Electricity Unit Flashcards

Electrical Terminology

• Conductor: Material that effectively transmits heat, electricity, or sound; key for efficient electrical systems.
• Insulator: Substance that restricts electrical conductivity; vital for preventing unwanted current flow.
• Resistor: Device designed to provide a specific resistance to electric current; crucial in controlling current flow.
• Voltage: Measured in volts; represents electromotive force or potential difference in a circuit.
• Current: Flow of electricity measured in amperes; results from the movement of charged particles in a circuit.
• Resistance: Measured in ohms; defined by Ohm's Law (V = IR), and opposes electric current flow.
• Electrical Power: Rate at which electrical energy is transferred, expressed in watts (1 watt = 1 joule/second).

Current Types

• Conventional Current: Defined as the flow of electric charge that moves in the direction of positive charge flow; important for circuit analysis.
• Electron Flow: How electrons move through conductors; involves atoms exchanging electrons, creating a continuous flow.

Circuit Configurations

• Parallel Circuit: Configuration where current splits into multiple paths; each path receives full voltage and total current is the sum of the branch currents.
• Series Circuit: Current flows through a single path; voltage is divided among loads while current remains consistent throughout.
• Closed Circuit: Complete electrical connection allowing current flow; essential for functional devices.
• Open Circuit: Incomplete electrical connection; prevents current flow, rendering the circuit inactive.

Current Types

• Alternating Current (AC): Electricity that reverses direction periodically; commonly used in household power supply.
• Direct Current (DC): Flows in one direction only; typically found in batteries and electronic devices.

Electrical Safety

• Load: Represents the amount of power consumed by devices; indicates the electric demands placed on a power source.
• Fuse: Safety device designed to break the circuit when current exceeds safe levels; prevents overheating and fires.
• Circuit Breaker: Automatic device that interrupts current flow as a safety measure; can be reset after tripping.

Measurement Units

• Volts (V): Unit of measure for electric potential; drives current through resistance.
• Amperes (A): Unit of electric current; fundamental unit of measurement for electric flow.
• Ohms (Ω): Unit measuring electrical resistance; crucial for determining how much current will flow under voltage.
• Watts (W): Unit of power reflecting energy conversion in circuits; essential for calculating energy costs.
• Voltmeter: Instrument measuring electric potential in volts; used for diagnostics in electrical systems.
• Ammeter: Instrument measuring electric current in amperes; valuable for analyzing circuit performance.