Electric Charge and Simple Circuits

Flashcards summarizing key concepts related to electric charge and simple circuits.

What are the two types of electric charge?

Positive and negative.

electric field

The invisible region around a charged object where electric forces act.

What happens to opposite charges when they are near each other?

They attract.

Electric force depends on the amount of charge and distance between charges.

Electric force depends on

electric potential energy

Stored energy due to interactions of electric charges in an electric field.

electrically charged object

An object with an unbalanced amount of positive or negative charge.

What characterizes an electrically neutral object?

It has equal amounts of positive and negative charge.

Induction

Charging an object without touching it.

Conduction

Transfer of charged particles through direct contact between conductors.

electric conductor

A material through which charges move easily (e.g., metals like copper).

electric insulator

A material through which charges do not move easily (e.g., rubber, glass, plastic).

parts of a simple circuit

Energy source (battery), conductors (wires), device (light bulb), and often a switch.

function of a battery in a circuit

It provides electric energy and voltage to the circuit.

terminals of a battery

The positive and negative ends of a battery where electric charges enter and leave the circuit.

What do conductors in a circuit do?

Allow electric charges to move easily through the circuit.