law of electric charge
opposite charges attract, but like charges repel
circuit breaker
an automatic switch that opens when current overloads a circuit
direct current
electricity flows in one direction
diamagnetic
diamond that has no unpaired electrons and is slightly repelled by either
electrostatics
the study of nature, behavior, and uses of static electricity and related phenomena
neutral
balance of positiveĀ and negative = no electric charge
conduction
transferring of electric charge by direct contact
current
flow of charge from one place to another
static electricity
simplest form of electricity
switch
device that opens or closes a circuit
ampere
SI unit for current
coulomb
SI unit for electric charge
watt
SI unit of power
ohm
unit of resistance
volt
SI unit for voltage
proton
positive type of electric charge
electron
negative type of electric charge
resistor
an electrical device designed to hinder current flow
grounding
most common way of dissipating charges
conductors
material that allows electric current to flow easily through it
semiconductors
materials that are not good insulators or conductors
permeability
how strong the magnetic force acts through a material
LED lamp
semiconductor that produces light at low temperature; most efficient
van de graaff generator
most common type of generator used today
photovoltaic cell
semiconductor device that produces electric current through the photovoltaic effect
loudspeaker
converts electricity into sound waves
microphone
converts sound waves into pulses of electricity
relay
electric switch operated by electromagnet
solenoid
converts electricity to back and forth motion
telegraph
uses electromagnets to allow communication over long distances
anode
negative terminal of a voltaic cell
leyden jar
early device used to store electric charge by Musschenbroek
incandescent lamp
produces light from a filament heated to high temperatures; first suitable to use at home
lightning rod
device for protecting buildings and other structures from lightning strikes
transformer
devices that increases or decreases voltage
battery
one or more electrochemical cells connected to terminals as single source of current
st. elmoās fire
discharge that is an accumulation of electrons around pointed objects that results in an eerie blue glow
cathode
positive terminal of a voltaic cell
morse code
system of long and short clicks to communicate
faraday
discovered electromagnetic induction
franklin
invented the lightning rod and discovered that lightning is caused by static electricity
otto von guericke
invented the first electrostatic generator
morse
invented the telegraph
alternator
small AC generator that recharges battery of car
xerography
electrostatic method of reproducing images on paper
personal computer
small inexpensive used by one user at a time
supercomputer
large, powerful designed for complex calculations
input / output devices
allows computer to communicate to outside world
central processing unit (CPU)
part that controls all other systems of computer
internet
largest computer network
microprocessor
single chip that contains a complete CPU
byte
smallest accessible unit of data in computer
bit
binary digit, either 0 or 1
n-type
type of semiconductor that adds electrons
hardware
physical components of a computer
RAM
memory used for temporary storage
operating system
systems saved for displaying images
data
information collected
software
stored info and instructions that direct a computer to perform tasks
computer
electronic device processes info using electric circuit
capacitor
modern device used to store electric charge
electromagnet
device that produces strong magnet field when electricity passes through it
fuse
narrow strip of metal housed in a protective case that burns out when current suddenly increases
logic gate
produces a single binary output based on one or more binary outputs
triode
consists of 3 electrodes
mainframe
large computer for storing and retrieving vast info
analog data
type of data that constantly changes positions; any positions
hexadecimal
number system based on powers of 16
p-type
semiconductor that lacks electrons
UNIVAC I
americaās first mass-produced computer