a closed path along which electrons that are powered by a source can flow
Voltaic cell
A source of energy that creates electricity by chemical reactions involving two different conductors separated by a conducting solution called electrolyte
Battery
A group of cells put together to power a circuit
Electrode
one of 2 metal terminals in a cell or battery
Electrolyte
a solution or paste that conducts a charge
Dry Cell
A cell containing electrolyte in paste form
wet cell
a cell that contains electrolyte in liquid form
Primary Cell
a cell that can only be used once
Secondary Cell
A cell that can be recharged once its energy is depleated
Fuel Cell
A cell that stores its fuel outside the cell
Solar cell
a cell that converts sunlight into electrical energy
Terminal
The metal at the ends of a battery or cell, one end positive the other end negative
Switch
A part of a circuit that can be opened to break the connection in a wire
Open circuit
a circuit that has a break or gap
Electric Current
a measerment of the number of electrons that pass by a given point in a circuit in a second
coulomb (C)
A quantity of charge equal to 6.25x10^18 electrons
Ampere (A)
A unit of electric current equal to 1 coulomb per second
Electrical Resistance
property of substance that hinders current and transforms it to other kinds of energy
Resistor
A device placed in a circuit to reduce the current to a specific amount
Load
an object anywhere in the circuit that turns the electrical energy into other types of energy
Potential Difference
The difference between the electrical potential energy per 2 points in a circuit
Volt
A unit of measurement of potential difference. One joule of energy per coulombe
Circuit Diagram
A diagram that uses standard symbols to represent components of a circuit
Series circuit
A circuit with only one path electrons can take
Parallel Circuit
a circuit where there is more than one path electrons can flow along
Ohms law
the ratio of potential difference to cuurent is called resistance
ohm (Ω)
The unit of measurement for resistance equal to one volt per ampere
Superconductor
A material that electrons can flow throu8gh without resistance
non-ohmic
not following ohms law
Loads in series
where current flows through multiple loads
Loads in parallel
Where current can flow through either one load or another