Electricity Fundamentals & Simple Circuits

33 vocabulary flashcards covering particles, current, voltage, resistance, Ohm’s law, circuit types, components, conductors, insulators, and diagram conventions from the lecture notes on electricity.

Electricity (Current Electricity)

The flow of electrons through a conductor, such as a wire, usually supplied by batteries or power points.

Electron

A negatively-charged sub-atomic particle that can move through conductors and create electric current.

Proton

A positively-charged sub-atomic particle located in an atom’s nucleus.

Neutron

A neutral sub-atomic particle found in the nucleus with no electric charge.

Ion

An atom that has gained or lost electrons and therefore carries an overall charge.

Electric Circuit

A closed path that allows electrons to travel and deliver energy to components.

Circuit Component

Any individual part of a circuit, such as a cell, switch, wire, or globe (lamp).

Cell (Battery)

A source of electrical energy that provides voltage to a circuit.

Switch

A device that can open or close a circuit intentionally, controlling current flow.

Globe (Lamp)

A light-producing load in a circuit that converts electrical energy into light and heat.

Circuit Diagram

A drawing that uses standard symbols to show how components are connected in a circuit.

Series Circuit

A circuit in which all components are connected end-to-end in a single loop so the same current flows through each component.

Parallel Circuit

A circuit that has branches so each path has its own components and the same voltage across them.

Current (I)

The rate of electric charge flow past a point, measured in amperes (A).

Ammeter

An instrument used to measure electric current; must be connected in series with the circuit.

Voltage (V)

The potential difference in energy per charge between two points, measured in volts (V).

Voltmeter

An instrument that measures voltage; it is connected in parallel with the component being tested.

Resistance (R)

The opposition a material offers to the flow of current, measured in ohms (Ω).

Ohm (Ω)

The unit of resistance: one ohm is the resistance that allows one ampere to flow when one volt is applied.

Ohm’s Law

The relationship V = I × R, stating that current is directly proportional to voltage and inversely proportional to resistance.

Conductor

A material with low electrical resistance that allows current to flow easily (e.g., copper, aluminium).

Insulator

A material with very high resistance that restricts or blocks current flow (e.g., rubber, glass, plastic).

Copper

A common, inexpensive metal conductor with very low resistance used in most wiring.

Aluminium

A lighter metal conductor than copper, often used in high-voltage transmission lines despite higher cost.

Tungsten

A metal with relatively high resistance; its heating effect makes it useful in light-bulb filaments.

Nichrome

A high-resistance alloy that converts electrical energy to heat, useful in heaters and hair dryers.

Potential Difference

Another term for voltage—the energy difference that drives current between two points.

Electron Flow

The movement of electrons from the negative terminal to the positive terminal in a circuit.

Supply Voltage

The total voltage provided by the power source to a circuit.

Branch (in Parallel)

An individual pathway in a parallel circuit through which part of the current flows.

Load

A component (like a globe or resistor) that uses electrical energy to perform work or produce heat/light.

Straight-Line Rule (Diagrams)

Guideline that circuit diagram wires should be drawn as straight lines with a ruler and not cross.

Current Divider

The splitting of total current among branches in a parallel circuit.