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Ampere (amps) |
A unit of electric current.
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Battery |
A device for generating an electric current. |
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Charge |
Electricity produced by a surplus (positive) or shortage (negative) of electrons in an object. |
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Circuit |
The complete path electricity follows from a source through a connection to an output device. For example: A circuit can be made from a battery (source) through a copper wire (connection) to a light bulb (output device) and back to the battery. |
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Conductor |
An object that permits an electric charge to flow easily. Examples of good conductors are metal, salt, water and wool. |
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Current |
The amount of electric charge. |
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Electricity |
Electric current used as a power source. |
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Energy |
The ability to do work. Two types of energy are kinetic and potential energy. |
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Energy source |
The primary source of providing power. The energy could be converted to electricity through chemical, mechanical, or other means. Common energy sources are coal, petroleum, gas, water, uranium, wind, sunlight, geothermal, etc. |
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Fossil fuel |
A natural fuel (formed in the earth from plant or animal remains), such as petroleum, coal and natural gas. |
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Fuel |
Any substance that can be consumed to produce energy. |
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Generator |
A machine that produces electric current. |
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Geothermal energy |
The heat energy from below the earth’s surface. |
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Grid |
The power network for electricity. This includes high-voltage transmission lines and substations. |
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Hydroelectricity |
A change of energy produced from running water into electricity. |
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Kilowatt (kW) |
A unit that measures electrical energy. 1,000 watts = 1 kW |
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Kilowatt Hour (kWh) |
The use of 1,000 watts of electricity for one full hour.
1 kWh = ten 100 watt bulbs all burning at the same time for one hour.
10 bulbs x 100 watts each x 1 hour = 1 kWh |
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Kinetic energy |
The energy of motion. |
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Lightning |
A visible flash of light produced by electrical discharge. |
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Mechanical energy |
The energy of motion used to perform work |
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Meter |
A device that monitors the amount of electricity passing through it. Power companies read meters to determine how much electricity each customer used. |
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Nuclear power |
The energy produced by splitting atoms in a nuclear reactor. |
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Potential energy |
The capability of something to do work . E.g. A rock has potential energy, but it begins moving it converts to kinetic energy. |
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Power |
The force or energy used to do work (measured in watts). |
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Solar energy |
Energy produced by the Sun |
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Static electricity |
The collection of like charges. |
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Transformer |
A device that changes the voltage to AC electricity. |
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Voltage |
The force that moves electric current through a conductor (measured in volts). |
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Volt |
A unit that measures the force of an electric current. |
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Watt |
A unit that measures electric power.
1 kW = 1,000 watts
1 Megawatt (MW) = 1,000,000 watts |
