electric current

series circuit

A series circuit is a circuit where there is only one path from the source through all of the loads and back to the source.

grounding

Allowing charges to move freely back and forth between the ground and a conductor.

electric circuit

An electric circuit is a conducting path, external to the battery, which allows charge to flow from one terminal to the other.

electrical current

An electric current is a flow of electric charge. In electric circuits this charge is often carried by moving electrons in a wire. It can also be carried by ions in an electrolyte, or by both ions and electrons such as in a plasma.

resistance

Determines how much current flows for a given voltage. Higher resistance means less current flows

fuse

Electrical device that can interrupt the flow of electrical current when it is overloaded

electrical conductor

In a conductor, electric current can flow freely, in an insulator it cannot. Metals such as copper typify conductors, while most non-metallic solids are said to be good insulators, having extremely high resistance to the flow of charge through them.

electrical insulation

In insulating materials valence electrons are tightly bonded to their atoms. These materials are used in electrical equipment as insulators or insulation.

ohms law

Ohm's law states that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the potential difference across the two points.

electrical power

Rate at which electrical energy is converted to another form of energy; expressed in watts, W.

superconductor

Superconductors are materials that conduct electricity with no resistance. This means that, unlike the more familiar conductors such as copper or steel, a superconductor can carry a current indefinitely without losing any energy.

parallel circuit

a circut with two or more resitors where the electricity has more than one path to travel

battery

a container consisting of one or more cells, in which chemical energy is converted into electricity and used as a source of power.

circut breaker

a switch that automtically opens if the current is too high

direct current

an electric current that flows in one direction steadily

alternating current

an electric current that reverses its direction many times a second at regular intervals, typically used in power supplies.

voltage

an electromotive force or potential difference expressed in volts.

potential difference

the difference of electrical potential between two points.