Electricity Fundamentals

Electricity is the flow of electrons through a conductor. It powers our world, but requires careful manipulation of voltage, current, and resistance to be useful and safe in daily applications.

Voltage is the electric potential difference between two points. It's like water pressure in pipes, pushing electrons through a circuit. Without sufficient voltage, current cannot flow effectively.

Electric current is the rate of flow of electric charge. Measured in amperes, it's analogous to the volume of water flowing through a pipe. Devices require specific currents to operate correctly.

Resistance hinders electric flow and is measured in ohms. Materials with high resistance heat up as they oppose current flow, an effect harnessed in devices like toasters and electric heaters.

Ohm's Law states that V = IR, where V is voltage, I is current, and R is resistance. It's a fundamental relationship that allows engineers to design circuits that power everything from phones to satellites.

Superconductors are materials that exhibit zero resistance at very low temperatures. They allow for lossless electricity transmission and are crucial in MRI machines and maglev trains.

Voltage sources include batteries, generators, and solar cells. Each source has unique characteristics. For instance, a lemon battery generates voltage from a chemical reaction between its juice and two different metals.