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Electricity and Magnetism CSET Vocabulary
These are the vocabulary for the Electricity and Magnetism Subset for General Science
25
Physics
Professional
01/27/2012

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Term
static electricity
Definition
A stationary electric charge that is built up on a material.
Term
negatively charged
Definition
An object that has accumulated extra electrons.
Term
positively charged
Definition
An object that is missing electrons.
Term
atom
Definition
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Term
First Law of electrostatics
Definition
Like charges repel each other and unlike charges attract.
Term
conductor
Definition
A material containing a large number of electrons which are free to move such as copper, aluminum and gold.
Term
insulator
Definition
A material with very few or no electrons free to move.
Term
electroscope
Definition
A simple device used to indicate the existence of a positive or negative charge.
Term
grounding
Definition
The removal of a charge by connecting it to the earth through a conductor.
Term
electric current
Definition
The rate of flow of electrons per second that flow past a point. The symbol for current is (I) and is measured in Amperes or amp (A).
Term
potential difference
Definition
The amount of energy per unit charge needed to move a charged particle from a reference point to a designated point which is measured in volts.
Term
circuit
Definition
A closed loop consisting of a source of current and one or more components around which a current flows.
Term
series circuit
Definition
A path along which electrons have only one way to move in a closed loop.
Term
parallel circuit
Definition
Where electrons have more than one path to move along around a closed loop.
Term
voltage
Definition
A measure of the difference in electric potential between two points in space, a material, or an electric circuit, expressed in volts.
Term
resistance
Definition
The ability of an object to resist or restrict the flow of a current. The unit of measurement is the ohm.
Term
Ohm's Law
Definition

V = I x R

For a given voltage, higher resistance entails lower current flow.
Term
semiconductors
Definition
Any of various solid substances, such as silicon or germanium, that conduct electricity more easily than insulators but less easily than conductors.
Term
magnetic field
Definition
A region around a magnet in which objects are affected by the attractive force.
Term
pole
Definition
The point on a magnet at which the magnetic forces are more concentrated.
Term
electromagnet
Definition
A magnet produced by the electric current in the coiling of wire around some material.
Term
generator
Definition
A device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy using electromagnetism.
Term
transformer
Definition
A device used to change the voltage of an alternating current in one circuit to a different voltage in a second circuit, thus high and low voltage currents can be transmitted.
Term
motor
Definition
A device which transforms electric energy from an electromagnet to mechanical energy that rotates.
Term
open circuit
Definition
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