DC Current
Each list begins with basic conceptual vocabulary you need to know for MCAT questions and proceeds to advanced terms that might appear in context in MCAT passages. The terms are links to Wikipedia articles.
Direct current
Direct current is the constant flow of electric charge.
Direct current is the constant flow of electric charge.
Electric current
Electric current is the flow of electric charge.
Electric current is the flow of electric charge.
Ohm's law
Ohm's law states that, in an electrical circuit, the current passing through a conductor between two points is proportional to the potential difference across the two points, and inversely proportional to the resistance between them.
Ohm's law states that, in an electrical circuit, the current passing through a conductor between two points is proportional to the potential difference across the two points, and inversely proportional to the resistance between them.
Electrical conductor
Conductors, such as copper or aluminum, are materials with atoms having loosely held valence electrons.
Conductors, such as copper or aluminum, are materials with atoms having loosely held valence electrons.
Voltage drop
Voltage drop is the reduction in voltage in an electrical circuit between the source and load.
Voltage drop is the reduction in voltage in an electrical circuit between the source and load.
Voltage source
A voltage source is any device or system that produces an electromotive force between its terminals OR derives a secondary potential from a primary source of the electromotive force.
A voltage source is any device or system that produces an electromotive force between its terminals OR derives a secondary potential from a primary source of the electromotive force.
Ampere
The ampere is the SI unit of electric current.
The ampere is the SI unit of electric current.
Kirchhoff's circuit laws
Kirchhoff's circuit laws are a pair of laws that deal with the conservation of charge and energy in electrical circuits.
Kirchhoff's circuit laws are a pair of laws that deal with the conservation of charge and energy in electrical circuits.
Electrical conduction
Conduction is the movement of electrically charged particles through a transmission medium which can form an electric current in response to an electric field.
Conduction is the movement of electrically charged particles through a transmission medium which can form an electric current in response to an electric field.
Electrical conductivity
Electrical or specific conductivity is a measure of a material's ability to conduct an electric current.
Electrical or specific conductivity is a measure of a material's ability to conduct an electric current.
Resistivity
Electrical resistivity is a measure of how strongly a type of material opposes the flow of electric current.
Electrical resistivity is a measure of how strongly a type of material opposes the flow of electric current.
Voltmeter
A voltmeter is a very high resistance ammeter used for measuring the electrical potential difference between two points in an electric circuit.
A voltmeter is a very high resistance ammeter used for measuring the electrical potential difference between two points in an electric circuit.
Ohmmeter
An ohmmeter is an electrical instrument that measures electrical resistance, the opposition to the flow of an electric current.
An ohmmeter is an electrical instrument that measures electrical resistance, the opposition to the flow of an electric current.
Semiconductor
A semiconductor is a solid that has electrical conductivity in between that of a conductor and that of an insulator, and can be controlled over a wide range, either permanently or dynamically.
A semiconductor is a solid that has electrical conductivity in between that of a conductor and that of an insulator, and can be controlled over a wide range, either permanently or dynamically.
Free electron model
In solid-state physics, the free electron model is a simple model for the behaviour of valence electrons in a crystal structure of a metallic solid.
In solid-state physics, the free electron model is a simple model for the behaviour of valence electrons in a crystal structure of a metallic solid.
Current source
A current source is an electrical or electronic device that delivers or absorbs flow of electric charge.
A current source is an electrical or electronic device that delivers or absorbs flow of electric charge.
Wheatstone bridge
A Wheatstone bridge is a device used to measure an unknown electrical resistance which works by balancing two legs of a bridge circuit, one leg of which includes the unknown component.
A Wheatstone bridge is a device used to measure an unknown electrical resistance which works by balancing two legs of a bridge circuit, one leg of which includes the unknown component.
Superconductivity
Superconductivity is a phenomenon occurring in certain materials at extremely low temperatures, characterized by exactly zero electrical resistance and the exclusion of the interior magnetic field.
Superconductivity is a phenomenon occurring in certain materials at extremely low temperatures, characterized by exactly zero electrical resistance and the exclusion of the interior magnetic field.
Bridge circuit
A bridge circuit is a type of electrical circuit in which the current in a conductor splits into two parallel paths and then recombines into a single conductor, thereby enclosing a loop.
A bridge circuit is a type of electrical circuit in which the current in a conductor splits into two parallel paths and then recombines into a single conductor, thereby enclosing a loop.
Current density
Current density is a vector whose magnitude is the electric current per cross-sectional area measured in the SI system as amperes per square meter.
Current density is a vector whose magnitude is the electric current per cross-sectional area measured in the SI system as amperes per square meter.
Siemens
The siemens is the SI derived unit of electric conductance.
The siemens is the SI derived unit of electric conductance.
Potentiometer
A potentiometer is a variable resistor that can be used as a voltage divider.
A potentiometer is a variable resistor that can be used as a voltage divider.
Drift velocity
The drift velocity is the average velocity, not speed, that a particle, such as an electron, attains due to an electric field.
The drift velocity is the average velocity, not speed, that a particle, such as an electron, attains due to an electric field.
Voltage divider
A voltage divider is a simple device designed to create a voltage which is proportional to another voltage.
A voltage divider is a simple device designed to create a voltage which is proportional to another voltage.
Electronic band structure
The electronic band structure of a solid describes ranges of energy that an electron is forbidden or allowed to have.
The electronic band structure of a solid describes ranges of energy that an electron is forbidden or allowed to have.
N-type semiconductor
An N-type semiconductor is obtained by carrying out a process of doping with valence-five elements to a valence-four semiconductor in order to increase the number of free, negative charge carriers.
An N-type semiconductor is obtained by carrying out a process of doping with valence-five elements to a valence-four semiconductor in order to increase the number of free, negative charge carriers.
P-type semiconductor
A P-type semiconductor is obtained by carrying out a process of doping the semiconductor to increase the number of free, positive charge carriers.
A P-type semiconductor is obtained by carrying out a process of doping the semiconductor to increase the number of free, positive charge carriers.
Exciton
An exciton is a bound state of an electron and an imaginary particle called an electron hole in an insulator or semiconductor.
An exciton is a bound state of an electron and an imaginary particle called an electron hole in an insulator or semiconductor.