electricity and circuits

potential difference

caused by the difference in electrical charges in two locations

electric charges: always flow from a region of high potential energy to a regino of low potential energy

• when it reaches positive terminal & enters battery → gains electric potential as it travels through the battery to the negative terminal
  

voltage

another ter for potential difference

conductors

allows free electrons (ec that can move) to move in one direction, creating electric current

insulators

do not allow electrons to freely therefor no electric current can be produced

parts of a circuit

• energy source: pushes the charges through the circuit

• load: operates using electrical energy

• conductor: allows elecctrical energy to flow through easily

• resistor: object that restricts the flow of electrical energy

• switch: used to control flow of current through a circuit

resistor

inhibits the flow of electric current by producing a voltage drop

Limit current and cause some electric energy to be given off as heat

flow of electrons

• electric circuit: electrons flow from the negative terminal to the positive terminal

• conventional: assumed they are flowing from positive to negative (standard way)

types of circuits

• series: provides only one possible path for the flow of current

  • loads are set up in a series; requires current to flow through one load before passing through the next

• parallel: offers more than one path for the flow of electricity