Term
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Definition
| flow of electrons through a conductor |
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Term
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Definition
electrons made to flow in one direction along the conductor
the graph of waveform is a straight line |
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Term
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Definition
current in which electrons oscillate back and forth
most applications require it
waveform will be a sine curve
electrons flow first in positive direction, then a negative direction
once the reach maximum flow, the electric potential is reduced, returns to zero, and reverses the motion |
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Term
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Definition
a circuit in which the current only has one path to travel
all component parts are connected end to end
a break anywhere in the path results in an open circuit and stops flow of electrons
the total resistance is equal to the sum of the individual resistances along the path
sum of voltages across each resistor is equal to the total circuit voltage |
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Term
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Definition
a circuit in which there are more than one path for the current to flow
components are branches of the main circuit
a break in any one path doesnt interrupt the flow of charge in the other parts |
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Term
| resistance (series circuit) |
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Definition
total resistance is equal to the sum of the seperate resistances
Rt= R1+ R2+ R3 |
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Term
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Definition
current is the same everywhere in the current
It=I1=I2=I3 |
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Term
| voltage drop (IR drop) series circuit |
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Definition
sum of the voltage drops must add up to the EMF or voltage of the source
Vt= V1+ V2+ V3 |
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Term
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Definition
| the total voltage is equal to the sum of all the voltages across each resistor |
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Term
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Definition
total power is the sum of the power consumed or dissipated by each resistor or load
PT= P1+ P2+ P3 |
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Term
| resistance (parallel circuit) |
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Definition
the total resistance is always less than the lowest valued resistor
1/RT= 1/R1+ 1/R2+ 1/R3 |
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Term
| current (parallel circuit) |
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Definition
the total current will equal the sum of the current in each branch
It= I1+ I2 +I3 |
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Term
| voltage (parallel circuit) |
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Definition
the same in all branches of the circuit
Vt= V1= V2= V3 |
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Term
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Definition
total power is the sum of all the power consumed in each branch
Pt= P1+ P2+ P3 |
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