Download Chapter 12: Using Electricity and Electronics

Technology: Shaping Our World
Chapter 12. Using Electricity and Electronics—Terms and Definitions
Ampere: the unit that is used to measure the amount of current.
Capacitor: a device designed to store an electrical charge, consisting of two metal plates
(conductors) separated by an insulator (dielectric).
Conductor: a material that will allow an electric current to flow easily.
Diode: a device that allows current to flow in one direction only; most commonly used as rectifiers to
change alternating current to direct current.
Electric circuit: a closed path around which electrons can move.
Electronics: the use of electrically controlled parts to automatically control or change current in a
circuit.
Insulator: a material that will not carry an electric current.
Integrated circuit: a single electronic component that replaces a whole group of separate
components (one integrated circuit may contain the equivalent of about 1,000,000 separate
components).
Load: the weight, mass, or force placed on a structure; in an electrical circuit, any current-using
device.
Ohm: unit of measurement of electrical resistance.
Ohm’s Law: the law of electricity stating that voltage equals the current times the resistance.
Overload: a condition that occurs when devices on an electrical circuit demand more current than
the circuit can safely carry; a cause for a fuse or circuit breaker to interrupt current flow.
Parallel circuit: a circuit that provides more than one path for electron flow.
Resistance: opposition to the flow of electricity.
Resistor: an electrical device that controls the amount of current flow through a circuit by making
that flow more difficult.
Schematic: a diagram of electrical/electronic circuits using symbols.
Semiconductor: materials that allow electron flow only under certain conditions; they have some
characteristics of conductors and some characteristics of insulators and are widely used in electronic
equipment.
Series circuit: a circuit that provides only one path for electron flow.
Series-parallel circuit: a circuit that exhibits characteristics of both series and parallel circuits.
Short circuit: a condition that occurs when bare wires in an electrical circuit accidentally touch,
causing more current to flow than the circuit can safely carry; a cause for a fuse or circuit breaker to
interrupt current flow.
Transistor: an electronic device with three terminals and many applications, such as a signal
amplifier or an electrically controlled switch that can turn an electric current on and off.
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.
Volt: a unit of measurement of electrical pressure.
Watt: the unit used to measure the work performed by an electric current.
Watt’s Law: the law of electricity stating that the power equals the voltage times the current or the
current squared times the resistance.
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.