| A | B |
|---|
| Static electricity | A stationary electric charge. |
| Proton | Positively charged particle in the nucleus of an atom. |
| Electron | Invisible negatively charged particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom. |
| Neutral | Description of an object that has equal amounts of positive and negative charges. |
| Charge Separation | Concentration of like charges on specific areas of a neutral object, caused by the approach of a charged object. |
| Electrical Discharge | Sudden transfer of electrical charge from one object to another, indicated by a spark. |
| Electrical Current | Steady flow of charged particles. |
| Circuit | A path that controls the flow of electricity. |
| Amperes | The units of electrical current. |
| Load | Device in a circuit that converts electrical energy into another form of energy. |
| Voltage | A measure of how much electrical energy a charged particle carries. |
| Potential Difference | Change in the potential energy of electric charge compared to its potential energy at a reference point, such as the ground. |
| Volt | The unit of voltage. |
| Voltmeter | Instrument for measuring potential difference in volts. |
| Insulators | Substance that strongly resists the flow of electricity. |
| Short Circuit | Accidental low-resistence connection between two points in a circuit, often causing excess current to flow. |
| Fuses | Thin peice of metal that melts to break an electrical current when excess current flow occurs. |
| Circuit Breaker | Special wire that heats up and turns off switch when excess current flows through and electrical circuit. |
| Electrochemical Cell | Package of chemicals designed to produce small amounts of electricity; produces electricity from chemical reactions. |
| Dry Cells | Cell that has its electrolyte in the form of a paste, usually in a sealed case. |
| Electrolyte | Liquid or paste that conducts electricity because it contains ions. |
| Ion | Atom that has become electrically charged because it has lost or gained electrons. |
| Electrodes | Conductor through which electric current enters or leaves a device or material. |
| Wet Cells | Electrochemical primary cell having a liquid electrolyte. |
| Primary Cells | Cell that produces electricity by means of a chemical reaction that cannot be reversed. |
| Rechargeable Cell | Cell that produces electricity by means of a chemical reaction that can be reserved by using an external source to run electricity back through the cell. |
| Secondary Cells | Rechargeable cell. |
| Battery | Set of cells connected together. |
| Electrolysis | Decomposition of a substance by an electric current. |
| Electrochemistry | Study of chemical reactions involving electricity. |
| Electroplating | Use of electricity to coat a thin layer of metal onto an object. |
| Super Conductors | Perfect conductor; substance with no resistence to electron flow. |
| Resistance | Measure of how difficult it is for electrons to flow through a substance. |
| Resistor | Device hacing resistence to the passage of electrical current, often used to control current in a circuit. |
| Ohms | The unit of resistence. |
| Variable Resistor(Rheostat) | Resistor whose resistance can be changed by adjusting the portion of the resistor the current travels through. |
| Ohm's Law | Law stating that, as long as the temperature remains constant, the resistence of a conductor remains constant, and the current is directly proportional to the voltage applied. |
| Voltage Drop | Voltage across a resistor or other device in a circuit. |
| Millivoltmeter | Instrument used to measure small voltages. |
| Ammeter | Meter used to measure electrical current in amperes. |
| Galvonometer | Device for detecting and measuring small electric currents. |
| Multimeter | Meter that can measure voltage, current, or resistance in a circuit. |
| Schematic | Diagram using standardized symbols to show the components and connections in a circuit. |
| Series Circuit | Circuit in which there is only a single pathway for the current so the same current passes through all the components. |
| Parallel Circuit | Circuit in which the current can flow in two or more paths. |
| Transistors | Device usually with three layers arranged such that a small voltage through the middle layer controls a current between the outer layers, allowing the device to act as a switch or amplifier. |
| Microcircuit | Circuit made up of miniaturized components, especially an integrated circuit. |
| Energy | The ability to do work. |
| Chemical Energy | Energy stored in chemicals and released when chemicals react. |
| Thermocouple | Device consisting of two wires of different metals joined such that a voltage is produced between the ends in proportion to the difference in their temperatures. |
| Commutator | Split ring in a motor that breaks the flow of electricity for a moment and then reverses the connection of the coil. |
| Brushes | Mechanism that makes electrical contact with the moving commutator in a motor. |
| Electromagnet | Coil of insulated wire (usually wrapped around a soft iron core) that becomes a magnet when current flows through it. |
| Armature | Rotating shaft and coil in a motor or generator. |
| Alternating Current | Current that flows back and forth 60 times per second. |
| Direct Current | Current that flows in only one direction. |
| Transformers | Device that changes electricity at one voltage into electricity at a different voltage; a set-up transformer increases the voltage; a set-down transformer decreases the voltage. |
| Electromagnetic Induction | Generation of electric current in a conductor by a changing magnetic feild. |
| Power | Rate at which a device converts energy. |
| Watt | The unit of power, equal to one joule per second. |
| Kilowatt Hour | Commonly used unit of electrical energy, equal to a power consumption of 1000 W for one hour. |
| Law of Conservation of Energy | Fundamental principle that energy cannot be created or destroyed. |
| Fossil Fuels | Fuel formed from dead plants and animals. |
| Turbine | Machine that uses the flow of a fluid such as steam, water, or air to rotate a shaft. |
| Nuclear Fission | Splitting of atoms, which transforms them into lighter elements and releases large amounts of energy. |
| Geothermal Energy | Energy derived from the internal heat of the Earth. |
| Biomass | Organic matter, such as food or agricultural waste, used as an energy source. |
| Fuel Cells | Primary cell that generates electricity directly from a chemical reaction with a fuel. |
| Non-Renewable Resources | A resource, such as coal or natural gas, that cannot be replenished. |
| Renewable Resources | Resource such as water or wind energy that is continually replenished and therefore can be used indefinitely. |
| Fly Ash | Fine airborne ash produced by burning coal or other solid fuels. |
| Binary Number's | Numbers having two as its base (instead of 10) and so having only ones and zeroes. |
