Electrical Conductivity and Kinematics

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering electrical conductivity, circuit rules, electrical formulas, resistance, and kinematics based on the lecture material.

Conductors

Materials, often metals, that lose electrons to stabilize their valence shells, allowing electrons to move easily between atoms.

Insulators

Materials that inhabit the flow of electricity (electrons) and typically want to gain electrons; examples include rubber and plastic.

Charge

An electrical property caused by the transfer of electrons from one object to another, which can be positive or negative.

Static Electricity

The buildup of charge in a particular material that remains until it is able to move away in an electrical discharge.

Polarisation of Charge

The effect where a charged object impacts a neutral object by repelling like charges and attracting opposite charges within it.

Current ($I$)

The flow of electrons around a circuit, measured in Amperes ($A$) using an ammeter connected in series.

Voltage ($V$)

Also known as potential difference, it is the energy supplied to push electrons around a circuit, measured in Volts ($V$) using a voltmeter connected in parallel.

Series Circuit

A circuit arrangement where all components are on the same line; if one wire is cut, all components go out.

Parallel Circuit

A circuit where components are parallel to each other; if a wire is cut, only some components stop working.

Coulomb ($C$)

The unit of electric charge; one coulomb is the charge that passes a point when there is a current of $1\,A$ per second.

Charge Formula

$$\text{Charge (C)} = \text{Current (A)} \times \text{Time (s)}$$

Energy Transferred Formula

$$\text{Energy transferred (J)} = \text{charge moved (C)} \times \text{potential difference (V)}$$

Resistance ($R$)

The ability of a substance to slow the flow of electrons through it, which is directly proportional to length and temperature, and inversely proportional to cross-sectional area.

Ohm's Law

The relationship between electrical properties expressed as $\text{Voltage} = \text{Current} \times \text{Resistance}$ ($V = I \times R$).

Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity, measured in $m/s^2$, calculated as $a = \frac{V - U}{t}$ where $V$ is final velocity and $U$ is initial velocity.

Velocity-Time Graph Gradient

The slope of a velocity-time graph which represents the acceleration of the object.

Area under a Velocity-Time Graph

The total area calculated under the curve which represents the displacement or distance travelled in a journey.