THE ELECTROSTATIC FIELD

The fundamental characteristic of an electric charge is its ability to exert

a force.

POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE

Due to the force of its electrostatic field, an electric charge

has the ability to do work of moving another charge by
attraction or repulsion.
Potential – is the ability of a charge to do work.
Electromotive force (emf) – is the sum of the
differences of potential of all the charges in the
electrostatic field.
Volt (V) – basic unit of potential difference or voltage

The Nature of Electricity

CURRENT
Is the movement of the flow of electron; represented by the letter
symbol I.

Ampere (A) – is the basic unit of current. 1 A = 1 C/s

SOURCES OF ELECTRICITY

Chemical Battery – converting chemical energy to electrical

energy. A chemical reaction produces opposite charges on two
dissimilar metals, which serve as the negative and positive
terminals. The metals are in contact with an electrolyte.

Electrolysis is the decomposition of a liquid compound by the

passage of electric current through it. Practical applications of
electrolysis include the electroplating of metals, the refining of
copper and the extraction of aluminum from its ore.
An electrolyte is a compound which will undergo electrolysis.
Examples include salt water, copper sulphate and sulphuric
acid.

Electroplating uses the principle of electrolysis to apply a thin

coat of one metal to another metal. Some practical applications
include the tinplating of steel, silver-plating of nickel alloys
and chromium-plating of steel.
Generator – is a machine in which electromagnetic inductance
is used to produce a voltage by rotating coils of wire through a
stationary magnetic field; convert mechanical energy to electrical
energy.

Thermal Energy - Coal, oil, or natural gas can be burned to

release large quantities of heat. Once heat energy is available,
conversion to mechanical energy is the next step. Water is
heated to produce steam, which is then used to turn the turbines
that drive the electric generator.
Solar Cells – convert light energy to electric energy.
Piezoelectric Effect – certain crystals such as quartz generates
a voltage when they are vibrated mechanically.
Photoelectric Effect – Some materials, such as zinc,
potassium, and cesium oxide, emit electrons when light strikes
their surfaces.

DIRECT AND ALTERNATING CURRENTS AND VOLTAGES

Direct current (dc) is current that moves through a conductor or

circuit in one direction.
Alternating-current voltage (ac voltage) periodically reverses
or alternates in polarity.