| Term | Definition |
|---|
| atom | tiny particles that make up matter |
| protons | positive charge |
| neutrons | no charge |
| electrons | negative charge |
| ion | charged atom |
| circuit | systems that electrons produce current electricity flow smoothly |
| source | like a pump ; where electricity flows |
| volts | measurement of electricity |
| conductors | electrons flow easily through |
| load | uses the electricity - appliance |
| short circuit | circuit in which electricity travels along an easier path ; bypassing the load |
| switch | turns the device on and off |
| snap switch | when the switch is flipped one way the circuit is opened and the other way closes the circuit ; wall switch |
| push button switch | press down a spring that closes the circuit ; doorbell |
| series circuit | connected to a single loop ; electricity moves through each part of a series to get to the next part ; Christmas tree lights |
| parallel circuit | many paths for electricity to flow |
| insulator | substance whose electrons are tightly bound to their atoms ; electricity can flow easily |
| glass and plastic | examples of insulators |
| conductor | easy for electricity to flow through |
| copper | example of a conductor |
| resistance | hard for the electricity to flow |
| tungsten | example of resistance |
| rheostat | can control the amount of resistance in a circuit |
| dimmer switch | rheostat |
| magnet | object that attracts certain materials |
| magnetic materials | iron, steel, cobalt, nickel |
| electromagnetism | relationship between electricity and magnetism |
| generator | machine that changes mechanical energy into electrical energy |
| vacuum tube | first major invention in electronics |
| transistor | small device that controls the flow of electrons and does the same job as a vacuum tube but much smaller |
Combine with other sets
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