Basic Electrical
Circuits
Advanced Design
Applications
Mr. 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 magnets
Magnets to push
electrons
through a circuit,
much like a pump
pushes 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 think
Use 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?