Electric Charge and Discharge Concepts

Atoms have an equal number of positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons, resulting in a neutral overall charge.

An object with an unequal number of protons and electrons. It can be positively charged or negatively charged.

An object that has lost electrons, resulting in more protons than electrons.

An object that has gained electrons, resulting in more electrons than protons.

The basic building blocks of atoms. Protons are positively charged, electrons are negatively charged, and neutrons have no charge.

The movement of electrons from a negatively charged object to a positively charged object when they are in contact.

The sudden discharge of accumulated electric charges. It can happen slowly or quickly.

A continuous electric discharge that causes a powder inside a tube to glow.

A sudden electric discharge that causes gas to produce a burst of light.

A steady electric discharge that produces enough heat to melt metals.

Materials that allow electrons to move freely through them.

Materials that resist the flow of electrons.

A process where a charged object causes another object to become charged without touching it.

A negatively charged balloon repels electrons in a metal drink can, creating a positive charge on one side of the can.

A process where electrons transfer from one object to another when they touch.

When a wool sweater and a rubber balloon touch, electrons transfer from the sweater to the balloon, making the balloon negative and the sweater positive.

The process of charging by contact involves physical contact between objects, but charging by induction does not.

In charging by contact, both objects become charged, but in induction, only the object without contact becomes charged.

The force between electrically charged objects. This force can be attractive or repulsive, depending on the charges involved.

An invisible region around a charged object that exerts a force on other charged objects.

Electrically charged objects push or pull on each other. The strength of the force depends on the magnitude of the charges and the distance between them.

Like charges repel each other, while opposite charges attract each other. For example, two positively charged objects will push each other away, while a positive object and a negative object will pull toward each other.

An object that has an equal number of protons and electrons, resulting in no overall charge.

The continuous flow of electrons in one direction.

The flow of electrons that alternates direction repeatedly.

Energy possessed by moving electrons.

The transformation of electron kinetic energy into other forms of energy, such as light and heat.

Devices like batteries and some flashlights utilize direct current.

The force between two charges depends on the type and amount of charge. Like charges repel, and opposite charges attract.

The electric force between charged objects gets stronger as the amount of charge on either object increases.

The electric force between charged objects weakens as the distance between them increases.

The electric force between objects gets stronger as their distance decreases, due to a more intense electric field around their charges.

The strength of the electric force between a brush and hair increases as the brush continues to transfer electrons through friction.

A complete path that allows electric current to flow continuously from a source of energy, through a device, and back to the source.

A source of electrical energy, like a battery, that provides the force to move electric charges.

A device that uses electric energy to perform a task, such as a lightbulb, motor, or heater.

A material that allows electric current to flow easily, like copper wire.

A component that controls the flow of electricity in a circuit, like a switch.

How difficult it is for electric current to flow in a material.

The unit of electric resistance, symbolized by the Greek letter omega (Ω).

A part of a circuit that connects the energy source to the electric device. It allows electric current to flow easily.

Materials with low electric resistance allow electric current to flow easily. Good conductors minimize energy loss in a circuit.

The transformation of electric energy into another form of energy, such as light, heat, or sound. It occurs when electric current encounters resistance.

Greater resistance in a device leads to a larger amount of electric energy being transformed. Think of a light bulb - a high-resistance filament transforms more energy into light.

A device that transforms electric energy into a useful form of energy. It typically has resistance, causing energy transformation.

When electrons move through a material, they collide with atoms and transfer some of their kinetic energy to the atoms. This energy is often released as heat or light.

The difference in electric potential energy between two points in a circuit. It represents the amount of energy used to move an electron from one point to another.

The total voltage of a circuit is the sum of the voltages across all its parts. This means the total energy used in the circuit is distributed among its components.

A higher voltage means more energy is transferred. Conversely, a lower voltage means less energy is transferred. This directly affects the brightness of a lightbulb or the power of a device.

A higher voltage indicates a greater resistance. This means more electric energy is required to move electrons through the circuit. It is important to note that the statement that higher voltage means higher resistance is relative to the circuit.

The amount of voltage directly relates to the amount of energy transformation in a circuit. As more devices are added, the total energy transformation decreases because the energy is distributed among the components.

A series circuit provides only one path for current flow, with all components connected in a single loop.

In a series circuit, if any component breaks, the circuit becomes inoperable because the current flow is interrupted.

A parallel circuit offers multiple paths for current flow, with devices connected to separate branches.

Unlike series circuits, a broken component in a parallel circuit only affects its branch, allowing other branches to remain operational.

In a series circuit, the same current flows through all components.

In a parallel circuit, the total current splits across branches, with each branch receiving a smaller portion of the total current.

A series circuit has a single path for current flow, while a parallel circuit has multiple paths.

If any component fails in a series circuit, the entire circuit stops working, but in a parallel circuit, only the branch with the failed component is affected.

A common example of a series circuit is a string of Christmas lights, where a broken bulb breaks the entire circuit.

An example of a parallel circuit is the electrical wiring in a house, where a blown bulb doesn't affect other lights.