•What is an Atom?

• An atom is the smallest particle

on any element.
• Element – oxygen (O) or
hydrogen (H)
• Compound – two or more
elements combined together –
water (H2O)
• Molecule – Smallest particle of
compound
• Atom Basics
• Valence Ring
• Free Electrons
Conductor
• Supports the flow of electrons

• Popular Conductors:
– Copper, Silver, gold, iron, aluminum
– Each have three or less free
electrons in it’s valence ring.
Insulators
• Cannot support the flow of
electrons
• Five of more free electrons in
it’s valence ring
• Popular insulators:
– Glass, plastic, rubber, paper, wood
Semiconductors
• Not good conductors or
insulators
• Four free electrons in valence
ring.
• Silicon most popular, made from
sand
Electricity
• Electricity is the flow of
electrons through a conductor.
• The human body runs on
electrical impulses
• The human body conducts
electricity!!!
Electrical Theories
• Electron theory – electrons
moving from negative to positive

• Conventional theory – electrons

flow from positive to negative

• Does it make a difference?

Electromotive Force
-Voltage

03/08/21 NS Yagnik
ADIT
Electrical Flow – Current

03/08/21 NS Yagnik
ADIT
AC/DC
• Alternating current – Voltage
that moves from positive to
negative at a frequency that can
vary

• Direct Current – Voltage stays

the same in moves in one
direction
Electrical Restriction –
Resistance

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ADIT
Review
• Voltage – Electrical pressure, potential,
measured in Volts

• Current – Flow of electrons past a certain

point in a given time, measured in Amps:
6.25 Billion Billion electrons per second = 1
amp

• Resistance – Opposition to current flow,

load or work, consumes voltage, measured
in ohms
• Conductors
• Materials that
allow electricity to
flow easily thru it
– Material made up
of atoms with
the valance ring
(outer) with 1, 2,
or 3 electrons
• Most metals
• Insulators
• Materials that don’t’
allow electricity to flow
easily thru it
– Material made up of
atoms with the
valance ring with 5,
6, 7, or 8 electrons
• Air
• Glass
• Paper
• Wood
• Semi Conductors
• Materials that are
not good
conductors or good
insulators
– Material made up
of atoms with
the valance ring
with 4 electrons
• Carbon (C)
• Silicon (Si)
Electricity

• The flow of
electrons
– How do we get
electrons to
flow?
• Electrons being
held In orbit by
the attraction Of
the protons
Atoms loosing or gaining
electrons
• All atoms have an equal number of
protons and electrons
• When an atom looses one electron
it becomes a Positive Ion
– It is now unstable and wants an electron
back to become stable
• When an atom gains an electron it
becomes a Negative Ion
– It is now unstable and wants to get rid of an
electron to become stable
 Voltage
• Electrical pressure (pushes current) Atoms that are
short electrons and atoms with extra electrons
– Unit of measure is the volt
– Measured with a voltmeter
Ways to make voltage
• Magnets
Most common
• Chemical
• Pressure
• Heat
• Light
• Friction
Current
• The directed movement of
electrons or the flow.
(pushed by voltage)
 Unit of measure is the
amp or ampere
• Measured with an
ammeter or amp meter
• Ohms Law
• Current flow is strictly a result of
how much voltage and resistance
there is
– To get more current
• Increase voltage
• Decrease resistance
• Or both
– To get less current to flow
• Decrease voltage
• Increase resistance
• Or both
Automobile electrical
system.
• Generation, storage and
distribution system.
• Starting system.
• Charging system.
• Ignition system.
• Accessory system.
Automobile electronic
system
• Sensors and Actuators
• Diodes
• Transistors