VCE Physics - AOS 3, Fields

static charge

Imbalance of electric charge on an object. In solids it is due to the transfer of electrons between objects.

Proton charge

1.6 x 10^-19 C

electrostatic force

the force that exists between particles due to their charge. particles of like charge repel, particles of unlike charge attract

permanent magnet

A magnetic material that always has its own magnetic field around it

magnetic flux

the number of magnetic field lines that pass through a surface

Solenoid

A coil of wire that produces a magnetic field when carrying an electric current

inverse-square law

a law that states that an energy field's strength is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the energy field's source

impulse

a force acting at a particular magnitude and time to change an object's momentum

g force

the acceleration of a descending object due to gravity

electromotive force (EMF)

the voltage created or supplied due to energy being transformed into electrical potential energy

electromagnetic induction

the production of an electromotive force (EMF) due to the change in magnetic flux through a conducting loop

faraday’s law

ε = -N x ΔΦB / Δt, calculates EMF

induced current

the current produced in a conductor due to a changing magnetic flux

Lenz’s Law

finds direction of current and induced emf in a loop

generator

a device that transforms kinetic energy into electricity (either AC or DC) by electromagnetic induction

alternator

a device that transforms kinetic energy into AC electricity by electromagnetic induction; an AC generator

alternating current (AC) electricity

electricity with a periodically alternating direction of current and voltage

slip rings

a component used to maintain a constant electrical connection between a stationary external circuit and a rotating coil

amplitude

the distance from the x-axis to the top or bottom of the wave

frequency

the number of cycles completed per second

period

the time taken to complete one cycle

direct current (DC) electricity

electricity with a constant direction of current and voltage

split ring commutator

a component used to reverse the electrical connection between a stationary external circuit and a rotating coil every half rotation

photovoltaic (PV) cell

a device that converts light energy into electrical energy

semiconductor

a material that can be modified to control how it conducts electricity

solar panel

an array of photovoltaic cells connected to produce a desired voltage and current

inverter

a device that converts direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC)

voltage

a measure of the difference in electric potential energy between two points, also known as potential difference

current

the rate of flow of electric charge, measured in amperes

resistance

a measure of the opposition to the flow of electric current

resistor

an electrical component that resists the flow of electric current and causes a drop in voltage

series circuit

an electric circuit where there is only one pathway for current to flow

parallel circuit

an electric circuit where there are multiple pathways for current to flow

ohm’s law

V = IR

root-mean-square (RMS)

the DC voltage or current that would deliver the same average power as an AC source

transformer

a device that uses electromagnetic induction to transfer power from one electrical circuit to another

why is the voltage stepped up before being transmitted along the power lines?