Define electric current .

Electric current is the flow of charge carriers , measured in amperes (A).

What is conventional current defined as?

The flow of positive charge from the positive terminal of a cell to the negative terminal.

True or False? In a metal wire, conventional current flows in the same direction as the electrons.

False. Conventional current flows from positive to negative, which is the opposite direction to the actual flow of electrons.

How should an ammeter be connected in a circuit?

In series , so that the charge carriers flow through it.

Define elementary charge .

The magnitude of charge carried by a single electron or proton , equal to 1.60 × 10 -19 C. The charge on any object is always a multiple of this value.

Charge is carried in discrete amounts, known as .......... .

Charge is carried in discrete amounts, known as quanta .

The average speed of the charge carriers travelling through a conductor.

Why does current appear to flow almost instantaneously through a conductor, even though the drift speed of charge carriers is very slow?

Because the number density of charge carriers in a conductor is very large.

True or False? The equation I = Anvq only applies when the charge carriers are positively charged.

False. The same equation is used whether the charge carriers are positive or negative.

In a conductor, current is due to the movement of .......... , which may be positive or negative.

In a conductor, current is due to the movement of charge carriers , which may be positive or negative.

A LevelPhysicsCambridge (CIE)Flashcards9. ElectricityElectric Current

Electric Current (Cambridge (CIE) A Level Physics): Flashcards

Exam code: 9702

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Define electric current.

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Cards in this collection (12)

Define electric current.
Electric current is the flow of charge carriers, measured in amperes (A).
What is conventional current defined as?
The flow of positive charge from the positive terminal of a cell to the negative terminal.
True or False?
In a metal wire, conventional current flows in the same direction as the electrons.
False.
Conventional current flows from positive to negative, which is the opposite direction to the actual flow of electrons.
How should an ammeter be connected in a circuit?
In series, so that the charge carriers flow through it.
Define elementary charge.
The magnitude of charge carried by a single electron or proton, equal to 1.60 × 10^-19 C. The charge on any object is always a multiple of this value.
Charge is carried in discrete amounts, known as ...........
Charge is carried in discrete amounts, known as quanta.
State the equation relating charge, current and time.
$Q = I t$
Define drift speed.
The average speed of the charge carriers travelling through a conductor.
Why does current appear to flow almost instantaneously through a conductor, even though the drift speed of charge carriers is very slow?
Because the number density of charge carriers in a conductor is very large.
State the equation for current in a conductor in terms of number density, cross-sectional area, drift speed and charge carrier charge.
$I = A n v q$
- n = number density of charge carriers
- A = cross-sectional area
- v = average drift speed
- q = charge of each charge carrier
True or False?
The equation I = Anvq only applies when the charge carriers are positively charged.
False.
The same equation is used whether the charge carriers are positive or negative.
In a conductor, current is due to the movement of .........., which may be positive or negative.
In a conductor, current is due to the movement of charge carriers, which may be positive or negative.

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