Electric Current

Front

Electric Current Noun

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[uh-lek-trik kur-uhnt]

Back

Electric Current

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The rate at which electric charge flows past a point or through a region in an electric circuit.

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Example: A battery pushes charged particles through a wire (conductor), creating an electric current that lights up the bulb in a complete circuit.

Front

Conductor Noun

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[kuhn-duhk-ter]

Back

Conductor

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A material through which electric charge can move easily due to the presence of mobile charged particles.

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Example: This diagram shows that in a conductor, free electrons move randomly. When a voltage is applied, these electrons flow in an organized direction, creating an electric current.

Front

Insulator Noun

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[in-suh-ley-ter]

Back

Insulator

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A material in which electric charges are not free to move, thus strongly resisting the flow of current.

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Example: The plastic coating on an electrical wire is an insulator; it stops the flow of electricity, keeping the current contained within the copper conductor.

Front

Valence Electrons Noun

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[vey-luhns ih-lek-trons]

Back

Valence Electrons

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The outermost electrons of an atom that are involved in chemical bonding and electrical conduction.

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Example: This Bohr model of a Sodium atom shows electrons in shells. The single electron in the outermost shell is the valence electron.

Front

Delocalized Electrons Noun

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[dee-loh-kuh-lahyzd ih-lek-trons]

Back

Delocalized Electrons

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Electrons in a molecule, ion, or metal that are not associated with a single atom or covalent bond.

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Example: This diagram shows how metal atoms form positive ions in a fixed lattice, while their outer electrons become delocalized and are free to move.

Front

Malleability Noun

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[mal-ee-uh-bil-i-tee]

Back

Malleability

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A physical property of a material that allows it to be deformed under compression without breaking.

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Example: This image shows that a malleable material, like a metal, can be hammered and flattened into a thin sheet without breaking.

Front

Ductility Noun

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[duhk-til-i-tee]

Back

Ductility

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A physical property of a material that allows it to be stretched into a thin wire without breaking.

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Example: Ductility is the property of a material, like copper, that allows it to be stretched or drawn into a thin wire without breaking.

Front

Cold Welding Noun

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[kohld wel-ding]

Back

Cold Welding

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A process where two clean, flat metal surfaces bond together in a vacuum without using heat or fusion.

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Example: This diagram shows two metal workpieces being forced together by dies, causing them to fuse into one piece without using heat or electricity.

Front

Electric Field Noun

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[uh-lek-trik feeld]

Back

Electric Field

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A region of space around an electric charge where a force is exerted on other charged objects.

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Example: This diagram shows that an electric field is a region around a charge. The field lines, shown by arrows, point away from positive charges and toward negative charges.

Front

Direct Current (DC) Noun

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[di-rekt kur-uhnt]

Back

Direct Current (DC)

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An electric current in which the flow of electric charge is unidirectional and constant in magnitude.

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Example: This diagram shows a simple circuit where electric current, indicated by arrows, flows from a battery in only one direction to power a light.