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What happens when a circuit has a short circuit?
A low-resistance path causes very high current flow, potentially damaging components and causing overheating or fire.
What is the effect of increasing the resistance in a circuit?
Increasing the resistance limits the flow of charge, reducing the current in the circuit.
What is the effect of increasing the capacitance in an RC circuit?
Increasing the capacitance increases the time constant (\(\tau = RC\)), causing the capacitor to charge or discharge more slowly.
What happens when the switch is closed in a circuit with a discharging capacitor?
The capacitor starts to discharge, and the charge and current in the circuit decrease exponentially over time.
What happens to the current at a junction in a multi-loop circuit?
The total current entering the junction equals the total current leaving it (Kirchhoff's Junction Rule).
What are the steps to apply Kirchhoff's Rules?
1. Draw the circuit diagram and label all components. 2. Assign current directions in each branch. 3. Apply the junction rule at each junction. 4. Choose loops and apply the loop rule to each. 5. Solve the resulting system of equations.
Describe the process of charging a capacitor in an RC circuit.
When a capacitor is connected to a battery through a resistor, it starts to charge. The charge on the capacitor increases over time, following an exponential curve, while the current decreases exponentially.
Describe the process of discharging a capacitor in an RC circuit.
When a charged capacitor is connected to a resistor, it starts to discharge. The charge on the capacitor decreases exponentially over time, and the current in the circuit also decreases exponentially.
What is the difference between series and parallel connections in a circuit?
Series: Components are end-to-end; the same current flows through each. Parallel: Components are side-by-side; the same potential difference is across each.
Compare and contrast open and closed circuits.
Closed circuit: Allows continuous current flow. Open circuit: Has a break, preventing current flow.
Differentiate between conventional current and electron flow.
Conventional Current: Flow of positive charge from positive to negative terminal. Electron Flow: Actual flow of electrons from negative to positive terminal.