Electricity & Magnets
What is the push that moves electric charges through a circuit called?
Which law states that for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction?
Newton's Third Law
What is the lowest point on a wave called?
What is a cloud of gas and dust in space where stars form called?
a nebula
What is the measure of how fast something is moving?
speed
In a parallel circuit, if one light bulb burns out, do the other lights stay on or go off?
What is the name of the tendency of objects to resist changes in their motion?
inertia
What happens to a wave when it bounces off a wall or hard surface?
a reflection
What stage comes right after a protostar?
a main-sequence star (sun like)
What is the unit we use to measure force?
Explain the main difference between a series circuit and a parallel circuit.
A series circuit is one pathway, parallel is more than one pathway.
Explain Newton's First Law.
An object won't move or change direction unless a force pushes or pulls it
The number of peaks of a wave that pass in a second.
Frequency
What is it called when a massive star explodes?
a supernova
What are the three main properties of all waves?
Wavelength, amplitude, and frequency
Name two ways to strengthen an electromagnet.
Add more loops/coils to the wire and/or increase the current flowing through it (or use an iron core)?
What happens to an object when balanced forces act on it?
What is its motion stays the same (it either keeps moving or stays still)?
Explain what happens to the amplitude of a wave when it is absorbed by matter.
It decreases (gets smaller) because the matter takes in energy from the wave
Describe the difference between what happens to a sun-like star versus a massive star after they leave the main sequence stage.
A sun-like star becomes a red giant then a white dwarf, while a massive star becomes a red supergiant then explodes in a supernova, ending as a neutron star or black hole
What is the difference between velocity and speed?
Speed is just how fast something is moving, but velocity includes the direction it's moving
What is grounding, and why is it important for safety?
It provides a safe path for electricity to go into the Earth, preventing shocks and equipment damage
If a car travels 100 meters in 20 seconds, what is its speed?
5 m/s
When two waves come together and completely cancel each other out, what is this called?
destructive interference
What force is involved in almost every stage of a star's life?
gravity
Compare and contrast how a battery and a generator both produce electricity.
A battery converts chemical energy into electrical energy (stored chemical → voltage), while a generator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy (motion → electricity)