ELECTRIC

CURRENT

ELECTRICITY IS THE
CONTINUOUS AND ORDERED
FLOW (MOVEMENT) OF
ELECTRIC CHARGES
THROUGHOUT AN ELECTRIC
CONDUCTOR (METAL WIRES).
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MATTER IS FORMED ELECTRONS ARE SPINNING AROUND THE NUCLEUS IN
BY ATOMS. ELECTRON THE ATOM’S OUTER SIDE. THEY ARE THE PARTICLES
THAT ARE MOVING AND CONFIGURING THE ELECTRIC
CURRENT THROUGH AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR
LIKE METAL WIRES (USUALLY COPPER OR ALUMINIUM).
NUCLEUS
COPPER
(CONDUCTOR)

ATOMS ARE BASICALLY COMPOSED

BY THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF
PARTICLES: ELECTRONS (WITH
NEGATIVE CHARGE), PROTONS (WITH PLASTIC (INSULATOR)
POSITIVE CHARGE) AND NEUTRONS
ELECTRICITY IS THE MOVEMENT OF NEGATIVE
(WITHOUT CHARGE)
ELECTRIC CHARGES (ELECTRONS).
WE CAN DISTINGUISH TWO MAIN TYPES OF ELECTRIC CURRENT: DIRECT CURRENT
AND ALTERNATING CURRENT.

IN DIRECT CURRENT, ELECTRONS FLOW UNIDIRECTIONALLY (ITS

DIRECTION REMAINS CONSTANT, ALWAYS THE SAME). IT
PRODUCES POLARITY (ONE NEGATIVE POLE AND ONE POSITIVE
POLE). DC IS PRODUCED BY BATTERIES.

IN ALTERNATING CURRENT, ELECTRONS ARE CONTINUOUSLY CHANGING THEIR MOVEMENT

DIRECTION (IT REVERSES CICLICALLY). IT IS THE CURRENT THAT YOU GET FROM YOUR WALL
PLUGS.

SEARCH AND WRITE IN YOUR NOTEBOOK THE MEANING OF THE NEXT TERMS: ELECTRIC
CURRENT (INTENSITY), RESISTANCE, VOLTAGE, OHM’S LAW, CONVENTIONAL CURRENT.