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Direct Current (DC):
- Current in which charged particles travel through a circuit in only one direction
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Alternating Current (AC):
Current in which electrons move back and forth in a circuit
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Transformer:
An electrical device that changes the size of the potential difference of an alternating current
There are step-up and step-down transformers; step-ups increase potential difference, and step-downs decrease potential difference
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Circuit Breaker:
A safety device that is placed in series with other circuits that lead to appliances and outlets
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Fuse:
A safety device that is found in older buildings and some appliances; like a circuit breaker, it is placed in series with other circuits that lead to appliances and outlets
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Electrical Power:
The rate at which an appliance uses electrical energy
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Watt (W):
A unit of electrical power; 1 kW= 1000 W
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Kilowatt:
A practical unit of electrical power; 1 kW= 1000 W
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Electrical Energy:
The energy that is used by an appliance at a given setting; is determined by multiplying its power rating by the length of time the appliance is used
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Kilowatt-hour (kW*h):
The practical unit of electrical energy
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EnerGuide Label:
A label that gives details about how much energy an appliance uses in one year of normal use
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Smart Meter:
A meter that records the total electrical energy used hour by hour and sends this information to the utility company automatically
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Time of Use Pricing:
A system of pricing in which the cost of each kW*h of energy used is different at different times of the day
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Phantom Load:
The electricity that is consumed by an appliance or device when it is turned off
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Efficiency:
The ratio of useful energy output to total energy input, expressed as a percentage
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Base Load:
The continuous minimum demand for electrical power
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Hydroelectric Power Generation:
- The production of electricity using a source of moving water
- i.e. water spinning turbines by moving through the turbines
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Intermediate Load:
A demand for electricity that is greater than base load that is met by burning coal and natural gas
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Peak Load:
The greatest demand for electricity, which is met by using hydroelectric power and natural gas
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Renewable Energy Source:
- A source of energy that can be replaced in a relatively short period of time
- i.e. solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, tidal, ocean wave, biofuel
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Non-renewable Energy Source:
- A source of energy that cannot be replaced as quickly as it is used
- i.e. coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear power
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Solar Energy:
Energy that is directly converted from the energy of the Sun into electricity
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Photovoltaic Effect:
- The generation of a direct current when certain materials are exposed to light
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Biomass Energy:
Energy that is generated from plant and animal matter
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