47 Electrical Terminology

Voltage

Voltage is the pressure from an electrical circuit’s power source that pushes charged electrons (current) through a conducting loop, enabling them to do work such as illuminating a light.

Voltage = pressure, and it’s measured in volts (V).

Current

Current is the flow of electricity in an electronic circuit, and the amount of electricity flowing through a circuit. An electric current is a stream of charged particles, such as electrons or ions, moving through an electrical conductor.

Current = the rate of flow of electrons in a conductor, and it’s measured in amperes (I).

Resistance

Resistance measures how well a material or object conducts electricity. Low resistance means the object conducts electricity well, high resistance means the object does not conduct electricity well. It counteracts the flow of current.

Resistance values are measured in Ohms. (Ω or R)