Unit 3 - Electrical Energy

Electrical energy

The energy of charged particles.

Applications of electrical energy

Examples include movement in the human body and technology such as touch-sensitive screens.

Transforming energy

Energy is neither created nor destroyed but transformed from one form to another.

Mechanical energy

The sum of kinetic energy and potential energy.

Kinetic energy

Energy of movement.

Potential energy

Stored energy that a system has due to its position or condition.

Chemical energy

Energy stored in chemical bonds and released during chemical reactions.

Solar energy

Energy carried by electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun.

Nuclear energy

Energy generated by forming new atoms through fusion or fission.

Thermal energy

Energy due to the rapid motion of particles, detected as heat.

Generator system

A system that transforms kinetic energy into electrical energy.

Turbine

A device where steam, water, or wind causes it to spin, generating electricity.

Photovoltaic cells

Devices that convert sunlight into electrical energy.

Static charge

Electric charge that remains in place until discharged.

Coulombs

The unit of electric charge.

Electrical neutrality

Condition where the number of positive and negative charges in an object is equal.

Friction

The force that occurs when objects rub against each other, causing electron transfer.

Insulators

Materials that do not allow electrons to move easily.

Conductors

Materials that allow electrons to move easily, enabling charge to flow.

Conductivity

An indication of how easily charges can travel through a material.

Van de Graff generator

A device that produces static charge using friction.

Grounding

Connecting a conductor to allow electric charge to flow into the earth.

Electric force

The push or pull between charged objects, classified as an action-at-a-distance force.

Coulomb’s Law

States that electric force increases with charge and decreases with distance.

Charging by conduction

Charging occurs through direct contact between objects.

Charging by induction

Charging objects without direct contact; involves repositioning electrons.

Electric potential energy

Energy stored in an electrochemical cell, related to charge separation.

Voltage

The measure of electric potential energy per coulomb of charge.

Battery

An electrochemical cell or a set of cells that supply electrical energy.

Electrolyte

A substance that conducts electricity and is used in batteries.

Dry cells

Batteries where the electrolyte is a moist paste.

Wet cells

Batteries where the electrolyte is a liquid.

Electric current

The flow of electric charge in a closed circuit.

Electric circuit

A complete pathway allowing electrons to flow.

Circuit components

Parts of a circuit including source, conductors, loads, and switches.

Current

The measure of charge flow in a conductor, expressed in amperes.

Ammeter

A device used to measure current in a circuit.

Modeling current flow

Describes how negative and positive terminals affect electron movement.

Neutral atoms

Atoms with equal numbers of protons and electrons.

Electrons in electric circuits

Negatively charged particles that flow through conductors, creating current.

Electric potential difference

The difference in electric potential energy between two points in a circuit.

Load

A device that transforms electrical energy into other forms of energy.

Switch

A device that opens or closes a circuit to control current flow.

Static electricity

Electricity caused by the accumulation of excess charge on an object.

Electrode

The part of an electrochemical cell where oxidation and reduction occur.

Chemical energy in batteries

Energy stored in batteries, converted to electrical energy during discharge.

Electric energy

The ability to do work through electric charge movement.

Voltage measurement

Voltage is measured in volts and indicates the electric potential energy available.

Electric potential energy formula

The energy stored is the product of voltage and charge.

Positive and negative ions

Charged particles that influence electric flow and stored energy.

Electrochemical processes

Chemical reactions in batteries that separate charges, causing voltage.

Electric energy conversion

The process through which electric energy is transformed into useful work.

Induction in neutral objects

Explains how neutral objects temporarily become charged when near charged objects.

Electrical conductivity

How easily electric current flows through a material.

Material charging process

How friction causes electron transfer and resultant charge.

Frictional charging example

Example includes rubbing a balloon on a sweater to create static charge.

Electric circuit diagram

A schematic representation of a circuit with symbols for each component.

Electrical work

The work done by electric energy in a circuit.

Voltage definition

The potential difference driving current through a circuit.

Electrolyte function

Conducts electricity in electrochemical cells by facilitating ion movement.

Electric force illustration

Describes how charged objects interact at a distance.

Energy transformation

Changing energy from one form to another as it flows through a circuit.

Static vs. current electricity

Static electricity is at rest, while current electricity involves moving charges.

Electron motion in circuits

Electrons move through conducting wires when a voltage is applied.

Electromagnetic energy

Energy carried by electromagnetic radiation, utilized in solar energy.

Nuclear reaction energy production

Energy produced from nuclear fission or fusion processes.

Energy sources comparison

Different energy sources include fossil fuels, solar, wind, and hydro.

Transformer devices

Devices that convert one kind of electrical energy into another.

Renewable energy sources

Energy sources that are replenished naturally, like solar and wind.

Energy sustainability

The ability to maintain energy production without depleting resources.

Environmental impacts of energy generation

How different energy sources affect the environment during extraction and use.

Energy flow in ecosystems

Describes how energy from the sun supports life processes.

Energy conservation techniques

Methods to reduce energy use and increase efficiency.

Thermal energy examples

Heat generated from friction or other processes, like combustion.

Electrochemical cell operation

How cells produce an electric current through chemical reactions.

Generator principles

How kinetic energy from various sources is converted to electrical energy.