|
| |
Electrical Terminology
Amperage, amps: A measurement of the amount of electric
current.
Circuit: A circular path in which electricity travels.
Conductor: Something that allows electricity to flow through it
easily. Water and most metals are good conductors.
Current: The movement or flow of electricity.
Distribution wires: Power lines that carry electricity through
towns and neighborhoods to homes and businesses. Distribution lines can run
overhead or underground.
Electricity: The flow of electrons.
Electron: The basic particle that orbits the nucleus of an
atom. The flow of electrons produces electricity.
Energy: The ability to do work. People get energy from food.
Your toaster and your washing machine get their energy from electricity.
Fluorescent bulb: A light bulb that emits light because the gas
inside it glows when it is charged with electricity.
Geothermal energy: Energy that is generated by converting hot
water or steam from deep beneath the Earth’s surface into electricity.
Hydroelectricity: Electricity that is generated when falling
water makes a turbine spin.
Insulator: Something that does not allow electricity to flow
through it easily. Glass and special rubber are good insulators. Insulators do
not allow electricity to flow through them easily because the electrons in their
atoms do not move easily from atom to atom.
Incandescent bulb: A light bulb that emits light due to the
glowing of heated filament inside it.
Kilowatt: 1,000 watts of electricity.
Kilowatt-hour: One kilowatt of electricity produced or used in
one hour.
Megawatt: 1,000,000 watts of power of 1,000 kilowatts.
Power Plant: A place where electricity is generated.
Power line: A wire used to carry electricity. Power lines are
located high overhead or buried underground.
Solar energy: Electricity produced from the sun’s radiation.
Substation: A facility where transformers lower electricity’s
voltage.
Transformer: A device used to increase or decrease
electricity’s voltage and current.
Transmission lines: Power lines that carry high-voltage
electricity long distances.
Utility: A company or other organization that provides a public
service, such as supplying electricity, or water.
Voltage, volts: A measure of the pressure under which
electricity flows.
Wattage, watts: A measure of the amount of work done by a
certain amount of amperage of electric current at a certain pressure or voltage.
For More Information Contact:
Mayfield Electric & Water Systems
301 East Broadway, Mayfield, KY 42066
Tel: 270-247-4661
FAX: 270-247-0550
Internet: jcre@mayfieldews.com
Top of Page
|
