Circuits Flashcard

Voltage is the electric potential difference between two points in a circuit, measured in volts (V). It represents the energy per unit charge available to move electrons through a circuit.

Current is the flow of electric charge in a circuit, measured in amperes (A). It represents the rate at which charge is flowing.

Resistance is the opposition to the flow of electric current, measured in ohms (Ω). It determines how much current will flow for a given voltage.

Ohm's Law states that the current (I) through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage (V) across the two points and inversely proportional to the resistance (R). It can be expressed as: $$V = I \times R$$ .

In a series circuit, the total resistance (R_total) is the sum of all individual resistances: $$R_{total} = R_1 + R_2 + ... + R_n$$ .

In a parallel circuit, the total resistance (R_total) can be calculated using: $$R_{total} = \frac{1}{\frac{1}{R_1} + \frac{1}{R_2} + ... + \frac{1}{R_n}}$$ .

Electrical power (P) can be calculated using the formula: $$P = V \times I$$ , where V is voltage and I is current.

The unit of electrical power is the watt (W), which is equivalent to one joule per second.

In a series circuit, the current is the same through all components. If one component fails, the entire circuit is interrupted.

In a parallel circuit, the total current is the sum of the currents through each parallel branch. If one branch fails, current can still flow through the other branches.