Energy

Energy

The ability to make things happen. Measured in Joules (J).

Kinetic energy

Energy an object has because it is moving.

Potential energy

Stored energy.

Chemical potential energy

Energy stored in chemical bonds

Elastic potential energy

energy stored in an object when it is stretched or compressed.

Electrical energy

Energy flowing along wires in electrical circuits.

Gravitational potential energy

Stored energy an object has when it is above the ground.

Light energy

Organized vibrational energy in a light wave, e.g., sunlight, torch light.

Sound energy

Organized vibrational energy that is in a sound wave.

Thermal energy

Disorganized (random) vibrational energy that atoms have (heat).

Input energy

Energy put into a device or situation to cause change.

Output energy

Energy forms that come out of an energy transformation or situation.

Useful energy

Energy produced in an energy transformation that was desirable.

Waste energy

Energy produced in an energy transformation that was undesirable.

Energy efficiency

A percentage (%) of input energy that is converted to useful/desirable energy

Energy transfer

When energy is moved from one object to another.

Energy transformation

When an original form of energy is converted into different forms of energy.

Electron

Negatively charged piece of an atom.

Charge

A characteristic of a material that expresses the difference in number of electrons and protons.

Current

The rate of flow of charge in a circuit.

Conductor

A material that permits the flow of electricity through it.

Insulator

A material that does not permit the flow of electricity through it.

Series circuit

A circuit with a single path.

Parallel circuit

A circuit with multiple paths.

Electric Motor

A device that produces movement from electrical energy.

Active Wire

A wire that carries electrons with energy.

Neutral Wire

A wire that carries electrons with no energy.

Earthed Wire

A wire that diverts electrons to the ground (rather than through a person).

Fuse

Thin wire that melts and breaks the circuit when too many electrons flow through it in a short period of time.

Circuit breaker

A device that breaks the circuit when too many electrons flow through it in a short period of time.

Earth Leakage Protection Device (Safety Switch)

A device that breaks the circuit when it detects a different number of electrons travelling through the live/neutral wire in the same period of time.

Double insulated

An appliance with two layers of insulation around the active wire.