| A | Alternating current: | An electric current that reverses directions at regular intervals (typically 60 times a second); abbreviated "AC." This current is found in homes. |
| Ampere, Amps: | The measurement of the flow of an electric current through a conductor. |
| Anemometer: | An instrument for measuring wind speed and velocity. |
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| B | Battery: | A single electric cell, or group of connected cells, that produces a direct electric current. |
| Biomass: | Organic materials such as plants and animal waste that can be used as a fuel. |
| Blackout: | The total loss of electric power supplied by the electric company. |
| Brownout: | A temporary reduction of voltage supplied by the electric company. Typically causes lights to dim. |
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| C | Cell: | A container filled with a chemical substance consisting of electrodes and electrolytes that produce an electric current by chemical action. |
| Charge: | Electricity produced by a surplus (positive) or shortage (negative) of electrons in an object. |
| Circuit: | A complete or partial path followed by a flow of electric current. |
| Conductor: | A substance or material that allows electrons, or electrical current, to flow through it. |
| Current: | The flow of electricity through a conductor. |
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| D | Direct current: | An electric current flowing in only one direction; abbreviated "DC". |
| Dynamo: | The first type of large generator developed for a power plant. |
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| E | Electricity: | The phenomena arising from the behavior of electrons and protons that is caused by the attraction of particles with opposite charges and the repulsion of particles with the same charge. |
| Electrolysis: | The production of chemical energy by passing an electric current through a liquid called an electrolyte. |
| Electromagnet: | A coil of wire that is wrapped around a soft iron core that is magnetized when electric current flows through it. |
| Electron: | A negatively charged particle that rotates around the nucleus of an atom. |
| Energy: | The power for doing work. |
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| F | Fuel cell: | A device in which a fuel, such as hydrogen gas, is combined with oxygen to produce electricity, water, and heat. |
| Fuse: | A safety device with a metal wire or strip that melts when the current gets too strong, cutting off the flow of the electrical current. |
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| G | Generator: | A machine for producing electrical current when rotated by an external driver such as a turbine. |
| Geothermal energy: | The heat energy that is stored below the earth's surface. |
| Ground: | A connection from an electrical circuit to the earth. |
| Grid: | The power highways for electricity, including substations and large power lines. |
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| H | Hydroelectricity: | Electric energy made by the conversion of energy produced from running water. |
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| I | Insulator: | An object or material that does not let electricity pass through it. |
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| K | Kilowatt (kW): | A unit for measuring electrical energy.
1,000 watts = 1 kilowatt |
| Kilowatt Hour (kWh): | The use of 1,000 watts of electricity for one full hour.
1 kWh = ten 100 watt bulbs all burning at the same time for one hour.
10 bulbs x 100 watts each x 1 hour = 1,000 watts hours or 1kWh. |
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| L | Lightning: | A static electrical discharge between two clouds or between a cloud and the earth accompanied by a flash of light. |
| Load: | The power output of a generator or power plant. Also, the resistance of a device to which power is delivered. |
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| M | Magnet: | An object surrounded by a magnetic field that has the ability to attract iron or steel. |
| Magnetic field: | A detected force that exists around a magnet. |
| Mechanical energy: | The energy of motion used to perform work. |
| Megawatt: | One million watts, or 1,000 kW. |
| Meter: | An instrument that records or regulates the amount of something passing through it, like electricity, water, or gas. |
| Motor: | A machine that produces motion or power for doing work. |
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| N | Nuclear power: | The energy produced by splitting atoms in a nuclear reactor. |
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| O | Ohms: | The unit of measurement of the electrical resistance of a material to the flow of current. |
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| P | Photosynthesis: | The process in which green plants absorb the energy of sunlight to produce carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of chlorophyll. |
| Photovoltaic: | Capable of producing a voltage when exposed to light or other radiation. |
Power: | The force or energy used to do work. |
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| R | Radio: | The sending or receiving of messages or effects, like sound, by means of electromagnetic waves through the air without a connecting wire. |
| Resistance: | The opposition of a body or substance to electric current passing through. |
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| S | Socket: | A hollow opening or cavity into which something fits, such as an electric light socket. |
| Solar energy: | Energy produced by the action of the sun's light or heat. |
| Static electricity: | An electrical charge that builds up due to friction between two dissimilar materials. Friction removes some electrons from one object and deposits them on the other. |
| Switch: | A device for connecting, breaking, or changing the connections in an electrical circuit. |
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| T | Thermal: | Of, using, producing, or caused by heat. |
| Transformer: | A device that raises or lowers the voltage or force of AC electricity. |
| Turbine-generator: | A machine in which the energy of a moving fluid, such as water or steam, is converted to mechanical power that drives an electric generator. |
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| V | Volt: | A unit for measuring the force used to produce an electric current; the push or force that moves electric current through a conductor. |
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| W | Watt: | A unit for measuring electric power.
1 Kilowatt = 1000 watts.
1 Megawatt = 1,000,000 watts. |
| Wind turbine: | A machine that captures the energy of the wind and transfers the motion to an electric generator shaft. |
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