Voltage, Current, and Resistance

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to voltage, current, and resistance in electrical circuits.

Voltage

An expression of electric potential; the ability to do work due to separation of charges.

Volt

The unit of measurement for electric potential; the difference in electric potential between two points.

Electric current

The actual flow of electrons in a conductor.

Ampere

The SI unit of electric current; one coulomb per second.

Direct Current (DC)

Current that flows in one direction, produced by batteries.

Alternating Current (AC)

Current that alternates back and forth between directions.

Resistance

The property of a circuit element that resists or impedes the flow of electricity.

Ohm

The unit of measurement for resistance; defined by Ohm's Law.

Ohm's Law

The relationship stating that the potential difference (voltage) is equal to the current (amperes) times the resistance.

Conductors

Materials that allow the easy flow of electricity due to free electrons.

Insulators

Materials that resist the flow of electricity due to few free electrons.

Electric potential difference

The difference in electric potential between two charges that causes current to flow.

Kvp (kilovoltage peak)

The setting that determines the voltage applied to the x-ray tube.

Temperature effect on resistance

Resistance increases with temperature in metallic conductors.

Current flow in a vacuum

Electrons can jump the gap between oppositely charged electrodes in a vacuum.

Water pipe analogy

An analogy illustrating how resistance impedes electric current, similar to water flow in pipes.