to the current multiplied by the voltage.

Short Circuit

An unintended connection within a circuit that allows current to flow along an unintended path, potentially causing overheating or damage.

Voltage Divider

A simple circuit that produces a lower voltage from a higher voltage source using resistors.