Terms

Introduction

One of the most confusing parts of any science / math subject is the different terms and definitions. Electricity certainly has a lot of different terms -- unfortunately, most of them are named after the person who discovered them, so they do not have any rhyme or reason.

Electrical -

• a device which converts the electrical electrical energy into another form of energy like heat, light, sound, etc.

• Uses AC

• Examples:

  • Motor

  • Generator

  • Transformer

Electronic -

• a device which controls the flow of electrons for performing a certain task

• Uses DC

• Examples:

  • Transistor

  • Amplifier

  • Microprocessor

Current -

• the rate of flow of electric charge

Voltage -

• An electromotive force or potential difference expressed in volts

• Named after Alessandro Volta

  • invented the electric battery

  • discovered methane

Resistance -

• the opposition to the flow of current

Ampere -

• a unit of electrical current equal to the flow of one coulomb per second

• Named after Andre-Marie Ampere

  • Invented the electrical telegraph

Volt -

• the unit of electromotive force, the difference of potential that would drive one amp of current against one ohm of resistance.

• Named after Alessandro Volta

  • invented the electric battery

  • discovered methane

Watt -

• a unit of power

• 1W = 1V * 1A

• Named after Scottish Inventor James Watt

Ohm -

• the unit of electrical resistance expressing the current of one amp when subjected to a potential difference of one volt.

• Named after Georg Simon Ohm

  • Discovered there is a direct proportionality between the volts applied across a conductor