PLTW Magic of Electrons

anode

the positively charged structure within a voltaic cell

atom

the smallest unit of a chemical element, made up of a nucleus surrounded by electrons

atomic number

a number equal to the number of protons (positively charged particles) in the nucleus of an atom

battery

a direct current voltage source made up of one or more units that convert chemical, thermal, nuclear, or solar energy into electrical energy that can be stored until it is needed

binary code

a base-2 number system that uses two digits: 0 and 1

cathode

the negatively charged structure within a voltaic cell

circuit

an electrical path between two points

circuit diagram

a drawing that traces the path that electron flow will take in an electronic circuit

conductor

a device or material that permits current to flow through it easily

continuity

the continuous flow through a component or an entire circuit

conventional current direction

when the current in the circuit is directed away from the positive terminal of the power source and toward the negative terminal of the electric source

current

a flow of electric charge

diode

a device that permits current to flow through it in only one direction

electromagnet

a magnet created by passing a current through a coil of wire

electron

a negatively charged particle around the nucleus in an atom

electronic circuit

a group of electronic components that work together to perform a specific function

element

the simplest form of matter

fixed resistor

a resistor that has a value that cannot be changed

generator

a device used to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy

insulator

a material used to electrically isolate two conductive surfaces

light-emitting diode (LED)

a semiconductor diode that emits light when conducting current

magnet

an object that is surrounded by a magnetic field and that has the property, either natural or induced, of attracting iron or steel

neutron

a proton with no charge that is found in the nucleus of an atom

proton

an atomic particle with a positive charge, located in the nucleus of an atom

resistance (R)

the opposition of current flow

resistor

a device used to introduce some amount of resistance into a circuit

schematic

a map of an electronic circuit. It uses symbols to represent electrical components along the pathway.

semiconductors

a material that is both a poor conductor and a poor insulator

static electricity

an accumulation of electric charge on an insulated body

switch

a mechanical device used to connect or disconnect a component or circuit

thermistor

a resistor that changes its resistance with a change of temperature

tolerance

how much more or less you can expect a resistor’s actual measured resistance to be from its stated resistance

transistor

a small electronic device used in a circuit as an amplifier or switch

valence electrons

the outermost ring of electrons in an atom. It is used to determine whether an element is an insulator, conductor, or semiconductor.

variable resistor

a resistor whose value can vary between its minimum and maximum values

volt (V)

a unit for measuring voltage