Electricity Glossary and Terms
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Ampere: An ampere is a unit of measurement used to measure electric current.
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Alternating Current (AC): Alternating current is electric current that alternates directions. It's the most frequently used type of power sent through power lines.
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Battery: A battery is a chemical cell that can store electricity. Batteries are used to power a wide array of devices, from small toys to large machinery and computers.
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Capacitor: Two electrical conductors with an insulator in between make up a capacitor, which stores electric charge.
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Conductor: Conductors are materials that allow electrical charge to pass through easily. The most common conductor is copper wire.
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Coulomb's Law: Charged particles exhibit an electrostatic interaction, and this law describes this interaction in detail.
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Diode: A diode is a device that regulates the direction in which current can flow.
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Direct Current (DC): Direct current is a type of electric current that only flows in one direction.
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Electric Charge: Electric charge is determined by whether something contains more protons, which are positively charged particles, or electrons, which are negatively charged particles.
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Electric Circuit: When electronic components are connected by a wire that allows electric current to flow, it makes an electric circuit.
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Electric Current: Measured in amperes, electric current is the flow of electric charge through a material.
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Electric Potential: Measured in volts, the electric potential is the difference in electrical charge between two points.
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Electromagnetism: Electric currents and magnetic fields interact in different ways, and this interaction is electromagnetism.
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Electron: Electrons are negatively charged particles that carry electricity by jumping from one atom to the next.
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Farad: Capacitance, or the ability to store an electric charge, is measured in Farads.
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Henry: A henry is a unit of measurement of inductance.
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Inductor: An inductor resists changes in electrical current. This resistance is measured in henrys.
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Insulator: An insulator prevents the flow of an electric current.
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Magnetic Field: Electric currents and electric materials interact to create a magnetic influence known as a magnetic field.
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Ohm: An ohm is the unit of measurement for resistance.
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Ohm's Law: Known as V = IR, Ohm's law describes the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance.
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Resistor: A resistor is something that prevents electric current from flowing.
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Semiconductor: Semiconductors are in between conductors and insulators, carrying electrons well or less well depending on other variables.
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Static Electricity: When an electric charge builds up on an object, it is known as static electricity.
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Transformer: A transformer moves electrical energy between two winding circuits using inductive coupling.
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Transistor: A transistor is a device that acts as a gate or amplifier for electric current.
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Volt: Electric potential is measured in volts.
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Watt: Electric power is measured in watts.
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