Basic Electrical Concepts

Learning objectives:

  • Identify the types of electrical energy.
  • Discuss the composition of the atom and its relation to electrical charge.
  • Explain the characteristics of current, voltage, and resistance.
  • Explain Kirchhoff’s Current Law and Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law
  • Calculate equivalent resistance of series and parallel resistive circuits.
  • Calculate DC circuit parameters using Ohm’s Law, Kirchhoff’s Current Law, and Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law.
  • Describe the characteristics of capacitors and capacitance.
  • Describe the characteristics of inductors and inductance.
  • Describe the construction and operation of a simple AC generator.
  • Define inductive reactance.
  • Calculate the inductive reactance of a simple AC circuit.
  • Define capacitive reactance.
  • Calculate the capacitive reactance of a simple AC circuit.
  • Define impedance.
  • Describe the relationship between apparent, true, and reactive power.
  • Define power factor as it relates to true power and apparent power.