Current and Circuits

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Electric Current Noun

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[i-lek-trik kur-uhnt]

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Electric Current

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A flow of charged particles, such as electrons or ions, through a conductive material, which constitutes an electrical charge in motion.

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Example: An electric battery pushes charged particles through a conductor, creating a flow that lights a bulb. This flow of particles is the electric current.

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Conventional Current Noun

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[kuhn-ven-shuh-nl kur-uhnt]

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Conventional Current

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The hypothetical flow of positive charge carriers, moving from a point of higher potential to lower potential, opposite to electron flow.

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Example: This diagram shows a simple circuit where conventional current flows from the positive (+) terminal of the battery, through the switch and lightbulb, to the negative (-) terminal.

Front

Charge Pump Noun

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[chahrj puhmp]

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Charge Pump

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A device that uses an external energy source to increase the electric potential energy of charges, thereby maintaining a current.

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Example: This circuit diagram shows how a charge pump uses components like diodes and capacitors to take a low voltage (5V) and 'pump' it up to a higher voltage (15V).

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Battery Noun

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[bat-uh-ree]

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Battery

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A device containing one or more galvanic cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy to power a circuit.

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Example: A battery provides electrical energy, causing a current to flow through a closed circuit and power a component like a light bulb.

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Electric Circuit Noun

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[i-lek-trik sur-kit]

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Electric Circuit

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A closed, continuous path through which electric charges can flow, typically including a power source and various electrical components.

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Example: This diagram shows the basic components of an electric circuit: a power source (battery), a path (wire), a load (light bulb), and a switch.

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Ampere Noun

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[am-peer]

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Ampere

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The standard unit of electric current, representing a rate of flow of one coulomb of charge per second (1 C/s).

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Example: This diagram contrasts random electron movement in a conductor with the orderly, directional flow (electric current) that occurs when a voltage is applied.

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Watt Noun

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[wot]

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Watt

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The standard unit of power, defined as the rate of energy transfer or conversion of one joule per second (1 J/s).

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Example: This diagram shows that power, measured in Watts, is the rate of doing work or using energy, calculated by dividing work (Joules) by time (seconds).

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Power Noun

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[pou-er]

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Power

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The rate at which electrical energy is transferred by a circuit, calculated as the product of current and potential difference.

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Example: This diagram shows that electrical power (P) is the rate at which energy is used in a circuit, determined by the voltage (V) and current (I).

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Circuit Schematic Noun

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[sur-kit ski-mat-ik]

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Circuit Schematic

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A graphical representation of an electrical circuit that uses standardized symbols for its components and their interconnections.

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Example: This diagram shows a circuit schematic, which uses standard symbols to represent components like a battery, switch, wire, and light bulb in an electrical circuit.

Front

Ammeter Noun

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[am-mee-ter]

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Ammeter

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An instrument used to measure the electric current at a specific point in a circuit, which must be connected in series.

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Example: This circuit diagram shows an ammeter connected in series with a battery, lamp, and resistor, demonstrating how it measures the electric current flowing through the circuit.