Basic Concepts of Electricity

BASIC
CONCEPTS OF
ELECTRICITY
 Electricity is define as the flow of
electron or electric current. It is an
invisible form of energy that can be
transform into other form of energy like
heat light and mechanical.
 Electron is the negatively
charge component of an
atom. It has the ability
to flow.
 Proton is the positively
charge component of an
atom. It had the ability to
attract electron.
 Matter is anything that
occupy space and has
mass. It can be a
solid, liquid or gas in
state.
 Atom is the basic
component of matter. It
composes of a nucleus
which is the central part, the
protons and electrons.
 Current same as electricity
or flow of electron. The
amount of current flowing in
a circuit can be measured in
ampere (I).
 Voltage is the amount of
pulling force that makes the
electron flow. Also known
as potential difference or
EMF(electromotive force).
The amount of voltage can
be measured in volt (V).
 Resistance is define as the
opposition to the flow of
current. The amount of
resistance can be measure
in ohms (Ω).
 Conductors are materials
that easily allow the flow of
current, or it has a low
resistance to current flow.
Examplesaluminum, gold,
silver, copper, iron
 Insulators are materials that
do not easily allow the flow
of current, or it has a high
resistance to current flow.
Examples; rubber, plastic,

paper
 In direct current (DC), the flow of
electric charge is only in one direction.
This is the type of electricity is
produced by batteries, static, and
lightning. A voltage is created, and
maybe stored, until it is consumed. The
current flows directly, in one direction.
 In the circuit, the current flows at a specific,
constant voltage (this is oversimplified
somewhat but good enough for our needs.)
When you use a flashlight, pocket radio,
portable CD player or virtually any other type
of portable or battery-powered device, you
are using direct current.
 Most DC circuits are relatively low in
voltage; for example, your car's battery
is approximately 12V, and that's about
as high a DC voltage as most people
ever use.
 Direct currents flow in one direction only,
and are constant in time. Their
appearance is that of a straight line which
does not vary. They are produced from
power sources such as batteries, power
supplies and DC generators. Photovoltaic
devices such as solar cells also generate
DC power.
 In alternating current (AC, also ac) the
movement of electric charge periodically
reverses direction. This type of electricity
is produced or generated by AC
generators commonly from a hydro
electric plant. It is the commercial power
that we use in homes and offices
 Delivered through a power transmission
lines, AC current can be reduced
through the use of power transformer to
suite for its application. It can also be
converted to DC for a specific purpose.
In the Philippines AC is rated as 220V
AC at 60 Hz.
 Alternating currents change direction,
flowing first one way and then the other.
They are sinusoidal waves, so that they
change in time. They are produced from
sources such as power supplies and AC
generators.
 In North America, AC is 120 volts and 60
hertz or cycles per second. This means it
changes direction 60 times per second. In
Europe, it is generally 50 hertz with 220
to 240 volts.
 There are a number of reasons, but one of
the most important is that a characteristic
of AC is that it is relatively easy to change
voltages from one level to another using a
transformer, while transformers do not
work for DC.
 This capability allows the companies that
generate and distribute electricity to do it
in a more efficient manner, by transmitting
it at high voltage for long lengths, which
reduces energy loss due to the resistance
in the transmission wires.
 Another reason is that it may be easier to
mechanically generate alternating current
electricity than direct current.
 PC’s use only direct current, which means
that the alternating current provided by
your utility must be converted to direct
current before use. This is the primary
function of your power supply.
 Electric circuit - is the pathways for
electricity to flow.
1. Load - commonly represented by a bulb or
any electrical component that consumes
electricity.
2. Supply - Commonly represented by a cell

or a battery
3. Switch - an electrical device that opens or

closed a circuit.
SWITCH
1. Open Circuit - a type of circuit that
has an open path for current to flow. It
means that current cannot flow in
open circuit.
The switch is said to be “OPEN” the current

can’t flow into the circuit and the bulb is
“OFF”
2. Closed Circuit - a
type of circuit that
has a closed path for
current to flow. It
means that current
can flow in a closed
circuit.
The switch is said to be

“CLOSED” the current can
flow into the circuit and
the bulb is “ON”
 Identify what is being
described in the following
statements.

Basic Concepts of Electricity

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Examples; rubber, plastic,

2. Supply - Commonly represented by a cell

3. Switch - an electrical device that opens or

The switch is said to be “OPEN” the current

The switch is said to be

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