Electricity and Circuits Advanced Flashcards

Grade 11 · Science · Flashcards

Key terms and concepts for mastering advanced circuit analysis, Kirchhoff's laws, and RC circuits.

Flashcards

Kirchhoff's Current Law

The sum of all currents entering a node equals the sum of all currents leaving; based on conservation of charge.

Kirchhoff's Voltage Law

The algebraic sum of all voltage changes around any closed loop equals zero; based on conservation of energy.

Time Constant (τ = RC)

Product of resistance and capacitance; time for capacitor to reach 63.2% of full charge or decay to 36.8% of initial voltage.

Node Voltage Method

Circuit analysis technique using KCL at each non-reference node to solve for unknown voltages.

Mesh Current Method

Circuit analysis technique using KVL around each independent loop to solve for unknown loop currents.

Thevenin's Theorem

Any linear circuit can be replaced by a single voltage source (V_th) in series with a single resistance (R_th).

Norton's Theorem

Any linear circuit can be replaced by a current source (I_N) in parallel with a resistance (R_N = R_th).

Capacitive Reactance

X_C = 1/(2πfC); opposition to AC current by a capacitor, decreasing with increasing frequency.

Inductive Reactance

X_L = 2πfL; opposition to AC current by an inductor, increasing with increasing frequency.

RC Charging Equation

V(t) = V0(1 - e^(-t/RC)); voltage across capacitor during charging from 0 to V0.

RC Discharging Equation

V(t) = V0·e^(-t/RC); voltage across capacitor during discharge from V0 toward zero.

Power Factor

Ratio of real power to apparent power in an AC circuit; cos(φ) where φ is the phase angle between voltage and current.

Wheatstone Bridge Balance Condition

R1/R2 = R3/R4; when balanced, no current flows through the galvanometer.

Get a personalized course on Electricity and Circuits Advanced built around your child.