Electricity Glossary
Ammeter a device used for measuring current
Ampere (A) unit of current (coulombs per second)
Battery a power source that contains many cells
Cell a source of electrical energy
Circuit continuous path around which current can flow
Component object in an electrical circuit
Conductor component / substance with very low resistance which allows electricity to flow through it
Coulomb ( C) unit of charge
Current (I) the flow of electrons in an electrical circuit
Current electricity electricity that moves (a.k.a. electric current)
Insulator component / substance with very high resistance which does not allow electricity to flow through it
Parallel circuit electrical circuit in which there are two or more pathways for the current to flow
Potential difference the difference in electrical potential energy between two points
Power (P) total amount of energy supplied/used per second
Resistance property of a substance/component that makes it hard for electricity to flow through it
Resistor a component which limits the current in a circuit
Series circuit circuit in which all components are located in a single pathway
Switch a component that controls current flow in a circuit by either opening or closing the loop
Volt (V) unit of potential difference (Joules per Coulomb)
Voltage energy lost or gained per coulomb of charge
Voltmeter a device used to measure potential difference between one point and another (voltage)
Watt (W) unit of power (J/s)