Research Rack: Glossary

circuit - unbroken path of an electrical conductor that allows electrical current to flow from the power source and back again

closed circuit - a closed path that allows electrons to flow

conductor - material containing many movable electrical charges

current - moving electrical charges

electrical circuit - a path in which charged particles flow

electrical charge - the amount of electricity in/on an object

electricity - a form of energy produced by the flow or accumulation (mass) of electrons

energy - the ability to cause matter to move or to change; the ability to do work

insulator - a material that contains few movable electrical charges

kilowatt (kW) - a unit used to measure electrical energy equal to 1,000 watts

kilowatt-hour (kWh) - a measurement of electrical energy equal to 1,000 watts of power used for one hour

load - a device that uses electricity

negative particle - a particle carrying a negative charge

neutral - a balance between the negative and positive charges (neutral charge)

open circuit - an electrical path that has a break, preventing electrons from flowing

parallel circuit - a circuit in which an electric current has two or more paths to follow

positive particle - a particle that carries a positive charge

power - the amount of work done over a period of time

repel - to drive or to force back

series circuit - a circuit in which an electric current has only one path to follow

static charge - a charge that exists when there are unequal amounts of positive and negative particles in a given area

static electricity - energy created by an imbalance between the number of positive and negative particles between materials. Contact and separation of the unlike materials produce static electricity

switch - a device in an electric circuit that opens and closes the circuit

volt (V) - a unit of measurement for electrical pressure; named after the Italian scientist Alessandro Volta

voltage - a measure of energy available to move electrons; the push that makes the electrons move

watt (W) - unit used to measure the rate of energy consumption; named after the scientist and engineer James Watt