Principles of Electricity Flashcards

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is electricity?

A form of energy that produces light, heat, magnetic and chemical changes.

What are electrons?

Tiny negatively charged particles.

What is current?

Flow of electrons along a path called a conductor.

What is cord safety?

Cords on appliances should be kept straight and free of knots, kinks, and tangles to prevent breaks. Signup and view all the answers

What does AMP measure?

The strength of the flow of electrons; one ampere equals 1,000 milliamperes. Signup and view all the answers

What does VOLT measure?

Pressure; measures how hard electrons are pushed by the source. Signup and view all the answers

What does OHM measure?

Resistance; it measures how difficult it is to push electrons through a conductor. Signup and view all the answers

What is a WATT?

A unit that measures the amount of used energy. Signup and view all the answers

What does HERTZ measure?

Frequency; it measures the number of cycles per second. Signup and view all the answers

What is electric current?

A flow of electric charge, which is often carried by moving electrons in a wire. Signup and view all the answers

What is direct current?

A type of current where electrons move at an even rate in only one direction. Signup and view all the answers

What is alternating current?

A type of current where electrons flow first in one direction and then the other. Signup and view all the answers

What is a circuit?

A closed path through which electrons travel to operate an appliance. Signup and view all the answers

What is parallel wiring?

A wiring method that powers several loads at once or at different times. Signup and view all the answers

What is series wiring?

A wiring method where all loads run at the same time and circuit travels from one load to the next. Signup and view all the answers

What is an overload?

Occurs when too many appliances on one circuit are operated at the same time. Signup and view all the answers

What is a short circuit?

Occurs when a foreign conductor comes in contact with a wire carrying current. Signup and view all the answers

What are safety devices?

Devices containing a fine metal wire that allows current to flow through it, connected directly to circuits in a power box. Signup and view all the answers

What is thermal energy used for?

Used to generate heat. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two forms of electric current?

AC and DC. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Electricity Basics

Electricity is a form of energy that can produce light, heat, magnetic, and chemical changes.
Electrons are tiny negatively charged particles that are fundamental to electrical energy.

Current and Flow

Electric current refers to the flow of electrons along a conductor.
Current can be measured in Amperes (AMP), which indicates the number of electrons flowing in a line.

Measurements and Units

Voltage (V) measures the pressure of electrons, with standard values of 110 or 220 volts in AC generators.
Ohms (Ω) quantify resistance, indicating how difficult it is for electrons to flow through a conductor.
Watts (W) measure the amount of energy used, with 1,000 watts equal to one kilowatt.

Frequency

Hertz (Hz) indicates the frequency of cycles per second in an alternating current (AC), with 1 Hz equal to one cycle per second.

Types of Current

Direct Current (DC) features electrons moving in one direction at a steady rate.
Alternating Current (AC) allows electrons to flow first in one direction and then reverse back.

Circuit Concepts

A circuit is a closed path through which electrons travel to power appliances.
Parallel wiring allows multiple loads to be powered independently, while series wiring powers all loads in sequence.

Safety Considerations

Cord safety is essential; cords should remain straight and untangled to prevent breaks and potential electric shocks.
Overloading occurs when too many appliances draw power from a single circuit simultaneously.

Electrical Issues

A short circuit happens when an unintended conductor contacts a wire carrying current, potentially causing malfunctions or hazards.
Safety devices, containing fine metal wire, are integrated into circuits to help prevent overloads and short circuits.

Thermal and Other Forms of Current

Thermal energy is generated during the flow of electricity.
Electric current exists in two primary forms: Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC).

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

These flashcards cover the fundamental concepts of electricity, including key terms such as electric current and cord safety. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of electrical principles. Use them for quick revision or as a study aid.