1.2 - Current Electricity

Question 1

What is electrical current?

Answer 1

It is the steady flow of charged particles. The electricity needed to operate electrical devices. An electric current will flow continuously if there is:

 1. An energy source
 2. A complete circuit for the charged particles to flow through

Question 2

What are Amperes (Amps, A)?

Answer 2

The measure of the rate at which an electrical current flows.
- Most home devices have less than 15A

Question 3

What are conductors?

Answer 3

Materials through which electrical charges can easily flow through
Wire conductors are used to move electrical charges from where they are produced to where they are needed for use.

Question 4

What is a circuit?

Answer 4

A pathway that controls the flow of electricity
A circuit usually consists of:
- A conductor (wire, gas, fluid, etc)
- An energy source
- A load which converts electrical energy to another form of energy
- Ex. A light bulb

Question 5

WHat is electrical energy?

Answer 5

The total energy carried by charged particles

Question 6

What is voltage or potential difference?

Answer 6

• A measure of how much electrical energy each charged particle carries.
• It refers to the difference in energy carried out by each charged particle between one point in a circuit and another point in a circuit
• Measured in volts (V)

Question 7

What does a voltmeter do?

Answer 7

• Measures voltage. To use, attach the red lead to the (+) end and the black lead to the (-) end.
• Some measure a range of voltages (start with the highest range and work your way down)