Electricity: A form of energy that results from the interaction of charged particles, such as electrons

or protons

Static Charge: An electric charge that tends to linger on a charged object rather than flowing

away quickly

Net Electric Charge: An electric charge caused by an imbalance of protons and electrons, creating
a positive or negative charge. It results from the exchange of electrons with another object. An object
with a net electric charge of zero is neutral
Charging By Contact: The generation of a net charge on a neutral object by touching it with a
charged object
Charging By Friction: The generation of a net charge on multiple neutral objects when they
are rubbed together

Electrostatic Series: A list of materials ranked on their ability to retain their electrons
Laws of Electric Charges: Laws that describe how objects interact electrically when one or both
are charged
1. Like charges repel
2. Opposite charges attract
3. Charged and uncharged objects attract

Conductor: A material in which electrons can move easily in between atoms

Examples: Metals in the periodic table (alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals, transition metals [iron,
copper etc.]), graphite
Semi-Conductor: A material in which electrons can move fairly well in between atoms
Examples: Metalloids in the periodic table (silicon, boron etc.), carbon, human body, water
vapour

Insulator: A material in which electrons cannot move easily in between atoms

Examples: Oil, fabrics (wool, fur, cotton etc.), rubber, wood, plastic, glass, wax, ebonite, pure water

Ground: An object that can supply or receive large amounts of electrons to and from objects, thus
neutralizing it
Examples: Earth

Electroscope: A device used to detect the presence of an electrical charge

Electric Field: A property of the space around a charged object, where the effect of its charge can be
felt by other objects

Induced Charge Separation: The movement of electrons in an uncharged object caused by the
electric field of a charged object, without direct contact between the objects

Van de Graaff Generator: A device that accumulates very large charges

Symb
It
ol
measures:
Q
I

R
E
P

What is it?

The quantity of charge that is equal to the charge of 6.5 *

1018 electrons.
The flow rate or speed of charge at one location in a
current. It is measured using an ammeter. A circuit with a
Current
current of 1 A means that 1 coulomb of charge flows by a
point each second.
The work done across two points, per unit of charge. More
voltage is required when resistors are present. It is
Potential
measured using a voltmeter. Inside a 1.5 V double-A
Difference
battery, 1.5 joules of energy is being exerted on each
coulomb across the two terminals.
Resistanc A substance that hinders electric current and converts
e
electrical energy into other forms of energy.
Energy
The SI unit of energy.
Electrical The rate at which a load uses electrical energy. An
Power
appliance using 100 watts means that it consumes 100
Charge

Unit
Coulomb
(C)
Ampere
(A)
(I = C/t)
Volt (V)
(V = E/Q)
(V = R*I)
Ohm ()
Joule (J)
Watt (W)

joules of energy per second.

t

Time

Seconds
(s)

(Common Knowledge :p)

Other Equations:
Relationship between power, voltage, and current: P = V*I (Power = Voltage * Current)
Relationship between power, energy, and time: E = P * T (Energy = Power * Time)
- P = 1 W = 1 J/s
- E = 100 W * 60 s = 1 J/s * 60 s = 6000 J

Relationship Between Charge, Current, and Time

Q
t
Variables:
Current, Charge,
Time
How to Identify:
Does the
question ask for
or provide the
time variable?

I =

Definitions:
CURRENT - Flow Rate
The speed at which
the water is flowing
past ONE point
(measured in liters
per second)
CHARGE - Amount of
Water
Think of This:
The volume of water
How much water
TIME - Time
flows by Niagara
Falls in a day?

Scenario:
If electric charge flows at
1 ampere (1 coulomb per
second), how much time
is required for 10
coulombs of charge to
flow past a point in the
circuit?
Analogy:
If water flows at a speed
of 1 liter per second,
how much time is
required for 10 liters of
water to flow past a point
in the river?

Correlations:
-More time is required to transfer larger charges

Solution:
I=1A
Q = 10 C
t=?
t = Q/I
t = 10/1
t = 10 s
It will take 10 seconds
for 10 coulombs of
charge to flow past the
point with a flow rate of
1 ampere.

-More time is required to transfer charges at a higher speed

-A higher current results in lower time
Variations:

I = Q/t
Q = It
T = Q/I

Relationship Between Potential Difference, Energy, and Charge

E
Q
Definitions:
Variables:
POTENTIAL
Potential
DIFFERENCE - Water
Difference,
Pressure
Energy, Charge
The potential pressure
of water that can flow
How to Identify:
by TWO points
Does the
question ask for ENERGY - Energy
Required
or provide the
The amount of energy
energy variable?
required to create
Think of This:
pressure
How much
energy is needed CHARGE - Amount of
Water
to move water
The volume of water
across two
points?

V =

Scenario:
If I want to transfer 5
coulombs of charge
across the terminals of a
battery, which requires 12
volts of potential
difference, how much
energy is required?
Analogy:
If I want to transfer 5
liters of water in from a
water tower to my water
tap, which requires a
pressure of 12 pascals*,
how much energy is
required?

Solution:
V = 12 V
E=?
Q= 5C
E = VQ
t = 12 * 5
t = 60 J
It will take 60 joules of
energy to transfer 5
coulombs of charge at
12 volts of potential
difference.

*Pascal is a unit of pressure. 1 Pascal is equal to 1 Newton per m 2

Correlations:
-More energy is required to transfer larger charges
-More energy is required to transfer charges at a larger pressure
Variations:

V = E/Q
E = VQ
Q = E/V

Relationship Between Resistance, Potential Energy, and Current

V
I
Variables:
Resistance,
Potential
Difference,
Current
How to Identify:
Does the
question ask for
or provide the
resistance
variable?
Think of This:
It is easier to
drink bubble tea
from a small
straw or a large
straw?

R =

Definitions:
RESISTANCE - Size of
Pipes
The size of the pipes
in which the water is
travelling in
POTENTIAL
DIFFERNECE - Water
Pressure
The potential pressure
of water that can flow
by TWO points
CURRENT - Flow Rate
The speed at which
the water is flowing
past ONE point
(measured in liters
per second)

Scenario:
How much resistance
does a light bulb require to
allow 60 milli-volts of
potential difference to
flow through it at 12 miliamperes?
Analogy:
How wide must the
diameter of a straw be
to allow bubble tea to flow
at 60 milli-pascals* at
the rate of 1 milliliter
per second?

Solution:
R=?
V = 60 mV
I = 12 mA
R = V/I
R = 60/12
R = 5 mm
The diameter of a straw
must be 5 mm to allow
bubble tea to flow at 60
milli-pascals at the rate
of 1 liter per second?

*Pascal is a unit of pressure. 1 Pascal is equal to 1 Newton per m 2

Correlations:
-A higher resistance results in higher voltage
-A higher current results in a higher voltage
-A higher resistance results in a lower current
-A high resistance DOES NOT create a lower voltage
Variations:

R = V/I
V = RI
I = V/R
Ohms Law in Series Circuits

VT = V1 + V2 + V3...
IT = I1 = I2 = I3
RT = R1 + R2 + R3

- The total voltage required is equal to the sum of all individual voltages
required
- The same rate of current passes by each load
- The total resistance created is equal to the sum of all individual resistances
created

Ohms Law in Parallel Circuits

VT = V1 = V2 = V3...

IT = I1 + I2 + I3
RT = 1/(1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3)

- The same amount of voltage is required for each load

- The current rate is different at each point of the circuit, but the input and
output will be same
- The total resistance created will be less than the sum of all individual
resistances

Circuit Diagram: A diagram that uses standard symbols to represent the components of an electric
circuit

Electric Circuit: A closed path along which electrons powered by an energy source can flow
Electric Current: A measure of the number of charged particles that pass by a point in an electric
circuit each second

Electric Source: A source of electrical energy that creates potential difference in a circuit
Ammeter: A device that measures the electric current in between two points in a circuit

Voltmeter: A device that measures electric potential difference (voltage) between two points in a
circuit

Electrode: One of two metal terminals in a cell or battery

Electrolyte: A solution or paste that conducts charge
Incandescence: A light emitted from a material because of the high temperature of that material