The Science of Everything Podcast Episode 57: Electric Current and Circuits
Dec 30, 2013
Explore the electrifying world of current, voltage, and resistance! Discover how electricity flows and learn about the differences between direct and alternating current. Dive into circuits with a keen look at series and parallel setups, including the science behind light bulbs and the dangers of electricity. Uncover the fascinating phenomena of lightning and why it poses risks. Plus, gain insights into safety measures like fuses and circuit breakers. It's a shocking journey into the science that powers our lives!
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Current Is Charge Flow
- Current is the amount of electric charge that flows past a point per unit time, measured in amperes.
- Drift speed is slow; the electric field aligns random thermal motion into a net flow causing current.
What A Circuit Requires
- You need a potential difference and a continuous conducting path for current to flow.
- Without a complete path the circuit is broken and current stops, like a traffic jam when a road is cut.
Conventional Current Opposes Electrons
- Conventional current is defined as the direction positive charges would move, opposite real electron flow.
- The convention predates discovery of electrons, so current often flows opposite to electron motion.