Energy, Power, and Electricity
Understand the language used in devices, bills, and appliances.
parallel circuit
circuit with multiple paths for current
capacitor
device that stores electrical energy
circuit breaker
reusable switch that interrupts current
load
component that consumes electrical power
multimeter
instrument to measure voltage, current, and resistance
series circuit
circuit with a single path for current
volt
the unit of electrical potential
power
the rate of doing work
short circuit
an unintended low-resistance path
transformer
device that changes voltage levels
grounding
connecting a circuit to the earth
insulator
material that resists charge flow
ohm
the unit of electrical resistance
direct current
charge flow in one direction
alternating current
charge flow that reverses direction
fuse
a safety device that breaks a circuit
resistance
opposition to current flow
ampere
the unit of electric current
kilowatt-hour
a unit of energy
circuit
a complete path for current
conductor
material that allows charge flow
watt
a unit of power
current
the flow of electric charge
voltage
electrical potential difference