| A | B |
|---|
| electric field | the region around a charged particle that can exert a force on another charged particle |
| electric force | the force between charged objects |
| law of electrical charges | the law that states that like charges repel and opposite charges attract |
| conduction (electrical) | a method of changing an object that occurs when electrons are transferred from one object to another by direct contact |
| induction | a method of charging an object that occurs when charges in an uncharged object are rearranged without direct contact with a charged object |
| conductor (electrical) | a material in which charges can move easily |
| insulator (electrical) | a material in which charges cannot easily move |
| static electricity | the buildup of electric charges on an object |
| electric discharge | the loss of static electricity as charges move off an object |
| battery | a device that is made of several cells and that produces an electrical current by converting chemical energy into electrical energy |
| cell | a device that produces an electrical current by converting chemical energy into electrical energy |
| electrical energy | the energy of electric charges |
| electrode | the part of a cell through which charges enter or exit |
| electrolyte | in a cell, a mixture of chemicals that carries an electrical current |
| potential difference | energy per unit charge; specifically, the difference in energy per unit charge as a charge moves between two points in an electric circuit (same as voltage); expressed in volts (V) |
| photocell | the part of a solar panel that converts light into electrical energy |
| thermocouple | a device that converts thermal energy into electrical energy |
| current | a continuous flow of charge caused by the motion of electrons; the rate at which charge passes a given point; expressed in amperes (A) |
| alternating current | (AC) electric current in which the charges continually switch from flowing in one direction to flowing in the reverse direction |
| direct current | (DC) electric current in which the charges always flow in the same direction |
| voltage | the difference in energy per unit charge as a charge moves between two points in an electric circuit (same as potential difference); expressed in volts (V) |
| resistance | the opposition to the flow of electric charge; expressed in ohms (Ω) |
| electric power | the rate at which electrical energy is used to do work; expressed in watts (W) |
| Ohm's law | the law that states the relationship between current (I), voltage (V), and resistance (R); expressed by the equation I=V/R |
| circuit | a complete, closed path through which electric charge flow |
| load | a device that uses electrical energy to do work |
| series circuit | a circuit in which all parts are connected in a single loop |
| parallel circuit | a circuit in which different loads are on separate branches |
