Glossary
- Amp
- The unit that measures electrical current.
- Battery
- Two or more electrical cells joined together which produce and store electricity.
- Circuit
- A joined up series of electrical conductors, wires and components that allow an electrical current to flow.
- Circuit breaker
- A device that protects a circuit from power surges by stopping the power flowing.
- Conductors
- A substance that allows an electric current to pass through it easily.
- Electrical cell
- A device which produces or stores electricity.
- Electric current
- The flow of electrons.
- Electricity meter
- A device that measures the amount of electricity used.
- Electromagnet
- A magnetic field produced when an electric current is passed through a wire wrapped around a piece of iron.
- Energy
- Power to do work.
- Energy consumption
- The amount of power needed to make something happen or work.
- Flex
- Electrical wire covered with an insulating material.
- Fossil fuel
- A fuel formed millions of years ago from the remains of plant or animal material. E.g. Oil, coal, gas.
- Fuse
- Fuses are safety devices, which protect electrical appliances by preventing too much electricity flowing into them. The fuse is a thin wire inside a protective case. If the flow of electricity becomes too powerful, the wire melts and stops the current flowing.
- Generator
- A machine that converts mechanical energy into electricity.
- Global warming
- The increase in the temperature of the earths atmosphere due to the greenhouse effect.
- Greenhouse effect
- The way gases in the earths atmosphere trap heat. The build up of these gases, especially carbon dioxide, are thought to cause global warming.
- Insulator
- A material that reduces or stops the flow of electricity.
- Mains electricity
- Electricity supplied to our homes from the National Grid.
- National Grid
- A network of electricity supply lines that stretch from the power stations generating electricity to the place that the electricity is used. E.g. homes, factories, shops, railways.
- Power station
- The place that generates electricity in very large quantities for supply to the national grid.
- Power line
- Electrical wires that carry electricity from the point of generation to the point of use.
- Pylon
- A large metal tower that carries very high voltage power lines.
- Renewable energy
- Energy that comes from sources that can be replaced, such as sun, wind, waves, biofuels.
- Substation
- Substations are an important part of the national grid. They contain transformers which increase or decrease the voltage of an electric current. They are very dangerous. Do not enter a substation for any reason you could be electrocuted.
- Transformer
- Equipment that is used to change the voltage of an electric current. Transformers can increase or decrease voltage.
- Voltage
- A unit used to measure the electromotive force of an electric current.
