Investigating Circuit Design Vocab

Ammeter

Instrument or measuring device that measures electrical current passing through it.

Ampere (A)

Unit of electrical current. Is the unit used to measure electric current. Current is a count of the number of electrons flowing through a circuit. One amp is the amount of current produced by a force of one volt acting through the resistance of one ohm.

Battery

Device made with two metals in a eletrolyte that transforms chemical energy into electrical energy.

Bimetallic

Composed of two metals

Closed Circuit

Circuit with a continuous conducting path.

Componet

Element or device in an electrical circuit.

Conductor

Material that allows a current to pass through it. A material or device that conducts or transmits heat, electricity, or sound, especially when regarded in terms of its capacity to do this.

Current

Flow of electricity which results from the ordered directional movement of electrically charged particles.

Discharge

Lose excess change.

Dry Cell

Battery cell made of two electrodes placed in an electrolyte that is a paste.

Electric Charge

Property matter that results in electrical forces between objects.

Electrical Circuit

Electrical system connecting an electrical energy source to components that use electrical energy.

Electrical Energy

Energy associated with electric charge and electrical current.

Electrical Engineer

Person who designs electrical systems to meet human needs.

Electric Motor

Device that transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy.

Electric Power Plant

Facility that generates electrical power.

Electrician

Person who builds electrical systems and devices to meet human needs.

Electrode

Strip or rod (usually metal) set in the electrode in a battery. An electrode makes up on terminal of a battery.

Electrolyte

Liquid or paste, often an acid in which the electrodes of a battery are set.

Electron

Negatively charged atomic particle associated with an atom.

Energy

A degree or level of energy possessed by something or required by a process. Power derived from the utilization of physical or chemical resources, especially to provide light and heat or to work machines.

Fossil Fuel

Fuel such as oil, coal and gas which is derived from the fossilized remains of living things. (organisms)

Generator

Device that converts one form of energy into other forms of energy.

Geothermal Power

Electrical power generated using steam produced from heat within the earth.

Ground

Conducting path connecting an object to the earth.

Hydroelectric Power

Electrical power generated from falling water.

Incandescent

Generating light through heating.

Insulatar

Material that does not conduct or allow an electrical current to pass through it.

Joule (J)

Unit of energy that has the do one newton-meter of work equivalent to a force of one newton acting through a distance of one meter

Kilowatt-hour (KWh)

Unit of electrical energy commonly used be electrical power companies.

Lightning

Large electrical discharges associated with thunderstorms that release vast amounts of energy.

Model

Story, picture or device used to explain observations.

Nuclear Power

Power associated with nuclear reactions.

Open Circuit

Circuit with a break in components.

Parallel Circuit

Circuit with more than one closed path connecting components to the electrical power source.

Potential Energy

Stored energy that can be released, which includes chemical, electrical, gravitational and nuclear energy.

Power

Rate at which energy is supplied or used.

Power Grid

Network of lines and systems that connects power plants around the country.

Renewable Energy

Energy generated by natural processes, such as wind and sunlight.

Schematic

Diagram that represents an electrical circuit using symbols.

Series Circuit

Circuit with only one closed path connecting electrical components.

Solar Cell

Device that converts energy from sunlight directly into electrical energy.

Static Electricity

Electricity associated with the accumulation of excess electrical changes an objects.

Transfer

Move from one place to another.

Transform

Change from one from to another.

Turbine

Shaft with large blades that turns in a generator.

Volt (V)

Unit of electrical potential.

Voltage

Measure ability of an electrical source to generate a current in a circuit.

Voltmeter (V)

Instrument or measuring device that measures electrical potential between two points.

Watt (W)

Unit of power equal to one joule per second.

Wet Cell

Battery cell made of two electrodes placed in a liquid electrolyte.