AS Physics - Electricity Key Words

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Coulomb
One coulomb is the quantity of charge that passes a fixed point in one second when a current of 1 ampere flows.
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Current
The rate of flow of charge.
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Mean drift velocity
The average velocity a charge carrier has due to an electric field.
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Conductor
A material with very low internal resistance, which conducts electricity.
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Insulator
A material with very high electrical resistance, which does not conduct electricity.
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Semi-conductor
A material with intermediate conduction properties, which improve when energy is put in.
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Potential difference (p.d.)
The energy transferred from the charge, per unit charge.
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Electromotive force (e.m.f.)
The energy transferred to the charge, per unit charge.
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Resistance
The voltage across a component per unit current.
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Ohm's Law
The current through a conductor is directly proportional to the p.d. across it, provided that physical conditions, such as temperature, remain constant.
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LDR
A resistor which varies with light intensity. Its resistance is high when it is dark.
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Thermistor
A resistor which varies with temperature. Its resistance is high when it is cold.
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Diode
A device that allows current to flow in only one direction.
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Resistivity
The resistance of a material multiplied by its cross-sectional area, per unit length.
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National Grid
The series of wires and transformers which transfer electrical power across the UK.
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Kilowatt-hour
The energy used by a 1kW appliance left on for 1 hour. 1kWh=3.6×10^6 J
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Kirchhoff's First Law
The sum of the current entering any point (junction) is equal to the sum of currents leaving that point.
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Kirchhoff's Second Law
The sum of the e.m.f.s around a loop in a circuit is equal to the sum of p.d.s around that loop.
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Conservation of charge
Charge cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred from one material to another.
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Potential divider circuit
A circuit which uses two resistors in series to split or divide the voltage of a supply in a chosen ratio so that a chosen voltage can be provided to another device or circuit.
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Internal resistance
The resistance inside a power supply, which often increases with increasing current, due to energy transfers.
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Terminal potential difference
The potential difference recorded across the terminals of a cell.
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Lost volts
The difference between the e.m.f. and the p.d. of a power supply when a charge flows.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

The rate of flow of charge.

Back

Current

Card 3

Front

The average velocity a charge carrier has due to an electric field.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

A material with very low internal resistance, which conducts electricity.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

A material with very high electrical resistance, which does not conduct electricity.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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