ELECTRICITY

Electric Current Currents are the rate that

electricity flows thru a wire

2 types of currents: Alternating Current (AC)

electricity flows back-n-forth like in a house

Direct Current (DC) electricity flows in one direction like in a battery

Circuits Circuits are paths

for electricity to flow

Three parts: Energy source, wires, load

Circuits Closed Circuits

allow electricity to flow

Open Circuits have an opening in it and do not allow electricity to flow

Circuits 2 types: Series Circuit: one

path for electric flow

Parallel Circuit: several paths for electric flow

Series Circuits

Good for: Battery operated

devices Burglar alarms Operating one

load

Parallel Circuit

Good for houses Operating multiple

loads Varying energy

needs (depends on what you plug in)

Safety Fuses and Circuit Breakers:

If there is too much electricity going to one place, these automatically shut off the electricity

GFCI outlets: now required by law near any water source (circuit breaker)