Year 9 Science: Physics (Electricity)

ammeter

device used to measure the amount of current in a circuit. Ammeters are placed in series with other components in a circuit.

circuit diagram

diagram using symbols to show the parts of an electric circuit

components

in circuits are the individual electrical devices that are connected in the circuit by conducting wires

conducting path

connected series of materials along which an electric current can flow

conductors

materials that have a very low resistance, allowing current to flow through them with ease

electric charge

physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force when near other electrically charged matter. Can be positive or negative.

electric circuit

a closed pathway made from a conducting material.

electric current

a measure of the number of electrons flowing through a circuit every second

induction

a process where the electrical or magnetic properties of an object produces similar properties in a nearby object without physical contact

insulators

materials that have a very high resistance, allowing very little current to flow through them

load

device that uses electrical energy and converts it into other forms of energy

Ohm’s Law

states that the current in a conductor is proportional to the voltage drop across the conductor

parallel circuit

a circuit that has more than one path for electricity to flow through. If one of the paths has a break in it, the others will still work.

power supply

a device that can provide an electric current

resistance

measure of the electrical energy required for an electric current to pass through an object, measured in ohms (Ω)

resistors

circuit component that has resistance

series

a formation of electricity-generating or using devices whereby the electricity passes from one device to the next in a single conducting loop, one after the other

series circuit

a circuit with the components joined one after the other in a single continuous loop

static electricity

a build-up of charge in one place

switch

device that opens and closes the conducting path through which a current flows

voltage

the amount of energy that is pushing electrons around a circuit, per coulomb of charge that flows between two points

voltmeter

device used to measure the voltage across a component in a circuit. Voltmeters are placed in parallel with the components