Electricity & Magnetism Vocabulary

Electron

a tiny, negatively charged particle that moves around the outside of the nucleus of an atom

electric force

the force between charged objects

electric field

a region around a charged object where the object's electric force is exerted on other charged objects

electric current

the continuous flow of electrical charges through a material

voltage

The difference in electrical potential energy per charge between two places in a circuit

resistance

the measurement of how difficult it is for charges to flow through an object

conductor

a material that conducts heat well. a material that allows electrical charges to flow

static electricity

a build up of electrical charges on an object

magnet

any material that attracts iron and materials that contain iron

magnetism

The force of attraction or repulsion of magnetic materials

magnetic force

a force produced when magnetic poles interact

magnetic pole

the ends of a magnetic object, where the magnetic force is strongest

magnetic field

the region around a magnet where the magnetic force is exerted

solenoid

A coil of wire with a current

electromagnet

a magnet created by wrapping a coil of wire with a current running through it around a core of material that is easily magnetized

galvanometer

a device that uses an electromagnet to detect small amounts of current

electric motor

a device that transforms electrical energy to mechanical energy

electromagnetic induction

the process of generating an electric current from the motion of a conductor through a magnetic field

generator

a device that transforms energy to electrical energy

transformer

a device that increases or decreases voltage, which often consists of two separate coils of insulated wires wrapped around an iron core