Electricity & Magnetism Vocabulary
Term
electricity
Name: ____________________________ Block: ______
Definition
the flow of electrons
alternating
current (AC)
type of electric current in which
charges continually switch from
flowing in one direction to flowing
in the reverse direction
direct current
(DC)
type of electric current in which the
charges always flow in the same
direction.
static electricity
the build-up of electric charges on an
object
conduction
the transfer of electrons from one
object to another through direct
contact
induction
the transfer of charges from one
object to another without direct
contact
conductor
a material that allows charges (like
electrical current) to flow easily; any
material which easily transfers
energy
insulator
a material, such as wood, glass, or
plastic, that does not allow charges
to flow easily; any material which
poorly transfers energy
Picture
semiconductor
a substance that conducts electric
current better than an insulator but
not as well as a conductor
diode
part of an electronic device that only
allows electric current to go in one
direction
transistor
part of an electronic device that can
be used as an amplifier or a switch
circuit
a complete closed path for electric
current
circuit board
a collection of hundreds of tiny
circuits that supply electric current to
the various parts of an electronic
device
integrated
circuit board
an entire circuit containing many
transistors and other electronic
components formed on a single chip
series circuit
a circuit where all parts are
connected in a single loop, offering
only one possible path for charges to
flow
parallel circuit
a circuit in which different loads are
on separate branches, offering more
than one route for the flow of
charges
current (I)
a continuous flow of electricity; the
rate charges pass a given point;
expressed in amperes (A)
resistance (R)
measure of how easily charges flow
through a substance or device;
opposition to the flow of electric
charge; expressed in ohms (Ω)
voltage (V) /
potential
difference
the difference in electric potential
between two points in an electric
circuit; expressed in volts (V)
magnet
any material that attracts iron or
materials containing iron
poles
parts of a magnet where the magnetic
effects are the strongest
magnetic force
forces of repulsion or attraction
between the poles of magnets
electromagnetic
induction
process by which an electric current
is produced by a changing magnetic
field
electromagnet
a magnet that consists of a solenoid
wrapped around an iron core
solenoid
a coil of wire that produces a
magnetic field when an electric
current passes through it
turbine
a device that consists of a series of
blades arranged in a circle, which
may be spun around by the
introduction of a fluid - such as
water or steam -pushing against the
blades. The kinetic energy from the
spinning blades is used to generate
electricity
a machine that uses electromagnetic
induction to convert kinetic energy
into electrical energy.
generator
electric motor
a device that changes electrical
energy into kinetic energy.
transformer
a device that increases or decreases
the voltage of alternating current.
light-emitting
diode (LED)
emits infrared/visible radiation when
a current passes through them.
solar cell
a device that converts radiant energy
into electricity using an absorbing
material. They are made of
semiconductor diodes and produce
direct current (DC) when visible
light, infrared light (IR), and/or
ultraviolet light (UV) energy strikes
them.