Electronics Flashcards Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is a short circuit?

A short circuit occurs when a load is bypassed by a conductor, allowing more current to flow through the circuit.

Why are parallel circuits usually superior to series circuits?

If one path has a break or gap, the circuit will remain closed and current can flow.

Capacitive reactance is measured in _____________.

ohms

Current will flow only if it can follow a(n) __________ circuit.

closed Signup and view all the answers

What is the common term for electrical potential difference or electromotive force?

voltage Signup and view all the answers

A circuit with only one path is a(n) ________ circuit.

series Signup and view all the answers

What is the equation for frequency?

f=1/T, where f= frequency in Hz and T= the amount of time (in seconds) for one cycle. Signup and view all the answers

Why is copper used as a conductor more frequently than is silver or aluminum?

Copper is much less expensive than silver and has a lower resistance than does aluminum. Signup and view all the answers

What does an ammeter do?

measures electrical current Signup and view all the answers

Does a battery supply AC or DC current?

DC/ Direct Current Signup and view all the answers

When a P-type semiconductor is joined to an N-type semiconductor, the result is a(n) ___________.

diode Signup and view all the answers

Resistance can be measured using a device called a(n) ___________.

ohmmeter Signup and view all the answers

What is the symbol for a fixed resistor?

fixed resistor Signup and view all the answers

What is the three major parts of a transistor?

the collector, the emitter, and the base Signup and view all the answers

What is the solid-state device that has revolutionized the construction of electronic devices?

transistor Signup and view all the answers

How can the magnetic field formed by a current-carrying wire be strengthened?

by winding the wire into a coil around a ferrous (iron) core Signup and view all the answers

If multiple loads are connected in a series circuit, how is the overall resistance of the circuit calculated?

by adding the resistances of the various loads Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of transistor?

NPN transistor and PNP transistor Signup and view all the answers

What is the formula for electrical power?

P=IV (power= current x voltage) Signup and view all the answers

What is the formula for Ohm's law?

V=IR (voltage=current x resistance) Signup and view all the answers

The conversion of AC to DC is called _____________.

rectification Signup and view all the answers

If an element's atoms have valence shells that are exactly half full of electrons, that element is a(n) ___________.

semiconductor Signup and view all the answers

What does an electrical ground do?

a ground provides a low-resistance path to guide excess electrical energy away from panels and loads, to protect them in the case of lightweight or circuit failure Signup and view all the answers

What is voltage?

Voltage is the electric 'pressure' produced by a large negative charge. Signup and view all the answers

A(n) ___________ is a thin wire that melts when current exceeds a certain amount.

fuse Signup and view all the answers

Resistance is measured in __________.

Ohms (Ω) Signup and view all the answers

A(n) ___________ is used to increase or decrease voltage in a circuit.

transformer Signup and view all the answers

What do DC and AC stand for?

Alternating Current Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between direct current and alternating current?

Direct Current flows in one direction only; alternating current changes its direction many times a second. Signup and view all the answers

If multiple loads are connected in a parallel circuit, how is the overall resistance of the circuit calculated?

by adding the inverse of the resistance of the various loads, and then taking the inverse of the result. Signup and view all the answers

What metal is most used as a conductor in household electrical systems?

copper Signup and view all the answers

In North America, AC is delivered at ___________ Hz.

60 Signup and view all the answers

What is the basic unit of charge?

coulomb (C) Signup and view all the answers

Electrical current flowing through a conductor produces a(n) __________ field.

magnetic Signup and view all the answers

In a series circuit, does the current vary, alternate, or remain the same throughout the circuit?

current remains the same Signup and view all the answers

Current and resistance are directly/inversely proportional.

Inversely Signup and view all the answers

If the resistance provided by a load were to decrease, what would happen to the current in that circuit?

increase Signup and view all the answers

Poor conductors have _____________ resistance than good conductors.

higher Signup and view all the answers

A(n) ___________ is constructed of two metal plates and used to store electricity.

capacitor (or condenser) Signup and view all the answers

A(n) __________ resists changes in current flow by applying a voltage that runs against increased current.

inductor Signup and view all the answers

What happens in an AC current delivered at 20 Hz?

The voltage begins at zero, increases to a maximum level, decreases to zero again, switches direction and increases to a maximum level in that direction, and returns to zero again. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Short Circuits

Occur when a load is bypassed, allowing excessive current flow.

Circuit Types

Parallel circuits maintain current flow even when one path is broken.
Series circuits have a single path; if broken, entire circuit fails.
Overall resistance in series is the sum of individual resistances.
In parallel circuits, overall resistance is calculated by adding the inverses of individual resistances.

Electrical Components

Capacitive reactance is measured in ohms.
A closed circuit allows current to flow, while an open circuit does not.
Voltage is the term for electrical potential difference.
Ammeters measure electrical current, while ohmmeters measure resistance.
Fuses melt to prevent excessive current flow; circuit breakers can be reset.
A capacitor consists of two metal plates used for storing electricity.

Transistors and Semiconductors

The transistor has three parts: collector, emitter, and base.
Joining P-type and N-type semiconductors forms a diode.
N-type material results from doping silicon with a five-electron element.
The process of adding impurities to improve semiconductor functionality is known as doping.

Electrical Principles

The formula for frequency is f = 1/T (f = frequency in Hz, T = time for one cycle).
Electrical power is calculated using P = IV (power = current x voltage).
Ohm's Law states V = IR (voltage = current x resistance).
Conventional current is the hypothetical flow of positive charge opposite electron flow.

Current Types

Direct current (DC) flows in one direction; alternating current (AC) changes direction multiple times per second.
In North America, AC is delivered at 60 Hz.

Magnetic and Electric Relationships

An electrical ground provides a low-resistance path to route excess electrical energy safely.
Increasing the frequency of AC voltage is observed through a complete cycle per second.
Current passing through a wire coiled around ferrous material creates an electromagnet.

Load and Conductivity

A load is resistance converting electrical energy to another form of energy.
Good conductors have lower resistance, while poor conductors have higher resistance.
Copper is the most commonly used conductor due to its low cost and resistance properties.

Safety Features

Circuit breakers can be reset after tripping; fuses need replacing.
Loads are typically wired in parallel with fuses wired in series for safety.

Additional Concepts

The basic unit of electrical charge is the coulomb (C).
Inductance is measured in Henries.
The electric pressure exerted by a significant negative charge defines voltage.
Insulators have more than half-filled valence shells; conductors have less than half.
Electrical current flows in amperes.
A potentiometer adjusts voltage, whereas a rheostat varies current.

Symbols

Familiar symbols include:
- Fixed resistor
- Inductor
- Capacitor
- Diode
- AC and DC supplies
- Ammeter
- Transformer

Key Relationships

Voltage and current are directly proportional; current and resistance are inversely proportional.
Lowering resistance in a circuit increases current flow.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge of basic electronics concepts with these flashcards. From short circuits to the advantages of parallel circuits, this quiz covers essential terms and definitions that are crucial for understanding electrical systems.