Introduction
Welcome to the first course in the Integrated Technical Courses (ITC) series, designed to help our learners face the challenges of the new century where everything is dependent of electricity. But first let us define electricity. What is this?
One source defines it this way: “Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter that has a property of electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described by Maxwell’s equations. Various common phenomena are related to electricity, including lightning, static electricity, electric heating, electric discharges and many others.”*
Going deeper to where electricity comes from, we will take a brief look at chemistry. There are three kinds of chemical bonds in chemistry, namely, covalent bonding, ionic bonding and metallic bonding. These are the ones involved in electricity. The liquid state of water if without other elements cannot transmit electricity. But when it is contaminated with other metallic and sub-metallic elements, it can transmit electricity. The ionic bonding of non-metallic elements can also contribute to the existence of electricity, as well as the movements of the electrons in metallic elements. In all cases, electricity can only exist, produced or generated if an external force is applied on any element of the physical matter.
With this brief background let us start from the most basic information about electricity. This course covers Basics of Electricity and is designed to help our learners negotiate the world that is dependent on electricity. Developing a basic knowledge of electrical concepts will help you better understand electronics applications, including the behaviors of electronic devices. In addition, you will be able to do basic breakdown troubleshooting especially when you are working on a deadline and your computer unexpectedly shuts down.
You will also be able to fix simple electrical problems at home and save you and your family money and time looking for someone else to do the necessary repairs. You are not always around people who are knowledgeable in this field and it is always good to have the basic background to depend on. It may even save lives and property.
Now that you know where you can use the information, I hope that you will enjoy learning the lessons here.
The following topics will be covered in this series of articles which will be online as they become available.
- The Electron Theory
- The two types of electricity
- Two types of current electricity
- Conductors, Insulators and Semiconductors
- Electric Charges
- What is Electric Current?
- What is Voltage?
- What is resistance?
- What is power?
- What is electric circuit?
- What is the electrical formula wheel?
- What is the Ohms Law and resistance triangle formula?
- What is the power triangle formula?
- What is the current triangle formula?
- What is the voltage triangle formula?
- How do we calculate electricity consumption?
- How do we deal with electricity safely?
- How do we measure electricity?
- What is circuiting guidelines?
- Differences of load consumption
