PRESENTED BY

C.Muthukumar.,M.E.,PGD.EEM&EA.,
BASIC ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
ATOM
ATOM CONSTRUCTION
CONDUCTORS
INSULATORS
SEMI-CONDUCTORS
VOLTAGE
CURRENT
RESISTORS
ELECTRICITY
DIRECT CURRENT
ALTERNATING CURRENT
ATOM
One of the basic building blocks in the universe for
matter is the atom.
All matter - gas, liquid, or solid - is made up of
molecules or atoms joined together.
These atoms are the smallest particle into which an
element or substance can be divided without losing its
property.
A single atom consists of three basic components:
 PROTON

 ELECTRON

 NEUTRON
THE ATOM
ATOM CONSTRUCTION
An atom is similar to a miniature solar system.
As the sun is in the center of the solar system, so is the
nucleus is in the center of the atom.
 Protons and neutrons are contained within the
nucleus.
Electrons orbit around the nucleus, which would be
similar to planets orbiting around the sun.
ATOM CONSTRUCTION
NUCLEUS
The Nucleus is located in the center of the atom.
The Nucleus contains the protons and neutrons.
Orbiting around the nucleus are the electrons.
PROTONS
Protons are located within the nucleus of the atom
(shown in blue).
Protons are positively (+) charged.
NEUTRONS
Neutrons add atomic weight to an atom (shown in
green).
Neutrons have no electrical charge.
ELECTRONS
Electrons orbit around the nucleus of the atom (shown in
yellow).
Electrons are negatively (-) charged.
Since electrons are lighter than protons and are outside the
nucleus, they can be easily moved from atom to atom to
form a flow of electrons.
Normally electrons are prevented from being pulled into
the atom by the forward momentum of their rotation.
Electrons are also prevented from flying away because of
the magnetic attraction of the protons inside the nucleus,
the same type of force that keeps the planets orbiting
around the sun.
ELECTRONS
FREE ELECTRONS
Only the FREE ELECTRONS in the outermost shell
(Valance Ring) are free to move from atom to atom.
This movement is called ELECTRON FLOW.
These FREE ELECTRONS are loosely held and can
easily be moved to another atom or ion.
Because of their distance from the nucleus, free
electrons have a weak magnetic attraction.
Since this attraction is not as strong to the nucleus as
the bound electrons on the inner orbits, the electrons
move easily from atom to atom.
FREE ELECTRONS
CONDUCTORS
CONDUCTORS
A CONDUCTOR is any material that easily allows
electrons (electricity) to flow.
A CONDUCTOR has 1 to 3 free electrons in the outer
ring.Because atoms with 1 to 3 electrons in the outer
ring are held (bound) loosely to the atom, they can
easily move to another atom or make room for more
electrons.
Conductor material includes copper and gold.
SEMI-CONDUCTORS
SEMICONDUCTORS
Any material with exactly 4 free flectrons in the outer
orbit are called SEMICONDUCTORS.
A semiconductor is neither a conductor or insulator.
Semiconductor material includes carbon, silicon, and
germanium.
These materials are be used in the manufacturer of
diodes, transistors, and integrated circuit chips.
INSULATORS
INSULATORS
An INSULATOR is any material that inhibits (stops)
the flow of electrons (electricity).
An insulator is any material with 5 to 8 free electrons
in the outer ring.Because, atoms with 5 to 8 electrons
in the outer ring are held (bound) tightly to the atom,
they CANNOT be easily moved to another atom nor
make room for more electrons.
Insulator material includes glass, rubber, and plastic.
VOLTAGE
Voltage is the electrical force that moves electrons
through a conductor.
Voltage is electrical pressure also known as EMF
(Electro Motive Force) that pushes electrons.
The greater the difference in electrical potential push
(difference between positive and negative), the greater
the voltage force potential.
VOLTAGE
MEASUREMENT OF VOLTAGE
 A VOLTMETER measures the voltage potential across or parallel to the
circuit.
 The Voltmeter measures the amount of electrical pressure difference
between two points being measured.
 Voltage can exist between two points without electron flow.
UNIT OF VOLTAGE
Voltage is measured in units called VOLTS.
Voltage measurements can use different value prefixes
such as millivolt, volt, Kilovolt, and Megavolt.
LESS THAN LARGER THAN
VOLTAGE BASIC UNIT
BASE UNIT BASE UNIT

Symbol mV V kV

Pronounced millivolt Volt Kilovolt

Multiplier 0.001 1 1,000

CURRENT
CURRENT is the quantity or flow rate of electrons
moving past a point within one second.
Current flow is also known as amperage, or amps for
short.
Higher voltage will produce higher current flow, and
lower voltage will produce lower current flow.
CURRENT
MEASUREMENT OF CURRENT
An AMMETER measures the quantity of current flow.
Ammeters are placed in series (inline) to count the
electrons passing through it.
Example: A water meter counts the gallons of water
flowing through it.
UNIT OF CURRENT
Current flow is measured in units called Amperes or
AMPS.
Amperage measurements can use different value
prefixes, such as microamp, milliamp, and Amp.
LESS THAN LESS THAN
AMPERAGE BASIC UNIT
BASE UNIT BASE UNIT

Symbol µA mA A

Pronounced Microamp milliamp Amp

Multiplier 0.000001 0.001 1

RESISTANCE
Resistance is the force that reduces or stops the flow of
electrons. It opposes voltage.
Higher resistance will decrease the flow of electrons
and lower resistance will allow more electrons to flow.
STATIC ELECTRICITY
Voltage potential with NO electron flow.
Example: By rubbing a silk cloth on a glass rod, you
physically remove electrons from the glass rod and
place them on the cloth. The cloth now has a surplus
of electrons (negatively charged), and the rod now has
a deficiency of electrons (positively charged).
Another example: Rub your shoes on a rug and then
touch a metal table or chair .... Zap!! The shock you felt
was the static electricity dissipating through your
body.
STATIC ELECTRICITY
DYNAMIC ELECTRICITY
DYNAMIC ELECTRICITY is electricity in motion,
meaning you have electrons flowing, in other words
voltage potential WITH electron flow.
Two types of dynamic electricity exists:
Direct Current (DC)
Alternating Current (AC)
DIRECT CURRENT
Electricity with electrons flowing in only one direction
is called Direct Current or DC.
DC electrical systems are used in cars.
ALTERNATING CURRENT
Electricity with electrons flowing back and forth,
negative - positive- negative, is called Alternating
Current, or AC.
The electrical appliances in your home use AC power.
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