Vibrations Vibrational Motion Things wiggle. They do the back and forth. They vibrate; they shake; they oscillate. These phrases describe the motion of a variety of objects. They even describe the motion of matter at the atomic level. Even atoms wiggle – they do the back and forth. Wiggles, vibrations, and oscillations are an inseparable part…
Previously in Lesson 4, it was mentioned that there are two different ways to connect two or more electrical devices together in a circuit. They can be connected by means of series connections or by means of parallel connections. When all the devices in a circuit are connected by series connections, then the circuit is…
As mentioned in a previous section of Lesson 4, two or more electrical devices in a circuit can be connected by series connections or by parallel connections. When all the devices are connected using parallel connections, the circuit is referred to as a parallel circuit. In a parallel circuit, each device is placed in its own separate branch. The…
As mentioned in the previous section of Lesson 4, two or more electrical devices in a circuit can be connected by series connections or by parallel connections. When all the devices are connected using series connections, the circuit is referred to as a series circuit. In a series circuit, each device is connected in a manner such that…
When there are two or more electrical devices present in a circuit with an energy source, there are a couple of basic means by which to connect them. They can be connected in series or connected in parallel. Suppose that there are three light bulbs connected together in the same circuit. If connected in series, then they are…
Circuit Symbols and Circuit Diagrams Thus far, this unit of The Physics Classroom tutorial has focused on the key ingredients of an electric circuit and upon the concepts of electric potential difference, current and resistance. Conceptual meaning of terms have been introduced and applied to simple circuits. Mathematical relationships between electrical quantities have been discussed…
The previous section of Lesson 3 elaborated upon the dependence of current upon the electric potential difference and the resistance. The current in an electrical device is directly proportional to the electric potential difference impressed across the device and inversely proportional to the resistance of the device. If this is the case, then the rate…
There are certain formulas in Physics that are so powerful and so pervasive that they reach the state of popular knowledge. A student of Physics has written such formulas down so many times that they have memorized it without trying to. Certainly to the professionals in the field, such formulas are so central that they…
An electron traveling through the wires and loads of the external circuit encounters resistance. Resistanceis the hindrance to the flow of charge. For an electron, the journey from terminal to terminal is not a direct route. Rather, it is a zigzag path that results from countless collisions with fixed atoms within the conducting material. The electrons encounter resistance…
Journey of a Typical Electron As mentioned in Lesson 1, an electrochemical cell supplies energy to move a charge from its low energy, low potential terminal to the high energy, high potential terminal. In this sense, the cell supplies the energy to establish an electric potential difference across the two ends of the external circuit. Charge…