| | CONCEPTS OF ELECTRICAL PROCESSES |
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| | See Concept Map
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0 | Electric phenomena have to do with the flow and the storage of electricity (electric charge)… |
1 | Electric phenomena are caused by electric charge. Charge plays a role analogous to fluids in fluid systems. (There are differences: Charge creates electric fields, and charge can take positive and negative values.) |
2 | In communicating electrical elements (such as capacitors), voltages equilibrate. Voltages (potential differences) are driving forces for electrical processes. If disequilibration is to be created, electric charge must be forced (pumped with the help of a battery, a power supply, or generator). |
3 | Electricity (electric charge) is stored in capacitors, and it can flow. The quantity of electricity in a storage element can be changed by inflows and outflows. This means that we can formulate a law of balance of quantities of electricity. |
4 | Electric charge exists at certain values of the electric potential. In general, the potential changes from point to point. If we move around a closed electric circuit, the potential goes up and down. Finally, we're back at the same potential. Voltages (potential differences) along a closed path add up to zero. |
5 | When we increase the quantity of electricity (charge) in a capacitor, the (capacitive) voltage rises (there is a relation between charge and capacitive voltage). How it rises depends upon the type of capacitor. |
6 | For electric charge to flow through a conductor (such as a wire), the potential at the inlet must be higher than at the outlet. The potential decreases in the direction of flow because of electric resistance. The potential difference (resistive voltage) is related to the flow. |
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| | See how electrical processes are related to the concept of energy… |