Chapter 10: Electricity

Alternating Current

electrically charged particles that repeatedly reverse direction, vibrating about relatively fixed positions

Ampere

unit of electric current, equivalent to 1 Coulomb per second

Coulomb

the unit of electrical charge - it is equal in magnitude to the total charge of 6.25 × 10 ^18 electrons

Coulomb’s Law

The electrical force between two charged bodies is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them

Direct Current

electrically charged particles flowing in one direction only between them

Electric Current

the flow of electric charge that transports energuu from one place to another - measured in amperes

Electrically Polarized

term applied to an atom or molecule in which the charges are aligned so that one site has a slight excess of positive charge and the other side a slight excess of negative charge

Electric Power

the rate of energy, or rate of doing work - measured by power = current x voltage

Electrical Resistance

the property of a material that resists the flow of charged particles through it - measured in ohms

Ohm’s Law

the statement that the current in a circuit varies in direct proportion to the voltage across the circuit and inversely with the circuit’s resistance - current = voltage / resistance

Parallel Circuit

an electric circuit in which electrical devices are connected so that the same voltage acts across each one and any single one completes the circuit independently of all the others

Series Circuit

an electric circuit in which electrical devices are connected so that the same electric current exsists in all of them

Voltage

a form of “electrical pressure” - voltage = potential energy/ charge

What is the Law of Conservation of Change?

charge cannot be created nor destroyed (think Conservation of energy/momentum/etc.)

How does a person get shocked?

when there is a difference in voltage between one part of your body and another part

How is an electron current similar to a water current? How are the two different?

Sim: pipes carry water/wires carry electrons - it can move easy in a conducting material

Diff: electric current can flow through insulators

In which direction do electric currents flow?

the direction in which a postive charge would move

Basic structure of an atom

protons, neutrons, electrons

What are the two basic rules for electricity?

1. like charges repel each other

2. opposite charges attract each other

What is overloading? How can you prevent it?

carrying more than it can handle - hazards

prevent - fuses, surge protectors, etc.