Scientific and Engineering Notation

Andre Ampere 1775, developed laws of electromagnetism and invented the solenoid
1. An element consists of only one type of atom.
2. Subatomic particles compose an atom: electrons, protons, and neutrons.
3. The atomic number is the number of protons within an atom whereas the atomic weight is the
combined number of protons and neutrons within the nucleus of the atom.
4. Electrons orbit the nucleus in orbital paths known as shells. There are up to seven shells, and the
outermost shell of an atom is known as the valence shell.
5. KLMNOPQ from innermost to outermost shell (Kill Losing Men No Other People Qualify)
6. Compounds are made of molecules.
7. The movement of electrons from one point to another is known as electrical current.
8. Positive and Negative Ions (net positive and negative charges, respectively.)
9. There are 6.24 x 10
18
electrons in one Coulomb of charge.
10. One amp is equal to one coulomb flowing past a given point in one second of time.
11. Electron vs Conventional current flow
12. Voltage / EMF (electromotive force) / Potential Difference
The basics of algebra (substituting letters for numbers, transposing equations, etc.)
1. Resistance is the opposition to current flow with dissipation of energy in the form of heat.
2. Resistance is measured in ohms, and 1 ohm is the value of resistance that will allow 1 ampere of
current to flow through a circuit when a voltage of 1 volt is applied.
3. Voltage is equal to current times resistance E=IR
4. Current is proportional to voltage and inversely proportional to resistance.
5. Circuits have a source and load- the load had a load resistance and draws a load current.
6. Energy is the capacity to do work, and work is done anytime energy is transformed from one
type to another.
7. Joule is the unit of work and energy.
8. Power is the rate at which work is performed and is given the unit of watt.
9. Power (P) = Current (I) x Voltage (V), so P=EI, E=P/I, I=P/V
10. Power can also be calculated using P=V
2
/R or P = I
2
R
11. The utility company charges per kilowatt-hour, and measures electric used through the use of
meters.
Ratios, rounding, percentages, graphs.
1. Any material that easily passes current is considered a conductor.
2. Good conductors have an incomplete valence shell (are naturally negative ions).
3. Conductance is a measure of how well a conductor carries current. It is measured in Siemens
and inversely proportional to resistance. Conductance (G) = 1/Resistance (R)
4. When considering a conductors conductance, another conductor must be used as a reference
point. Silver is given a relative value of 1.00, and other conductors are based off of that metal.
To calculate relative conductivity, divide a conductors relative conductivity by the reference
conductors relative conductivity.
5. The total resistance of a typical conductors is determined by the (1) type of conducting material
used, (2) conductors cross-sectional area, (3) total length of the conductor, (4) temperature of
the conductor. R = p x L / A (R is resistance, p is resistivity of conducting material, L is length of
conducting material, and A is area of conductor in circular mils).
6. Resistivity is the resistance (in ohms) that a certain length of conductive material will offer to
the flow of current.
7. Positive Temperature Coefficient of Resistance means that the greater the heat applied to the
conductor, the greater the atom movement, and the greater the conductor resistance.
8. The AWG (American Wire Gauge) is a standardized set of values that determines the safe
current amount for various wire sizes.
9. A wire is a single solid or stranded group of conductors having a low resistance to current flow,
whereas a cable is a group of two or more insulated wires.
10. A superconductor is a material that conducts with no electrical resistance.
11. Any material that offers a high resistance or opposition to current flow is called an insulator.
Insulators are materials that have few electrons per atom and electrons that are close to the
nucleus and cannot be easily removed.
12. The breakdown voltage of an insulator is the voltage at which breakdown of an insulator occurs.
13. An insulators dielectric thickness = voltage to insulate / insulators breakdown voltage.
14. Resistors, their values (color bands), wattage rating, tolerance, variable resistors.

Direct Current
1. Batteries consist of cells, two dissimilar separated metal plates within a container filled with
electrolyte. There are primary cell types and secondary cell types.
2. Batteries can be connected in series or in parallel (the first increases voltage, the second current
capacity).
We are denied the things we want, sometimes the things we need, in order to develop the ability to
appreciate them once weve earned them.
We are denied the things we want sometimes the things we need that we may develop a reverence
for possessing them.
Sometimes we are denied the things we want even the things we need that we may one day know a
happiness made more perfect by the pain weve experienced.
We are denied the things we want, the things we need, that we may one day be able to experience a
happiness made perfect by the pain weve known.