Basics of Electricity and Magnetism

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms related to electricity and magnetism.

Electric Potential (Voltage)

The potential energy per unit charge, often referred to simply as voltage.

Electric Current

The flow of electric charge, typically measured in amperes (A).

Resistance

The opposition to the flow of electric current, measured in ohms (Ω).

Coulomb's Law

A law stating that the force between two charged objects is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

North Pole and South Pole

The two ends of a magnet where the magnetic forces are strongest; opposite poles attract each other.

Magnetic Field Lines

Imaginary lines that represent the strength and direction of a magnetic field; they emerge from the north pole and enter the south pole.

Electromagnet

A type of magnet where the magnetic field is produced by an electric current.

Right Hand Rule

A method for determining the direction of the magnetic field relative to the direction of current flow in a conductor.

Magnetic Field Strength

The intensity of a magnetic field at a given point, measured in teslas (T).

Inducing Current

The process of generating an electric current by changing the magnetic field.

Permanent Magnet

A magnet that maintains its magnetic properties without the need for an external power source.

Electric Field

A field around charged particles that exerts a force on other charged particles.

Monopole Magnet

A hypothetical magnet with only one pole (either north or south); does not exist in reality.

Voltage Drop

A reduction in voltage across a component in an electric circuit, caused by resistance.

Safety with Current

High current can cause wires to heat up and create hazards; thicker wires are needed for higher currents.

Compass

An instrument used for navigation that shows magnetic north.

Earth's Magnetic Field

The magnetic field surrounding Earth, which affects compass needles and is not aligned perfectly with geographic north.