Fundamentals of Electricity

Welcome to this guide that's all about the basics you need to know before diving into electronics. It's like getting the backstage pass to understand how electronic stuff works. 

We'll cover the ABCs: electricity (you know, the power that runs your gadgets), electronics (how all those cool devices around you function), Ohm's Law (a handy rule for understanding electricity), power (how much juice your gadgets use), and frequency (how fast things happen in the electronic world). 

Whether you're just starting out or want to boost your knowledge, this guide will give you the lowdown on the essential stuff you'll need to know. Get ready to uncover the secrets behind the tech that surrounds us! 

Electronics vs Electricity

These two concepts are not the same. So, what is the difference? 

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Electricity vs Electronics

Electricity is the flow of electrons, while electronics is the use of electricity to control devices. Electricity is the fundamental energy source that powers electronic devices.  Electricity is a natural phenomenon. Electronics deals with the design, construction, and operation of electronic circuits and devices.

Here is a table that summarises the key differences between electricity and electronics:

Electronics is a subset of electricity, and it relies on the fundamental principles of electricity to operate. For example, electronic devices use transistors to control the flow of current, and they use resistors, capacitors, and inductors to store and release energy. 

Electronics is a rapidly growing field with many applications in our everyday lives. As technology continues to advance, electronics will play an even greater role in our society.

Here are some specific examples of how electricity and electronics are used in the real world:


Static Electricity

Static electricity is the result of an imbalance between negative and positive charges in an object. These charges can build up on the surface of an object until they find a way to be released or discharged. One way to discharge them is through a circuit. ... The electrons cling to your body until they can be released. - https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/item/how-does-static-electricity-work/

Science made Simple is a website that explains how it works

The Positives and Negatives of Static Electricity

Basic Concepts of Static Electricity





Charge vs Current

In circuits, the fundamental of charge plays a crucial role in understanding how electricity flows. When a voltage difference is applied across a circuit, it creates an electric field that exerts a force on charged particles, typically electrons, causing them to move. This movement of charge constitutes an electric current, which can power various electrical devices. 

Help with equation from Cognito

Voltage and Energy

Voltage, in terms of energy, can be thought of as the amount of energy carried by each unit of electric charge as it moves through an electric field.Mathematically, voltage (V) is defined as the electric potential energy (E) per unit charge (Q). So, you can express voltage (V) as: V = E/q

In terms of units, voltage is typically measured in volts (V), which is equivalent to joules per coulomb (J/C), reflecting the amount of energy per unit charge.

So, when you have a higher voltage, it means that each unit of charge has more energy associated with it, and conversely, lower voltage means less energy per unit charge.

Power and Work

Electrical power is like the energy speedometer in an electrical circuit. It tells us how fast energy is being used or produced. The formula P = IV helps us calculate power. P stands for power, I represents current (how much electricity is flowing), and V is voltage (how strong the electricity is pushing).

Think of it this way: Imagine you're filling a bucket with water. Voltage is how high you lift the bucket, and current is how fast you pour the water. Power is like how quickly you're filling the bucket.

Now, when a device, like a light bulb, is plugged in, it uses electrical power. It's like turning on a water pump - it starts using electricity. The more power it uses, the faster it does its job. So, power is essential because it tells us how much work a device is doing. Just like how fast you're filling a bucket tells you how much water you'll have in the end.

AC vs DC

There two types of current and voltages: AC and DC. It is important to understand how these influence the functionality of an electronic circuit. 

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Ohm's law

Ohm's Law is a formula used to calculate the relationship between voltage, current and resistance in an electronic circuit. 

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To really understand Ohm's Law we have to dig deeper into what voltage, current and resistance is. 


Electric Current

An electric current is a stream of charged particles, such as electrons or ions, moving through an electrical conductor or space. ... The SI unit of electric current is the ampere, or amp, which is the flow of electric charge across a surface at the rate of one coulomb per second. -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_current

Power

Power is the rate which work is done. In electronics that is really important as the power rating of components will determine if the circuit will function reliable and components are not destroyed because their power rating is too low.

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Frequency

Frequency describes the number of waves that pass a fixed place in a given amount of time. So if the time it takes for a wave to pass is is 1/2 second, the frequency is 2 cycles per second or 2Hz. 

You have to be able to: