Types Of current
Alternating current
current that alternates its direction many times a second a regular intervals
in a circuit (AC)
Transformers change AC to DC
House outlets use 120V AC
Typically used in power supplies.
Direct Current
current that flow in the same direction in a circuit (DC)
Types: wet-cells & dry-cells
Electrical Charge: When there are
more electrons than protons, the charge is
negative.
Current, Voltage, Resistance
Electrical Current
Resistance: The part of an electrical circuit that resists the flow of electricity (for example, by
transforming it into heat or light, as in a light bulb or a buzzer).
Measured in ohms (Symbol is Greek letter omega Ω)
Batteries: Electron pumps
They provide an energy source to a
circuit
Batteries are reserves of chemical
energy that can be transformed into
electrical energy
Voltage: is the difference in electrical potential between two points where electrons are flowing
Voltage is the “push” that makes electric charges flow, measured in Volts (V)
Electric Potential
The amount of potential energy per charge
Short Circuit: Occurs when two current-carrying conductors accidentally come into contact, either directly or through a conducting object.
Circuit: Electric current flows through a closed, continuous path.
Insulators
Materials that do not easily transmit heat, cold, or electricity, such as wood and plastic. Electrical wires are covered with an insulator to prevent electrical shocks and short circuits that could cause fires.
Conductors
bodies or materials that allow an electrical
current to pass through them. (Examples: Copper, aluminum, brass, zinc, iron, pewter, and salt water.
It is made up of a series of electrical components and conductors (e.g., batteries, electrical wires, light bulbs, etc.)
Amperes: The number of electrons that pass a point in a circuit in one second
Current: The movement of negative electrical charges (electrons)
through a conductor (electrical wire, metal foil, etc.).
Atom
Electrical charge: When an atom loses or gains an electron
Electrons
Electrical Charge: When there are fewer electrons than protons, the charge is positive. The unit of electrical
charge is the coulomb (symbol: C).
Neutrons
Protons
