Electric Current Chapter 34

What happens during collisions in a current carrying wire?

Produce some kinetic energy, causing wires to heat up. Collisions interrupt the motion of the electrons so that the net speed through the wire is low.

What is diode?

A tiny electronic device that acts as a one way valve to let electron flow in only one direction. The convertor allows you to operate a battery-run device on AC instead of batteries. It cuts the AC cycles in half.

What is electric current?

The flow of electric charge.

What is AC?

Alternating current is electric current that repeatedly reverses direction. It cycles back and forth over time. AC current oscillates at 60 Hz in America.

What is potential difference?

Charge flows when there is a potential difference, or difference in voltage, between the ends of a conductor. When the ends of an electric conductor are at a different electric potentials, charge flows from one end to the other.

Compare the current quantity flowing into an electrical device with the current flowing out

Current flowing in is equal to current flowing out.

What is DC?

Direct current is the flow of charge that always flows in one direction. Devices that use batteries, like computers, use direct current.

What is the source of electrons in a circuit?

Is the conducting circuit materials itself.

What are amperes?

Measure of electric current. Amperage is the electrical quantity that makes electricity dangerous

How can you change the resistance in a wire circuit?

Resistance depends on the conducting material and the thickness and length of the wire. Changing these factors would change resistance.

What is a voltage source? What are examples?

Something that provides a potential difference. Batteries and generators supply energy that allows charges to move steadily. For current to flow continuously the potential difference must be sustained.

What is the War of the Currents?

Tesla demonstrated the advantages of AC and ultimately AC became the standard for the electrical grid in the United States and most of Europe.

What is electric power?

The rate at which electrical energy is converted into another form such as mechanical energy, heat, or light. It is equal to the product of current and voltage. 1 watt=1 ampere x 1 volt

What is ohms law?

The relationship between voltage, current, and resistance (V=I•R, I=V/R, R=V/i) Current is directly proportional the voltage, and inversely proportional to the resistance.

What is electric resistance? What does the resistance depend on?

The resistance that the conductor offers to the flow of charge. The resistance of a wire depends on the conductivity of the material used in the wire and also on the thickness and length of the wire.

What are ohms?

The unit electric resistance is measured in, named after Georg Ohm, a German physicist.

What is superconductivity?

When the resistance of some materials becomes zero at very low temperatures.