Physic: Current and Circuits

current

the rate of flow of electrical currents

Batteries and generators set up a _________ across a circuit

Potential difference

Batteries

covert chemical PE to electrical PE

Generators

Convert mechanical energy to electrical PE

electrons flow from a ____ terminal to a _____ terminal

negative to positive

electrical force

attracts electrons to a positive terminal and repel them from a negative terminal

when does the current stop

when the negative loses negative charge and the positive gains negative charge. They both become neutral and even out.

conventional current

the direction that positive charges would flow (from pos to neg)

actual current

the direction that electrons would flow (neg to pos)

resistance

the opposition to the flow of current in a conductor. (higher the resistance the less current can make it through)

resistor

put in a circuit to control the flow of current

superconductors

materials that have a resistance of zero at or below critical temperatures

factors that affect resistance

length - longer=more resistance

conductivity - low conductivity = high resistance

thickness (cross-sectional area) - thinner = more resistance

Ohm's law

for most conductors, the amount pf resistance remains constant

current is _____ proportional to the voltage

directly

current is _____ proportional to the resistance

inversely

power

the rate at which electric energy is converted from one form to another

energy

having the ability to do work