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