Build up of static
electricity is caused
by friction
When certain insulating
materials are rubbed
together, negatively
charged electrons will be
scraped off one material
and dumped on the other
This leaves a positive
static charge on one
and a negative charge
on the other.
Which way the electrons
are transferred depends
on the two materials
involved
Electrically charged
objects attract small
objects placed near
them
The classic examples are
polythene and acetate rods
being rubbed with a cloth
duster, as shown in the
diagram
Positive and negative
electrostatic charges are only
ever produced by the
movement of electrons
A positive static charge is always
caused by electrons moving away
elsewhere. The material that loses the
electrons loses some negative charge
and is left with an equal positive
charge.
When two charged objects are
brought together, they exert a force
on each other. These forces
decrease in strength was the
distance between the two things
increases.
Opposite charges are
attracted to each other
Identical charges repel
each other
Charges can move
easily through
conductors. Metals are
good conductors.
Current is the flow
of electric charge
round a circuit.
Current will only flow
if there is a potential
difference (voltage)
across a
component. Unit:
Amperes, A.
Potential
difference is
the driving
force that
pushes the
current
around. Unit:
Volts, V.
Potential difference is the work
done (the energy transformed in
joules) per coulomb of charge
that passes between two points.
It is given by the following
formula: Voltage = work
done/charge. Voltage and
potential difference are
interchangeable terms.
Resisitance
is anything
in a circuit
which slows
the flow of
current
down. Unit:
Ohm, Ω.
The greater the
resistance across a
component, the
smaller the current
that flows (for a
given potential
difference across
the component).
Total charge through a
circuit depends on current
and time.
Current is the rate of flow of charge. When current (I)
flows past a point in a circuit for a length of time (t)
then the charge (Q) that has passed is given by this
formula, with current being measured in Amps,
charge in Coulombs and time in seconds::
The greater
the current, the
greater the
charge flowing.
Ammeters must be
placed in series, while
voltmeters must be in
parallel.
Difference-Current graphs
Resistance increases as heat increases
This is because heat energy causes
ions in conductors to vibrate more,
making it more difficult for
charge-carrying electrons to get through
conductors - the current can not flow as
easily with high resistances
YOU MUST KNOW OHM'S LAW!!!
Diodes are made of
semiconductor materials
such as silicon and have
low resistance in the
'forward' direction and very
high resistance is the
'reverse' direction