Physical Sciences

ammeter

a device used to measure electrical current.

ampere

standard unit of electric current

battery

A component that stores chemical energy to be used as a power source

circuit

A pathway for electricity to flow around

cicuit diagram

A representation of an electrical pathway

closed circuit

A complete pathway that allows electrical current to flow

component

Part of an electrical circuit e.g. battery

directly proportional

As one amount increases, another amount increases at the same rate

electrical current

The flow of electrons through a circuit

electron

A very small subatomic particle with negative charge

inversely proportional

As one amount increases, another amount decreases at the same rate

lamp

A component that produces light

multimeter

A device that can measure both resistance and voltage

negative terminal

The part of a battery that electrons flow out from

ohm

The standard unit of electrical resistance

ohms law

The relationship between current, voltage and resistance

open circuit

A broken pathway that does not allow electrical current to flow

positive terminal

The part of a battery that electrons flow towards

resistance

A material's opposition to the flow of electrical current

resistor

A component designed to lower the current passing through a circuit

switch

A component used to open or close a circuit

terminal

Part of a component where electrical current can leave or enter

volt

The standard unit of voltage

voltage

The amount of energy per charge

voltmeter

A device used to measure voltage

wire

component made of a flexible strand of conductive metal

visible spectrum

The range of light frequencies that we can see

transparent

Allowing nearly all light to pass through

transmission

The passing of light through a material

translucent

Allowing only some light to pass through

refraction

The bending of light as it passes into a new material

relfection

The bending of light as it bounces off a surface

prism

A transparent object with flat surfaces, which refract light

periodic motion

Movement that is repeated at regular intervals

period

The time it takes a wave to go through its full motion once

opaque

Not allowing light to pass through