Electrical & Electronic Theory Foundations for Battery Technology (Strand 2.1)

Atom

The basic unit of a chemical element, consisting of a nucleus surrounded by electrons.

Nucleus

The dense center of an atom, containing protons and neutrons.

Proton

A positively charged particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutron

A neutral particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Electron

A negatively charged particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom.

Energy levels

The discrete regions around the nucleus of an atom where electrons can be found.

Electric charge

A property of particles that causes them to experience a force in an electric field.

Ion

An atom or molecule that has gained or lost one or more electrons, resulting in a net charge.

Cation

A positively charged ion created when an atom loses one or more electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion created when an atom gains one or more electrons.

Conductor

A material that allows the easy flow of electric charge, often containing free electrons.

Insulator

A material that does not easily allow the flow of electric charge, holding electrons tightly.

Semiconductor

A material that has conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator, often used in electronics.

Conventional current

The flow of electric charge as defined by the movement of positive charge from positive to negative.

Electron flow

The actual movement of electrons in a circuit from negative to positive.

Resistance

The opposition to current flow in a circuit, measured in ohms.

Conductance

The ease with which current can flow through a material, the inverse of resistance.

Capacitance

The ability of a system to store charge in an electric field, measured in farads.

Inductance

The tendency of a conductor to oppose changes in current due to magnetic fields.

Electromagnetic effect

The phenomenon where current flowing through a conductor generates a magnetic field.

Voltage

The electric potential difference between two points, measured in volts.

Current

The rate of flow of electric charge, measured in amperes.

Power

The rate at which energy is transferred or converted, measured in watts.

Grounding

The process of connecting electrical circuits to the earth to ensure safety and stability of the system.

Ohm's Law

The relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in a circuit, represented as $V = I R$.

Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL)

States that the total current entering a junction equals the total current leaving the junction.

Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)

States that the sum of the electrical potential differences (voltage) around any closed network is zero.