Basic Electrical

Circuits
Advanced Design Applications
Mr. Brooks
What is electricity?
 The movement of electrons through an electrical
circuit.
Electrons
 Atom has three parts
 Proton
 Neutron
 Electron
Key terms
 Current: The flow of electrons through a circuit.
The amp is the unit of electrical flow.
 Voltage: The electromotive force that pushes
electrons through a circuit. The volt is the unit of
electromotive force.
 Resistance: The opposition to the flow of
electrons. The ohm is the unit for the resistance to
electrical flow.
Where does electricity come from?
 Three main sources:
 Occurs naturally
 Direct current (Batteries)
 Alternating Current

(Generators)
Electricity in nature
 Lightning
 Solar storms
 Electric eels
 Polar auroras
Direct Current
 Direct current is a unidirectional flow of electric
current. Electricity flows at a constant, steady rate.
 Examples of power sources that use AC are:
 Batteries
 Solar Cells
Alternating Current
 Alternating Current is a flow of electricity that is
not constant. In fact the direction of current flow
periodically switches direction.
 Examples of AC are:
 Generators
 Home power outlets
Generator
 A generator uses magnets
Magnets to push
electrons
through a circuit,
much like a pump
pushes water
through a pipe.
Breadboard
 A breadboard is a prototyping device that allows
the user to create/experiment with electrical
circuits.
Resistors
 We will now construct the “resistor” circuit in our
electronics labs and answer the following
questions in your notes.
 What does a resistor do?
 How does it work?
 What devices use resistors?
Diodes
 We will do the “diode” circuit in our electronics
labs.
 What is a diode?
 How does it work?
 What devices do you think

Use diodes?
LED
 We will do the “LED” lab in our electronics lab
kits.
 What is an LED?
 How does it work?
 What devices use LEDs?
Capacitor
 We will do the “capacitor” activity in our
electronics lab kits.
 What is a capacitor?
 How does it work?
 What are some devices

that use capacitors?