Unit 2 Vocabulary Review

charge: the quality of being either electrically positive or negative
circuit: a loop of flowing electricity
current: the strength of electrical flow; how many electrons are flowing
dead short: the result of the ends (terminals) of a battery being connected only to a wire loop
efficient: how good a device is at taking electricity and turning it into useful energy
electric meter: measures how much energy a home uses
electric motor: turns electric energy into the energy of motion
electrical panel: box containing “breakers” (switches) that automatically stop the electricity from flowing when overloads are detected
electrician: a person trained to install and repair electrical wiring
electrode: a point where electricity enters or leaves something; a terminal
electromagnet: a coil of wire that produces a magnetic field when electricity flows through it
electron: tiny invisible particles that carry electrical energy
EnerGuide label: A label on an appliance that tells how many kilowatt-hours a device uses in a year
kilowatt-hour: a unit of electric energy
magnetic field: an invisible field that runs through and beyond a magnet
magnetic poles: the two ends of a magnet
overload: too large a flow of electricity in a wire, which results in the wire becoming hot
permanent magnet: metals that have been magnetized and that produce magnet fields for a long time
power plant: a place where electricity is made to be sent to cities, towns, and homes
short circuit: the flow of  electricity to where it is not intended to go
substation: an installation that turns high voltages into low voltages suitable for use in homes, and sends electricity to homes and businesses where it is needed
voltage: how much energy electrons carry

buzzer: circuit item that turns electrical energy into sound
circuit board: flat piece of material with electrical pathways; contains circuits for electric devices
circuit breaker: switch that turns off electricity in home circuits automatically for safety reasons
closed circuit: circuit with a closed switch that allows electricity to flow
conductor: material that allows electricity to flow
insulator: material that does not allow electricity to flow
lamp: circuit item that turns electrical energy into light
push-button switch: type of switch that is always in the "off" position unless it is pressed
motor: circuit item that turns electrical energy into energy of motion
open circuit: circuit with an open switch that does not allow electricity to flow
power source: provides the electric energy for circuits, such as a battery
resistor: circuit item that controls the amount of current in a circuit
switch: circuit item that allows you to control the flow of electricity in a circuit
toggle switch: type of switch that is either in the "on" or "off" position

axle: the centre shaft of an electric motor that spins
coil: the wire inside an electric motor that produces a magnetic field that pushes against a permanent magnet to cause the motor to spin
electric winch: an electric device that turns spinning motion into a straight-line pulling motion