 | Term | Definition |
| |
A.C. |
Alternating Current |
| |
Ammeter |
Device that measures current when connected in a circuit |
| |
Ampere |
The rate of flow of charge per second (Amps A) |
| |
Capacitor |
Device that stores electric charge on two oppositely charged plates |
| |
Cell |
Positive to negative terminal (opposites) |
| |
Charging |
When a capacitor gains a charge causing a potential difference across its plates |
| |
Circuit |
Conducting path from the positive terminal of a powersource to the negative terminal of a power source |
| |
Coil |
Turns of electric wire around an object (iron core) |
| |
Conventional Current |
Current flows from positive to negative |
| |
Coulomb |
The unit of charge |
| |
Dielectric Constant |
Proportion by which the capacitance increases when an insulator is placed between the plates of a capacitor |
| |
Discharging |
When a capacitor loses a charge causing a potential differenc across its plates |
| |
Electric Field Strength |
Size of electric field |
| |
EMF |
Voltage across a power supply when no current is drawn |
| |
Impedance |
Combination of resistance and reactance in an AC Circuit |
| |
Generator |
Produces electricity from the rotation of a coil inside a magnetic field |
| |
Inductance |
The effect in a circuit when a changing current causes an opposing induced voltage |
| |
Induced Voltage |
Voltage created by the combination of movement and a magnetic field |
| |
Induction |
Conversion of kinetic energy to electrical energy using a magnetic field |
| |
Inductor |
Produces opposing voltage when current - magnetic field changes |
| |
Internal resistance |
Restiance inside a battery/power supply |
| |
Kirchhoff's current law |
Total current entering a junction = total current leaving a junction |
| |
Kirchoff's voltage law |
The total of all the voltages in a closed loop is equal to zero |
| |
Lenz's Law |
THe direction of the induced current creates a force that opposes the change that produces it |
| |
Magnetic Field |
Region where ferromagnetic materials and magnets experience a force |
| |
Magnetic Flux |
Magnetic field strength multiplied by area |
| |
Magnetic flux density |
Amount of flux density in a fixed area |
| |
Mutual Inductance |
Changing current in one coil induces a voltage in another coil |
| |
Permittivity |
Proportion by which the capacitance increases when a insulator is placed between the plates of a capacitor |
| |
Phasor |
Anti-Colckwise rotating vector used to help draw sine graphs |
| |
Potential Difference |
Differenc in voltage between two points |
| |
Reactance |
Ability of a capacitor or inductor to limit current in an A.C. circuit |
| |
Resistance |
Ability to resist current |
| |
Resonant Frequency |
Frequency which produces maximum current in a RCL circuit (XL=XC) |
| |
Terminals |
Ends of a battery that a circuit is connected to |
| |
Tesla |
Unit of Magnetic Field Strength |
| |
Transformer |
Inductance between two coils to change the voltage and current |
| |
Uniform electric field |
An electric field of constant strength where field lines are parallel and equally spaced |
| |
Voltage |
Measure of energy per charge (W/Q) |
| |
Voltage - current characteristics |
Graphical representation of voltage against current for a particular component |
| |
Voltmeter |
Device that measures voltage and is connected in parallel to a component |
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