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49 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
atom
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The smallest particle of an element that still retains the properties of that element.
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charging by conduction
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The process of transferring charge through contact between two materials.
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charging by induction
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The process of rearranging an object's electrons by bringing a charged object near it.
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conductor
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A material that allows its electrons to move freely.
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Coulomb's Law
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A law that states that like charges repel while opposite charges attract, and that the closer two charges are together, the larger the force between them.
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current
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The movement of electric charge.
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electric field
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A force field produced by electrically charged objects.
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electron
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A tiny, negatively charged particle that orbits an atom's nucleus.
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insulator
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A material that holds tightly to its electrons.
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inverse square law
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A law in which the denominator has a value that's squared.
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law of conservation of charge
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A law that says that the total amount of charge in the universe doesn't change.
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model
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A simplified representation used to explain the workings of a real-world system or event.
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neutron
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A particle with no charge that lives inside an atom's nucleus.
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proton
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A positively charged particle that lives inside an atom's nucleus.
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semiconductor
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A material that acts like a conductor under special circumstances.
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static
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Stationary, or fixed in place.
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static electricity
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The accumulation of excess electrical charge.
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superconductor
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A substance that has no resistance to conducting an electric current.
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ampere
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The unit of current.
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circuit
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A closed path where electric current can flow.
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circuit board
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A board on which electronic components and their interconnecting circuits are mounted.
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circuit breaker
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A piece of flexible metal that, when it carries too much current, flips and shuts down its circuit.
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conventional current
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The accepted direction of current flow, from positive to negative.
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electric power
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The amount of energy an electrical device uses in one second.
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filament
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The tiny wire that connects the two larger wires in a light bulb. This tiny wire is what glows to give off light.
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fuse
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A safety device placed in an electric circuit that melts and breaks the circuit whenever it gets too hot.
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hydroelectric power
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Electric power produced by water falling over a dam in a river.
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ohm
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The unit of resistance.
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Ohm's Law
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Current is proportional to the voltage and inversely proportional to the resistance. Also known as V = I x R.
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open circuit
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A circuit that has an opening that prevents current from completing a complete loop.
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parallel circuit
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A circuit in which multiple paths exist for current to flow.
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resistance
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The tendency for a material to oppose the flow of electrons.
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resistor
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A device that resists the flow of current through a circuit.
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series circuit
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A circuit in which resistors are arranged one after the other, in series, and current has a single path it can follow.
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short circuit
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A case in which two conductors accidentally touch and all resistance in a circuit is bypassed. It causes a very high current and can produce hazardous conditions.
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switch
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A lever used to open and close a circuit, turning it off or on.
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voltage
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A quantity related to electric fields that makes electric charges want to move. Also known as potential difference.
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anatomist
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An expert in the study of anatomy.
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electric motor
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A device that converts electrical energy to mechanical energy.
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electromagnet
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An object that becomes magnetized only when electricity flows through it.
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electron domains
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Atoms whose magnetic poles can align with those around them.
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generators
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Devices that convert mechanical or heat energy to electric energy.
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magnetic
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Having the ability to attract iron or steel.
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magnetic field
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A region of space that interacts with magnets and produces forces of attraction and repulsion.
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north pole
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The end of a magnet out of which magnetic field lines point.
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permanent magnet
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A material that always stays magnetized.
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serendipitous
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Discovered by accident.
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south pole
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The end of a magnet into which magnetic field lines point.
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temporary magnet
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A metallic object whose electron domains temporarily align due to an external magnetic field.
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