A |
Alternating current: |
An electric current that reverses directions at regular intervals (typically 60 times per second); abbreviated "AC." This is the current usually found in homes. |
Ampere, Amps: |
The measurement of the flow of an electric current through a conductor. |
Anemometer: |
An instrument for measuring wind speed and velocity. |

|
B |
Battery: |
A single electric cell, or group of connected cells, that produces a direct electric current. |
Biomass: |
Organic materials such as plants and animal waste that can be used as a fuel. |
Blackout: |
The total loss of electric power supplied by the electric company. |
Brownout: |
A temporary reduction of voltage supplied by the electric company. Typically causes lights to dim. |

|
C |
Cell: |
A container filled with a chemical substance consisting of electrodes and electrolytes that produces an electric current by chemical action. |
Charge: |
Electricity produced by a surplus (positive) or shortage (negative) of electrons in an object. |
Circuit: |
A complete or partial path followed by a flow of electric current. |
Conductor: |
A substance or material that allows electrons, or electrical current, to flow through it. |
Current: |
The flow of electricity through a conductor. |

|
D |
Direct current: |
An electric current flowing in only one direction; abbreviated "DC". |
Dynamo: |
The first type of large generator developed for a power plant. |

|
E |
Electricity: |
A form of energy created by the movement of electrons creating a current. It occurs naturally in the form of lightning, or can be produced with a generator. |
Electrolysis: |
The production of chemical energy by passing an electric current through a liquid called an electrolyte. |
Electromagnet: |
A coil of wire that is wrapped around a soft iron core that is magnetized when electric current flows through it. |
Electron: |
A negatively charged particle that rotates around the nucleus of an atom. |
Energy: |
The power for doing work. |

|
F |
Fuel cell: |
A device in which a fuel, such as hydrogen gas, is combined with oxygen to produce electricity, water, and heat. |
Fuse: |
A safety device with a metal wire or strip that melts when the current gets too strong, thereby cutting off the flow of the electrical current. |

|
G |
Generator: |
A machine for producing electrical current when rotated by an external driver such as a turbine. |
Geothermal energy: |
The heat energy that is stored below the earth's surface. |
Ground: |
A connection from an electrical circuit to the earth. |
Grid: |
The power highways for electricity, including substations, and large power lines. |

|
H |
Hydroelectricity: |
Electric energy made by the conversion of energy produced from running or falling water. |

|
I |
Insulator: |
An object or material that does not let electricity pass through it. |

|
K |
Kilowatt (kW): |
A unit for measuring electrical energy. 1,000 watts = 1 kilowatt |
Kilowatt Hour (kWh): |
The use of 1,000 watts of electricity for one full hour. 1 kWh = ten 100 watt bulbs all burning at the same time for one hour. 10 bulbs x 100 watts each x 1 hour = 1,000 watts hours or 1kWh. |

|
L |
Lightning: |
A static electrical discharge between two clouds or between a cloud and the earth accompanied by a flash of light. |
Load: |
The power output of a generator or power plant. Also, the resistance of a device to which power is delivered. |

|
M |
Magnet: |
An object surrounded by a magnetic field that has the ability to attract iron or steel. |
Magnetic field: |
A detected force that exists around a magnet. |
Mechanical energy: |
The energy of motion used to perform work. |
Megawatt: |
One million watts, or 1,000 kW. |
Meter: |
An instrument that records or regulates the amount of something passing through it, like electricity, water, or gas. |
Motor: |
A machine that produces motion or power for doing work. |

|
N |
Nuclear power: |
The energy produced by splitting atoms in a nuclear reactor. |

|
O |
Ohms: |
The unit of measurement of the electrical resistance of a material to the flow of current. |

|
P |
Photosynthesis: |
The process in which green plants absorb the energy of sunlight to produce carbohydrates and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of chlorophyll. |
Photovoltaic: |
Capable of producing a voltage when exposed to light or other electromagnetic radiation. |
Power:
|
The capacity, force, or energy used to do work. |

|
R |
Radio: |
The sending or receiving of messages or effects, like sound, by means of electromagnetic waves through the air without a connecting wire. |
Resistance: |
The opposition of a body or substance to energy or electric current passing through. |

|
S |
Socket: |
A hollow opening or cavity into which something fits, such as an electric light socket. |
Solar energy: |
Energy produced by the action of the sun's light or heat. |
Static electricity: |
An electrical charge that builds up due to friction between two dissimilar materials. Friction removes some electrons from one object and deposits them on the other. |
Switch: |
A device for connecting, breaking, or changing the connections in an electrical circuit. |

|
T |
Thermal: |
Of, using, producing, or caused by heat. |
Transformer: |
A device that raises or lowers the voltage or force of AC electricity. |
Turbine-generator: |
A machine in which the energy of a moving fluid, such as wind, water, or steam, is converted to mechanical power that drives an electric generator. |

|
V |
Volt: |
A unit for measuring the force used to produce an electric current; the push or force that moves electric current through a conductor. |

|
W |
Watt: |
A unit for measuring electric power. 1 Kilowatt = 1000 watts. 1 Megawatt = 1,000,000 watts. |
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