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Properties
Electricity is the directional movement of electrons carrying electrostatic charges. Electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles in the atoms that make up everything around us. These subatomic particles move in an electrical circuit because of an electromotive force. A conductor such as metal or water allows the particles to transfer their electricity. Batteries and electrical generators make electromotive force, and they route electrons to portable and stationary electrical devices.
Measuring Electricity
Three basic measurements are used to describe electricity. Resistance, which is measured in ohms, determines the amount of electricity blocked by a material. Good conductors, such as copper, have low resistance levels. Good insulators, such as rubber, have a high resistance.
Voltage, measured in volts, determines the amount of energy in electricity. The current, measured in amps, determines the amount of electrons flowing in an electrical charge.
Ohm's Law
Ohm's Law is the most important law of electricity. The law uses the voltage and resistance measurements to determine the strength of an electrical current, stating that the current is proportional to the voltage and inversely proportional to the resistance. For example, a higher voltage would mean a stronger current. A higher resistance would mean a weaker current.
Coulomb's Law
Coulomb's law states that when there are two charged particles, an electrical force is created, and that larger numbers of charged particles cause higher forces. The formula associated with Coulomb's law measures the electrical force between two objects, similar to the formula for gravity. The formula uses the distance between the two objects, the amount of charge in each object, and a constant to determine the force.