Electricity and Static Electricity

Conductor - material permitting the flow of elec.
Insulator - material inhibiting the flow

Voltage - the force of elec. caused by a difference in charge/elec potential at two locations.

• - also called potential or potential difference.
• - more elec will flow when there is a > potential than when there is a <.

So more energy can be drawn from a high-voltage system

• - Typical households operate at 110 V (actually a range from 90-135 V)
• - Computer components use either 5 or 12 V.

Current - A measure of the flow of elec past a given point.

• - measured in amps/amperes (a count of electrons passing per second)

• Circuit - For current to flow, there must be a circuit (path) from the source, through devices, and back to ground. Complete circuit is "closed."

• DC - Current flowing in a single direction at a constant voltage through a circuit.

• AC - Flows repeatedly back and forth thru circuit at a varying voltage lever.

• Hz - a full cycle of AC power: voltage change from zero voltate to maximum voltage, then min voltage and back to zero. AC power in the US is a 60 Hz.

Resistance: The force that opposes the flow of DC through a conductor

Impedance : The force that opposes the flow of AC power.

• When this is present, elec energy is converted to heat or work.

Ohms : The measure of resistance.

• 1 Ohm is the resistance of a system with 1 volt maintaining 1 amp

Power : WATTS obtained by x voltage times current. A measure of the energy delivered by the flow of electricity.

• Power supplies are rated by watts or elec power they supply.

• Elec energy is elec power delivered over time, ie kilowatt hours.