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static electricity
occurs when electric charges build
up and then are discharged
electric charge
occurs when particles are electrically
charged
electric discharge
refers to the charged particles
jumping to an uncharged object
causing a 'spark'
circuit
is a pathway that allows charged
particles to flow continuously
conductors
are materials that allow electrical
charges to move through easily
proton
is sub-atomic particle that has a
positive charge
neutral
means not having an electric charge
VDG (Van de Graff Generator)
is a device that uses a friction belt to
produce static build-up on a sphere
electroplaques
are modified muscle cells that can
produce a small amount of electricity
switch
is a device used to cause a gap, or
space, which interrupts the flow of
electricity in a circuit
electron
is a sub-atomic particle that has a
negative charge
charge separation
occurs when charged objects are
brought close to uncharged objects
electric current
refers to the steady flow of charged
particles
amperes
are the units which measure the rate
at which a current flows
load
is a device that converts electrical
energy into another form of energy
potential difference
electrical energy
is the energy caused by charged
particles
voltage
is a measure of how much electrical
energy each charged particle carries
is also referred to as voltage - the
energy delivered by a flow of charged
particles is equal to the voltage times
the total charge of the electrons
corona discharge
voltmeter
is a device that is used to show how
many volts are present in a circuit
volt
is the unit of voltage
Jacob's ladder
is device with 2 wires used to
generate rising crackling arcs of
electricity caused by electric charges
jumping from one wire to another
galvanometer
is a device that detects and
measures electric current - it is a type
of ammeter
insulators
are materials that prevent the flow of
electric charges
amber
is rust colored resin that hardens
over time preserving what is inside
short circuit
is an unintended path for electricity bypassing the normal circuit
fuses
have a thin strip of metal that melts
when there is too much current
is the eerie blue glow from
transmission lines, or the tips of ship
masts just prior to a storm - also
called St. Elmo's Fire
electrostatic precipitator
is a device that collects particles in
the air using an electric charge to
attract them
fulgurites
are formed into glass-lined tubes
when sand or rock is melted after
being struck by lightning
circuit breakers
have a spring mechanism that turns off
a switch prevents electricity flowing
when there is too much current
electrochemical cell
is a collection of chemicals that
produces a small amount of
electricity
ion
is an atom or group of atoms that is
electrically charged because of a loss
or gain of electrons
dry cell
are electricity producing chemicals in
a paste that are sealed in a container
is two or more electrochemical cells
connected together
secondary cells
are rechargeable cells
electroplating
is a process that uses electricity to
coat a metal with another metal
is a paste or liquid that conducts
electricity because it has chemicals
that contain ions
electrodes
are two metals that are electrically
charged (one positively and one
negatively) when they are placed in
an electrolyte
primary cells
battery
electrolyte
are electrochemical cells that
produce electricity for a limited
amount of time - chemical reactions
cannot be reversed
electrochemistry
is the study of chemical reactions
involving electricity
anodizing
is a process used to coat aluminum
parts with aluminum oxide, making
the aluminum much harder
wet cell
are electrochemical cells that have a
liquid electrolyte
rechargeable cell
is a cell in which the chemical
reactions can be reversed by using
an external electrical source to
restore the electrodes
electrolysis
is a process that splits molecules into
their elements
electrorefining
is a process used to remove
impurities from metal ore
resistor
superconductors
are perfect conductors - they have no
resistance to electron flow
is a type of conductor that allows
electricity to flow, but provides some
resistance, limiting the amount of
current
resistance
is a measure of how difficult it is for
electrons to flow through a substance
polygraph
ohm
is the unit used to measure
resistance
rheostat
is a variable resistor that can
increase or decrease current in a
circuit by adjusting the resistor that
the current passes through
millivoltmeter
is a device that is used to measure
small levels of voltage
multimeter
is a device that can measure voltage,
current and resistance in a circuit
is a device used to measure
resistance in the body (skin
resistance, blood pressure and
respiration)
variable resistor
is a resistor that provides different
amounts of resistance
Ohm's Law
States that resistance remains
constant with current being directly
proportional to voltage, when
temperature is the same
ammeter
is a device used to measure electric
current in amperes
voltage drop
is the potential difference across a
resistor or device
galvanometer
is a device used to measure small
amounts of electric current
circuit
schematic
is a drawing made with symbols
is a path for electricity to flow - it
includes a source, a conductor, a
switch and a load
series circuit
is a circuit that has only one pathway
for the current to flow
parallel circuit
is a circuit that has multiple pathways
for the current to flow
photoconductor
is a device that uses light to reduce
resistance, increasing conductivity
diodes
transistor
is a solid state component that acts
as a switch in a microcircuit
energy
is the ability to do work
electromagnet
is a strong magnet produced by
winding current carrying wire (into a
coil) around an iron core
terminals
are the connection points to the
electricity source
integrated circuit (microcircuit)
is a tiny electronic circuit made up of
microscopic transistors and resistors
chemical energy
is the type of energy that is stored in
chemicals
commutator
is a split ring that breaks the flow of
electricity for a moment and then
reverses the connection of the coil
armature
is the rotating shaft with the coil
wrapped around it
are solid state components used in
microchips and microcircuits that
conduct electricity in only one
direction
thermocouple
is a device that can convert thermal
energy to electrical energy
brushes
conduct electricity from the terminals
to the split ring commutator
direct current (DC)
is current that flows in only one
direction
step-up transformer
alternating current (AC)
is current that flows back and forth 60
times per second
step-down transformer
is a type of transformer that can
decrease the voltage as it passes
from a primary coil to a secondary
coil if the number of loops in the coil
decreases
motor
is an electrical device that converts
electrical energy into mechanical
energy (motion)
joule
is the unit that measures energy
Law of Conservation of Energy
States that energy can neither be
created nor destroyed, just
transformed from one form to another
transformer
is a device that changes the amount
of voltage with little energy loss
electromagnetic induction
occurs when a magnet is moved
back continuously inside a coil to
generate a steady supply of
electricity
split-ring commutator
is a ring with a small gap that is used
in a motor to break the connection
and then reverse the electricity flow
watt
is the unit of power
efficiency
of a device is the ratio of useful
energy that comes out of the device
compared to the total energy that
went into the device
is a type of transformer that can
increase the voltage as it passes
from a primary coil to a secondary
coil if the number of loops in the coil
increases
polarity
refers to the positive and negative
poles of a circuit - energy flowing
from negative to positive
power
is the rate at which a device converts
energy
kilowatt
is equal to 1000 watts
EnerGuide label
is a label that states how much
energy an appliance will use in a
month of average use
fossil fuels
are hydrocarbon fuels formed from
the decomposition of prehistoric
plants and animals (coal, oil, gas)
geothermal energy
is energy that is generated from the
Earth's core reaching the surface
through small cracks in the Earth's
crust
turbine
is a long shaft with many fan blades
which rotate large electromagnetic
coils in a generator
biomass
is a particular type of biodegradable
'garbage' that produces combustible
gases
solar cell
consists of several layers with
specially treated silicon layers that
create current when exposed to
sunlight
renewable resource
refers to resources that can be
renewed or replenished over a short
period of time, providing an endless
resource
cogeneration
is making use of waste energy as a
secondary source of energy
fly ash
is airborne ash released from
smokestacks of coal burning
factories or plants
nuclear fission
is a process which is used to split
atoms of a heavy element, such as
uranium, in a chain reaction,
releasing enormous energy
fuel cells
generate electricity directly from a
chemical reaction with a fuel, such as
hydrogen
nonrenewable resource
refers to resources that will be
depleted over time, because they
cannot be replaced
sustainability
means using resources at a rate that
can be maintained indefinitely
CCD (charge coupled device)
binary numbers
are the numbers zero and one
computer processor
is the part of the computer that
processes the data it receives, reads,
writes and stores
electrical energy
is the energy of charged particles
is a device which moves electrical
charge, from within the device to an
area where the charge can be used,
for conversion into a digital value.
DVD (digital video disc)
is a disk used to store digital video,
audio and text
encryption
is the process of transforming
information using a formula to make
it unreadable to anyone except the
one possessing the key
thermal energy
is the total kinetic energy of all
particles in a substance
mechanical energy
is the energy of an object because of
its motion or potential to move