All Flashcards
How do you calculate current (I) if you know the charge ((\Delta Q)) and time ((\Delta t))?
Use the formula:
How do you calculate current (I) using the microscopic current equation?
Use the formula: , where n is the number density of charge carriers, q is the charge of each carrier, A is the cross-sectional area, and (v_d) is the drift velocity.
What is electric charge?
The fundamental property that causes matter to interact with electromagnetic fields.
What is current (I)?
The rate at which charge flows, measured in Amperes (A).
What is conventional current?
The direction that a positive charge would move, even though electrons (negative) are actually moving.
What is drift velocity ((v_d))?
The average velocity of charge carriers in a wire due to an electric field.
What is an ammeter?
A device that measures current in Amperes (A) and is connected in series with the component being measured.
What is a voltmeter?
A device that measures potential difference (voltage) and is connected in parallel across the component being measured.
What is the effect of increasing the cross-sectional area of a wire on the current, assuming other factors remain constant?
The current increases.
What is the effect of increasing the drift velocity of charge carriers on the current, assuming other factors remain constant?
The current increases.
What happens if an ammeter is connected in parallel in a circuit?
It can lead to a short circuit.
What happens if a voltmeter is connected in series in a circuit?
It can lead to inaccurate readings.