Electricity & Energy at Home Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering home electrical concepts, circuit types, safety standards, and energy consumption based on Philippine household guidelines.

Electrical energy (q)

The continuous flow of electric charges (electrons) through a conductor.

Static Electricity

Electricity that stays built up on a surface rather than flowing continuously.

Current Electricity

Electricity that flows continuously through closed paths to deliver steady power.

Law of Conservation of Energy

A principle stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed; it only changes from one form to another.

Electrical to Radiant Conversion

The transformation of energy observed in devices like LED lamps and energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs.

Electrical to Thermal Conversion

The transformation of energy caused by heavy resistors in appliances like flat irons, rice cookers, and electric kettles.

Electrical to Mechanical Conversion

The transformation of energy used in motor-driven devices like electric fans, blenders, and washing machines.

Ohm's Law Formula

$V = IR$ where Voltage equals Current multiplied by Resistance.

Voltage (V)

The electrical potential difference that drives the movement of charge.

Current (I)

The velocity or rate at which electrical charge flows through a circuit.

Resistance (R)

The opposition to electric current within a conductor.

Series Connection

A circuit arrangement where resistors are connected in a single line path, keeping current the same across all components.

Parallel Connection

A circuit arrangement where resistors are wired across multiple branching pathways, keeping voltage constant across all paths.

Ammeter

A monitoring tool connected in series to actively measure electrical current.

Voltmeter

A monitoring tool connected in parallel to safely monitor potential differences.

Electrical Fuse

A protective component with a low-melting metal strip that melts to break the connection during overcurrent spikes.

Circuit Breaker

A safety device that automatically flips a mechanical switch to cut off power during overcurrent; it can be reset without replacement.

Live (Hot) Wire

The brown color-coded wire in Philippine residential standards that delivers electricity directly to the appliance.

Neutral Wire

The blue color-coded wire in Philippine residential standards that carries electricity back away from the device.

Three-Pronged Plug

A plug standard utilizing an extra green/yellow ground pin to safely dissipate stray electricity into the Earth.

Overloading

The practice of connecting too many high-power devices to a single circuit, also known as dangerous octopus wiring.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)

A safety component required in damp conditions to cut power instantly when water reduces human skin resistance.

Ventricular Fibrillation

A disruption of heart rhythms caused by electrocution currents exceeding $100\,\text{mA}$.

Step-Up Transformer

A component in the power grid that raises voltage for efficient delivery over long distances.

Kilowatt-Hour (kWh)

The operational unit for measuring total home energy consumption, calculated as $\text{Power (kW)} \times \text{Time (hours)}$.

System Loss

Power lost naturally as heat inside copper transformers and overhead line conductors during transmission.

Energy Efficiency Factor (EEF)

A rating found on yellow tags of appliances used to identify units with lower power consumption profiles.