Automotive Electrical

Terms in this set (34)

High resistance
Can be caused by:
1. corroded connections or sockets
2. loose terminals in a conductor
3. loose ground connections
Load
A term used to describe the device and electrical current is flowing through (example: light bulb)
Ohm's law
It requires 1 volt to push 1 ampere through 1 ohm of resistance
open circuit
Any circuit that is not complete or lacks continuity, such as a broken wire
Hot leg
From the current to flow through from the power source to the resistance
Power Source
(In electrical terms) Such as a battery or generator (alternator)
Protection device
From harmful overloads (excessive current flow, fuses, circuit breakers, fusible links)
Return path (ground leg)
Electrical current from the load back to the power source so that there is a complete circuit
Short circuit
A portion of the circuit is bypassed
Short to voltage
When the power side of one circuit is electronically connected to the power side of another circuit
Circuit
Is the path that electrons travel from one power source, through a resistance and back to the power source
Complete circuit
A type of electrical circuit that has continuity; current would flow if connected to power and ground
Continuity
A circuit that is continuous throughout is said to have continuity
Electrical load (or resistance)
Converts electrical energy into heat, light, and motion
Short to ground
A type of short circuit that occurs when the current bypasses part of the normal circuit and flows directly to ground
Protons
Have a positive charge
Neutrons
Neutral (no charge)
Electrons
Have a negative charge
Atom
The smallest particle that an element can be broken into and still retain the properties of that element.
Electricity
The movement of electrons from one atom to another.
Neutral charge
The same number of Electrons and protons (balanced)
Ion
When an atom is not balanced, it becomes a charged particle called ---
Discharge
Process is defined as the flow of electricity
Conductors
Materials allow the flow of electrons
Insulators
Materials that do not allow the flow of electrons
Semiconductors
Materials that can act as conductors or insulators
Conventional Theory
Theory of the flow of electricity through a conductor from positive to negative
Electron Theory
States that there is electron flow from negative to positive
Ampere
The unit used throughout the world to measure current flow
Volt
Unit of measurement for electrical pressure
Electrical Potential
If there is voltage present in a conductor, there is potential for current flow
Voltmeter
How volts are measured
Resistance
Measured in ohms
Ohm
The unit of electrical resistance
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