science vocab

• What is an ammeter used for?

  Measuring electric current in a circuit
• What unit is used to measure electric current?

  Amps
• What is an atom?

  A neutral particle; everything is made of atoms
• What does it mean to attract in the context of magnets?


  To be pulled together, such as opposite poles of a magnet
• What is a battery?


  Two or more electrical cells joined together
• What is a cell in electrical terms?


  A chemical store of energy that moves charge around a circuit
• What is a conductor?


  A material that conducts charge or energy well
• What is the purpose of a core in an electromagnet?


  To make the magnetic field stronger
• What is current?


  The flow of electrical charge around a complete circuit per second
• What is electric charge?


  A property of a material or particle that can be positive or negative
• What is an electrical field?


  A region where a charged material experiences a force
• What is an electromagnet?


  A temporary magnet produced using an electric current
• What is an electron?


  A negatively charged particle found in atoms
• What happens to electrons when a current flows through a wire?


  Electrons flow through the wire
• What is an insulator?


  A material that does not conduct electricity well
• What is lightning?


  A current through the air that produces light and sound
• What is a magnetic field?


  A region where there is a force on a magnet or magnetic material
• What are magnetic field lines?


  Imaginary lines that show the direction of the force on magnetic material
• What is a magnetic material?


  A material that is attracted to a magnet
• What does it mean to magnetise?


  To make into a magnet
• What is a motor?


  A component that spins when a current flows through it
• What is the charge on an electron?


  Negative
• What does neutral mean in terms of charge?


  Having no charge overall
• What is a neutron?


  A neutral particle found in atoms
• What is the north pole of a magnet?


  The pole that points towards the north
• What is the unit of resistance?


  Ohms
• What is a parallel circuit?


  A circuit with two or more paths for the current
• What is the charge on a proton?


  Positive
• What is potential difference?


  A measure of the push of a cell or battery
• What is a relay?


  An electrical device that switches on and off a current in a second circuit
• What does it mean to repel?


  To be pushed away from each other
• What is resistance in a circuit?


  How difficult it is for current to flow through a component
• What is a series circuit?


  A circuit in which components are joined in a single loop
• What is the south pole of a magnet?


  The pole that points towards the south
• What is a switch?


  A component that controls the current by making or breaking the circuit
• What is voltage?


  A measure of the strength of a cell or battery used to send a current around a circuit
• What is a voltmeter?


  A device for measuring voltage
• What units are used to measure voltage?

  Volts