Electricity Supply and Measurement Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the components of the electricity supply system, power generation methods, and the calculation of electricity costs based on the lecture notes.

Battery

A device where electrical energy is generated by chemical reactions, acting as a store of energy.

Terminals (Electrodes)

The two different metals required to create the most basic type of battery.

National Grid

A system of large electrical cables connected to all power stations in the country that transfers electricity to homes.

Generator

A device that changes movement (kinetic) energy into electrical energy using a coil of wire and a magnet.

Turbine

A device turned by steam, wind, or moving water that in turn spins a generator to produce electricity.

Fossil Fuels

Sources of energy such as coal, oil, and gas that are burned in power stations to heat water and make steam.

Unit of electricity

The standard measurement for paying for electricity, also known as $1\,kWh$.

kilo Watt hour (kWh)

The amount of energy used by a device with a power rating of $1\,kW$ in $1$ hour.

kilo (prefix)

A prefix meaning one thousand, such as in $1\,kW$ being equal to $1000\,W$.

Power Rating

A measure of how much energy a device uses every second; higher ratings cost more to run.

1 kW iron energy usage

In $1$ second, a $1\,kW$ iron uses $1000\,J$ of energy.

Electricity Meter

A device installed in houses that counts the units of electricity used by the occupants.

Standing Charge

A fee added by electricity companies to the cost of units used to determine the final amount a customer needs to pay.

Transformer

A device used at the ends of transmission lines to increase or decrease voltage to ensure less energy is wasted in power lines.