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Basic Electrical Theory 2

The document provides an overview of basic electrical theory, including: 1) It discusses the two main theories of current flow - electron theory where current flows from negative to positive, and conventional theory where it flows from positive to negative. 2) It defines key concepts like conductors, insulators, semiconductors, voltage, current, resistance, and the differences between direct current and alternating current. 3) Examples are given of materials that are good conductors like copper and gold, good insulators like rubber and plastic, and semiconductors like silicon. Voltage, current, and resistance are analogized to water pressure, flow, and kinks in hoses.

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422 views13 pages

Basic Electrical Theory 2

The document provides an overview of basic electrical theory, including: 1) It discusses the two main theories of current flow - electron theory where current flows from negative to positive, and conventional theory where it flows from positive to negative. 2) It defines key concepts like conductors, insulators, semiconductors, voltage, current, resistance, and the differences between direct current and alternating current. 3) Examples are given of materials that are good conductors like copper and gold, good insulators like rubber and plastic, and semiconductors like silicon. Voltage, current, and resistance are analogized to water pressure, flow, and kinks in hoses.

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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Basic Electrical Theory

By: Eli
Basic Electricity

● It’s invisible
● It can hurt you
● We can control it
● We can predict it

Until recently nobody agreed which way it flowed (+ to -) or (+ to -) and did it even flow at all?
Current Flow Theories

There are two theories on how current flows through in a circuit

● Electron Theory (- to +)

● Conventional Theory (+ to -)
Matter

● Anything that takes up space and has mass is considered matter


● Matter can be a solid, a liquid, or a gas
● Matter is made up of different combinations of atoms which are called molecules
Conductors

● A conductor supports the flow of electricity through it

Examples: Copper, Gold, Aluminum, and Steel


Insulators

● An insulator is not capable of supporting the flow of electricity

Examples of good insulators: Rubber, Wood, Ceramics, Most plastics, and Glass
Semiconductor

● A semiconductor is neither a good conductor nor a good insulator

Examples of semiconductors: Silicon, Germanium, and Carbon


Terms to Know

Voltage (V)

● Pressure in a hose

Current (i)

● Flow of water in that hose

Resistance (R)

● Kink in the the hose restricting the water


Voltage

● The higher the voltage, the more current flow it can create
● To keep current flowing, it is necessary to maintain electrical pressure. (Voltage)
Current

● Electrical Current is the movement (intensity) of electrons through a conductor, such as a wire
● The amount of current is measured in amperes
● Electrical current may be compared to water current flowing through a pipe
Resistance
Resistance to current flow (The kink in the water hose)

It is resistance to load. Load is anything that can do work for you

Resistance is measured in ohms

The Five Basic Characteristics That Determines Resistance

1. The material
2. The length
3. The diameter
4. Temperature
5. The physical condition of the conductor
DC (Direct Current)

With Direct Current, electricity flows in one direction between power and ground. In this arrangement
there is always a positive source of voltage and ground (0V) source of voltage.
AC (Alternating Current)

With alternating current, the direction of electricity flows throughout the circuit is constantly reversing.
You may even say that it is alternating direction. The rate of reversal is measured in Hertz, which is the
number of reversals per second. So, when they say that the US power supply is 60 Hz, what they mean is
that it is reversing 120 times per second (twice per cycle).

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