Physics: Electric Charge, Circuits, and Resistance Key Concepts

What are the three possible charge states of an object?

Positive, negative, or neutral.

What happens when like charges interact?

They repel.

What happens when opposite charges interact?

They attract.

What is conservation of charge?

Charge cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred.

Which particle moves during charging?

Electrons.

What is charging by friction?

Rubbing transfers electrons.

What is charging by conduction?

Touching transfers electrons.

What is charging by induction?

Charging without touching.

What is polarization?

Rearrangement of charges within an object.

What determines electrostatic force?

Charge magnitude and distance.

If charge increases, what happens to force?

Force increases.

If distance doubles, what happens to force?

Force becomes one-fourth as large.

What is the elementary charge?

1.6 × 10^-19 C.

What is a conductor?

Material that allows charge to move easily.

Examples of conductors?

Copper, aluminum, silver, metals.

What is an insulator?

Material that resists charge movement.

Examples of insulators?

Rubber, plastic, glass, wood.

What is electric current?

Flow of electric charge.

What is a closed circuit?

A complete path where current flows.

What is an open circuit?

A broken path where current cannot flow.

What is voltage?

The push on charges.

What is resistance?

Opposition to current flow.

What is Ohm's Law?

V = IR.

If voltage increases and resistance stays constant, what happens?

Current increases.

If resistance increases and voltage stays constant, what happens?

Current decreases.

What factors affect resistance?

Length, area, material, temperature.

What does a longer wire mean for resistance?

More resistance.

What does a thicker wire mean for resistance?

Less resistance.

What does a higher temperature mean for resistance?

More resistance.

What is a direct relationship?

Both variables increase together.

What is an inverse relationship?

One increases while the other decreases.

What is a series circuit?

A circuit with one path.

What is the current in a series circuit?

Same everywhere.

What is the series resistance formula?

Req = R1 + R2 + R3 + ...

What happens when adding resistors in series?

Increases total resistance.

What is a parallel circuit?

A circuit with multiple paths.

What happens if one branch fails in parallel?

Other branches still work.

What is the parallel resistance formula?

1/Req = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + ...

What happens when adding branches in parallel?

Decreases equivalent resistance.

What determines bulb brightness?

Current through the bulb.

What does more current mean for bulb brightness?

Brighter bulb.

How are series bulbs usually?

Dimmer.

How are parallel bulbs usually?

Brighter.

What is the formula for current?

I = V/R

What is the formula for resistance?

R = V/I

What is the formula for voltage?

V = IR

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