1. The shocking truth of electricity and Circuits
By: Martin BInhammer

2. Terms to Know
Electrical Charge = either positive or negative. Physical property of matter when a force is felt when place in a electromagnetic field.
Coulomb = SI Unit for electric charge (C).
Voltage = the a force that pushes current through a circuit (V)
Current = the flow of electric charge through a circuit.
Resistance = a type of friction force that reduces or impedes the flow of current through a circuit
Conductor = an object that easily allows the flow of electricity through it (ex. Copper wire)
Insulator = an object that does not easily allow the flow of electricity through it. (ex. plastic tubing)

3. The Atomic Structure of Atoms
Proton = Particle within the nucleus of an atom that has a positive charge
Electron = Particle outside the nucleus of an atom that has a negative charge
Neutron = Particle inside the nucleus of an atom without a charge.

4. Movement of electricity (charge)
Like charges repel one another
Opposite charges are attracted to one another
While protons of an atom are relatively fixed within the nucleus of an atom the electrons outside the nucleus can easily move from one atom to another.
Conductors and Insulators are important in allowing or restricting the flow of electrons.

5. Induced, Contact and friction Charge
Induced charge can occur in a typically uncharged object comes in close proximity to a charged object
Contact charging occurs when an uncharged object touches a charged object and a flow of electrons occurs until equilibrium or a shared charge occurs.
Friction charge occurs when two objects come in contact with one another and one object takes electrons while the other loses them.

6. Potential Difference And Voltage
Electrical Potential Energy - Chemical Potential Energy is stored in what we call “cells”. (ex. Batteries or solar panels)
Potential Difference is the change in electrical potential energy of a charged particle divided by the actual charge of the particle itself.
Measurement for this is called “Volts (V)”
V = 1 J/C
Volts is also considered a force that pushes electricity in a given direction.
Voltage is measured across a positivity and negatively charged terminal.
A voltmeter is a great tool for measuring voltage.

7. Voltmeter

8. Current Electric current is the rate at which a charge moves.
Current (I) = 1 coulomb(C)/1 second (s)
The SI unit for Current is Ampere (A). This is also the correct way of saying amp.

9. Resistance
Electrical Resistance is caused by internal friction which slows the movement of charges throughout a conducting material.
Resistance can be calculated if the voltage and current are known.
R = V/I R-resistance V-voltage I-current
This equation is also commonly known as “Ohm’s Law”.
SI unit for Ohm (Ω) is 1volt/1ampere.
Resistor are special types of conductors that are used to control current.

10. Which is more Deadly Volts or Amperes?
R = V/I
Example. Let’s say electricity is like a flowing river. Voltage is the steepness of the river and amperage is the amount of water flowing down that slope.
So if voltage is high and amperage is low then a small amount of water is running down a steep slope . (tiny waterfall)
If amperage is high and voltage is low a large amount of water is running down an almost flat slope. (wide river.
But if both are very high you can have serious danger.
*the amperage that most tissues can handle before damage is occurs is on the scale of milliamps whereas the voltage is some where around volts before damage is done.

11. Circuits
A circuit is defined as the full path in which electrical current flows.
A circuit has a variety of components but the primary ones include.
-wire, resistor, power source, switch, and power output (typical example of a power out is a light bulb.
Series – The voltage along the path is divided up and current flows in one direction.
Parallel- The voltage along the path is equal and there are several paths in which the current can flow

12. Common Symbols of Circuits
Wire/Conductor
Resistor
Light Bulb
Battery/Power source
Switch

13. Series Circuit Example

14. Parallel Circuit Example

15. Electrical Power
Power used within a circuit is the product of both the voltage and the current.
P = V x I
SI unit of measurement is Watt
Power is the amount of work done while the circuit is closed. In the same respect in that pow/er is also the amount of work done over a given amount of time.
Since V = J/C and I = C/s
Power is still P=J/s