 | Term | Definition |
| |
parallel circuit |
two or more paths for current |
| |
series circuit |
one path for current |
| |
electrolyte |
substance whose aqueous solution conducts electricity |
| |
battery |
two or more electrochemical cells connected together |
| |
electromagnetic induction |
conversion of mechanical energy into electric energy |
| |
drift velocity |
average rate of motion of free electrons in direction of accelerating force |
| |
direct-current |
flow of electrons continuosly in one direction through a conductor |
| |
electric current |
flow of electrons through a conductor |
| |
voltmeter |
measures difference of potential |
| |
ammeter |
measures rate of flow of electricity |
| |
resistance |
the opposition to the electric current |
| |
capacitance |
the ratio of the charge on either plate of a capacitor to the potential difference between the plates |
| |
ampere |
unit of current |
| |
negative to positive |
direction in which electrons flow through an electric field |
| |
ohm |
the unit of resistance |
| |
primary cell |
electrchemical cell, that is replaced when its reactants are used up |
| |
storage cell |
electrochemical cells that can be repeatedly recharged |
| |
fuel cell |
the cell in which hydrogen and oxygen are continuosly supplied |
| |
cathode |
electron-rich electrode |
| |
anode |
electron-poor electrode |
| |
closed circuit |
ratio of the emf of the source to the current in the circuit is a constant |
| |
internal resistance |
represented as a resistor in series with the battery inside the terminals |
| |
equivalent resistance |
the effective resistances due to resistances in parallel are thought of as a single... |
| |
cryogenics |
production of very low temperatures and the study of properties of very low temperatures |
| |
electrode |
a conducting element in an electric cell, electronic tube, or semiconductor device |
| |
emf |
the energy per unit charge supplied by a source of electric current |
| |
Kirchoff's First Law |
the algebraic sum of the currents at any circuit junction is equal to zero |
| |
Kirchoff's Second Law |
the algebraic sum of all changes in potential occuring around any loop in a circuit equals zero |
| |
load resistor |
remaining resistance not including internal resistance |
| |
network |
complex circuit with resistances in series, parallel, and different sources of emf |
| |
Ohms Law of Resistance |
the ratio of the emf applied to a closed circuit to the current in the circuit is a constant |
| |
Peltier Effect |
when direct current is passed through junction formed by two dissimilar metals |
| |
Photoelectric Effect |
emmision of electrons by substance when illuminated by electromagnetic radiation of short wavelength |
| |
Piezoelectric Effect |
natural and synthetic crystals develop potential difference between opposite surfaces when subjected to a mechanical stress |
| |
resistivity |
a proportionality constant that relates the length and cross-sectional area of a given electric conductor to its resistance, at a given temperature |
| |
Seebeck Effect |
junctions of two dissimilar metals are subjected to a difference in temperature and a current is set up in the loop |
| |
superconductivity |
condition of zero resistivity below the transition temperature of a substance |
| |
thermocouple |
an electric circuit composed of two dissimilar metals whose junctions are maintained at different temperatures |
| |
wheatstone bridge |
instrument used to measure electric resistance |
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