P3 - Electricity and magnetism definitions

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Ammeter
A circuit component used to measure current; should be in series with a component
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Amperes
The unit of current
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Battery
One or more cells
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Cell
A device that produces a potential difference from chemical reactions, what people normally call a 'battery'
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Characteristic graph
A graph of potential difference on the x axis and current on the y axis for a component
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Compass
A small magnet
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Conventional curreent
The model where current flows from positive to negative, opposite to electron flow
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Coulombs
The unit of charge
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Current
The rate of flow of charged particles (usually electrons), current = charge ÷ time
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Diode
A circuit component that has a very low resistance in one direction, but a very large resistance in the reverse direction
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Domain (model of magnetism)
A model of a magnet which says that it is made of small magnetic regions called domains.
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Electric charge
A property (like mass) of a particle; it can be positive or negative
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Energy (in a circuit)
This is shifted from a chemical store (for example, a cell) to other stores by electrical working (charges flowing and doing work in components)
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Fleming's left hand rule
You use your first finger (field), second finger (current) and thumb (force) to work out the direction of a force on a wire
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Induced magnet
c A magnet that is produced when a magnetic material is placed in a magnetic field, which may or may not stay magnetic when the field is removed
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Kilowatts (Kw)
1 kW = 1000W
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Light-dependant resistor (LDR)
A circuit component which has a resistance that depends on light levels, a semiconductor
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Linear circuit element
A circuit component which has a resistance that does not change
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Magnetic field lines
Lines that model a magnetic field; denser lines mean a stronger field
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Magnetic north pole
The place on the surface of the Earth where a compass points, not the same as geographical north
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Megawatts (MW)
1 MW = 1 000 000W
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Milliamps (mA)
1 milliamp = 1/1000 amp
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Motor
A component that produces rotation from the combination of the fields due to magnets and current-carry wires
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Net resistance
The resistance of a circuit if all the components were replaced by a singl resistor
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Non-linear circuit element
A circuit component which has a resistance that does change
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Ohms
The unit of resistance
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Parallel circuit
A circuit with more than one loop; each loop works independantly of the rest
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Permanent magnet
A magnet that stays magnetic when other magnets, or an electric current, is removed
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Potential difference
A difference in (electrical) potential produced by the speration of charge; a potential difference produces an electric field which produces a force on charged particles in it
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Power
Rate of transfer of energy, or work done ÷ time
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Resistance
A measure of how easy it is for a current to flow, resistance = potential difference ÷ current
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Semiconductor
A material that contains atoms with loosely bound electrons that can be released if energy is transferred to the material (for example, by heating).
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Sensing circuits
A circuit which contains a component with a resistance that changes with a change in the environment (for example, temperature or light level)
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Series circuit
A circuit with only one loop
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Solenoid
A coil of wire
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Sparks
The breakdown of air that discharges a charged object; the heating of the air produces light and sound
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Split-ring commutator
A component of a direct current motor or generator. In a motor it ensures that the coil always spins in the same direction. In a generator it means that a direct potential difference is produced
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Static electricity
The charge that insulating objects acquire because of the transfer of electrons
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Thermistor
A circuit component which has a resistance that depends on temperature, a semiconductor
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Variable resistor
A circuit component which has a resistance that you can vary by chnaging the amount of wire or other resisting material
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Voltmeter
A circuit component used to measure potential difference; it should be connected either side of a component
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Volts
The unit of potential difference
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Amperes

Back

The unit of current

Card 3

Front

Battery

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Cell

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Characteristic graph

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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