15 Questions
What are the two different types of current in widespread use today?
Direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC)
In a direct current, how do the electrons flow?
In one direction
What is the rate at which the current changes direction in the United States?
60 hertz
Why was alternating current (AC) chosen as the preferred type of current for long-distance power transmission?
Because it was easier to reduce the voltage of AC than DC
Why is direct current (DC) still a necessity?
Because we currently don't have any way to store electrical energy and batteries can only be charged with DC
What is the true unit for electric current?
coulombs per second
What is another name for the unit of electric current?
ampere
What is the difference between direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC)?
In DC, electrons move in one direction, while in AC, electrons change direction several times per second.
What is the speed of electrons as they drift through a conducting wire?
surprisingly slow
What are free electrons?
electrons that are not attached to the nucleus of an atom and are free to move when external energy is applied
What is the definition of electrical current?
Electrical current is the flow of charged particles through a conducting medium, such as a wire.
What are the charged particles that typically flow in electrical current?
The charged particles that typically flow in electrical current are electrons.
What causes electrical current to flow in a conductor?
Applying a voltage to the conductor causes electrical current to flow.
How fast do electrons typically move in an electrical current?
Electrons move much slower than the speed of light in an electrical current.
What analogy is used to describe electrical current?
Electrical current is often compared to the flow of water in a river.
Study Notes
Types of Current
- There are two types of current in widespread use today: Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC)
Direct Current (DC)
- In Direct Current, electrons flow in one direction only
- Direct Current is still a necessity despite Alternating Current being the preferred type for long-distance power transmission
Alternating Current (AC)
- In Alternating Current, the direction of electron flow changes periodically
- In the United States, the current changes direction at a rate of 60 times per second
- Alternating Current was chosen as the preferred type for long-distance power transmission due to its ability to be efficiently transmitted over long distances
Electric Current Unit
- The true unit for electric current is the Ampere (A)
- The Ampere is also known as the Amp
Electrical Current
- Electrical current is defined as the flow of charged particles, typically electrons, through a conductor
- Free electrons are electrons that are not bound to a specific atom or molecule and are able to flow freely in a conductor
- Electrical current flows in a conductor when a voltage is applied, causing the free electrons to drift through the conductor
- The speed of electrons as they drift through a conductor is typically very slow, around a few millimeters per second
- Electrons do not move at the speed of light, but rather at a slow pace, similar to the flow of people in a crowded hallway
- This concept is often described using the analogy of water flowing through a pipe
Test your understanding of electrical current and its properties with this quiz. Explore the definition, unit, and types of current to enhance your knowledge of how electricity flows.
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