Basic Electrical Circuits

Basic Electrical CircuitsAdvanced Design ApplicationsMr. Brooks

What is electricity? The movement of electrons through an

electrical circuit.

Electrons Atom has three parts

Proton Neutron Electron

Key terms Current: The flow of electrons through a

circuit. The amp is the unit of electrical flow.

Voltage: The electromotive force that pushes electrons through a circuit. The volt is the unit of electromotive force.

Resistance: The opposition to the flow of electrons. The ohm is the unit for the resistance to electrical flow.

Where does electricity come from? Three main sources:

Occurs naturally Direct current (Batteries) Alternating Current(Generators)

Electricity in nature Lightning Solar storms Electric eels Polar auroras

Direct Current Direct current is a unidirectional flow of

electric current. Electricity flows at a constant, steady rate.

Examples of power sources that use AC are: Batteries Solar Cells

Alternating Current Alternating Current is a flow of

electricity that is not constant. In fact the direction of current flow periodically switches direction.

Examples of AC are: Generators Home power outlets

Generator A generator uses magnetsMagnets to push electrons through a circuit,much like a pumppushes water through a pipe.

Breadboard A breadboard is a prototyping device

that allows the user to create/experiment with electrical circuits.

Resistors We will now construct the “resistor”

circuit in our electronics labs and answer the following questions in your notes.

What does a resistor do? How does it work? What devices use resistors?

Diodes We will do the “diode” circuit in our

electronics labs. What is a diode? How does it work? What devices do you thinkUse diodes?

LED We will do the “LED” lab in our

electronics lab kits. What is an LED? How does it work? What devices use LEDs?

Capacitor We will do the “capacitor” activity in our

electronics lab kits. What is a capacitor? How does it work? What are some devices that use capacitors?