Summative Electricity Test Practice

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering basic electricity concepts, charging models, circuit types, and fundamental formulas for current and voltage.

Dufay’s Two-Fluid Model

A model proposing that a neutral object has equal amounts of two types of fluid—vitreous and resinous—and a charged object has more of one or the other.

Benjamin Franklin’s One-Fluid Model

A model suggesting that a neutral object has a natural amount of electric fluid, while a charged object has either too much or too little of this fluid.

Positive Charge

An electrical state characterized by having fewer electrons than protons.

Negative Charge

An electrical state characterized by having more electrons than protons.

Electrostatic Law of Attraction and Repulsion

States that like charges repel each other and unlike (opposite) charges attract each other.

Neutral Object Interaction

The phenomenon where a neutral object is attracted to both positive and negative charges.

Conductor

A material that allows electric charge (moving subatomic particles) to be transmitted easily.

Insulator

A material that does not easily transmit electric charge, allowing it to be held without the charge moving to the holder.

Charging by Contact

The process of transferring charge from a charged object to a neutral object by touching them together.

Polarization

The creation of a temporary charge separation on an originally neutral object.

Grounding

The process of connecting a charged object to the Earth to neutralize its charge.

Induction

A method causing a conductor to gain a charge or charge separation without direct contact between objects.

Scientific Law

Descriptions of phenomena within science that are based on repeated experiments or observations.

Scientific Theory

Comprehensive explanations in science that describe why specific phenomena occur.

Anomaly

An unexpected result or observation that appears when an experiment is performed and does not match existing models or theories.

Electron Theory

The theory explaining that an atom becomes negatively charged by gaining one or more electrons and positively charged by losing them.

Electric Current

The flow of electric charges from one place to another through a conducting path.

Electrostatics vs. Current Electricity

Electrostatics involves stationary charges on an object, while current electricity involves the movement of electrons through a loop.

Ammeter

A device used to measure the electric current in a circuit in amperes.

Galvanometer

An instrument used to measure and detect very small amounts of electric current.

Wet Cell (Voltaic Cell)

An electric cell, such as Volta's cell, that uses a liquid chemical (electrolyte) to produce a supply of electrons.

Current Formula

$\text{I} = \frac{Q}{t}$, where $\text{I}$ is current in amperes $\text{A}$, $Q$ is charge in coulombs $\text{C}$, and $t$ is time in seconds $\text{s}$.

Electric Potential

Also known as voltage, it is the potential energy per unit charge, measured in volts or joules per coulomb $\text{V} = \text{J/C}$.

Voltage Formula

$V = \frac{E}{Q}$, where $V$ is potential in volts, $E$ is work or energy in joules, and $Q$ is charge in coulombs.

Resistance

The opposition to the flow of electrons in a circuit, created by the material used in the conductor.

Series Circuit

A circuit where components are connected in a single loop; a break anywhere in the path causes the entire circuit to stop functioning.

Parallel Circuit

A circuit where current splits at junctions into multiple branches; a break in one branch does not stop current in the others.

Cells in Series

A configuration that increases the total voltage and current provided to the circuit.

Cells in Parallel

A configuration where the voltage remains the same as a single cell, but the cells last longer.

Potential Drop

The loss of electrical potential energy as electrons pass through a resistor, which is equivalent to the voltage measurement across that resistor.