Amperage, amps
A measurement of the amount of electric current.

Atom
The smallest unit of matter. Scientists so far have found 112 different kinds of atoms. Everything in the world is made of different combinations of these atoms.

Biomass
Organic materials, such as wood by-products and agricultural wastes, that can be burned to produce energy or converted into a gas and used for fuel.

Circuit
A circular path in which electricity travels.

Conductor
Something that allows electricity to flow through it easily. Water and most metals are good conductors. Conductors can allow electricity to flow through them because the electrons in their atoms move between atoms very easily.

Current
The movement or flow of electricity.

Distribution wires
Power lines that carry electricity through towns and neighborhoods to homes and businesses. Distribution lines can run overhead or underground.

Electricity
The flow of electrons.

Electron
The basic particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom. The flow of electrons produces electricity.

Energy
The ability to do work. People get energy from food. Your toaster and your washing machine get their energy from electricity.

Fission
The splitting apart of an atom’s nucleus, releasing a large amount of heat energy.

Fluorescent bulb
A lightbulb that emits light because the gas inside it glows when it is charged by electricity.

Fuel cell
A technology that produces electricity through a chemical reaction similar to that found in a battery.

Generator
A machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Geothermal energy
Energy that is generated by converting hot water or steam from deep beneath the Earth’s surface into electricity.

Hydroelectricity
Electricity that is generated when falling water makes a turbine spin.

Insulator
Something that does not allow electricity to flow through it easily. Glass and special rubber are good insulators. Insulators do not allow electricity to flow through them easily because the electrons in their atoms do not move easily from atom to atom.

Incandescent bulb
A lightbulb that emits light due to the glowing of a heated filament inside it.

Kilowatt
1,000 watts of electricity.

Kilowatt-hour
One kilowatt of electricity produced or used in one hour.

Megawatt
1,000,000 watts of power or 1,000 kilowatts.

Natural gas
A gas used as a fuel, which is formed naturally in the earth when organic material decomposes under pressure.

Neutron
A basic particle in an atom’s nucleus that has a neutral electrical charge.

Nucleus
The center of an atom. The nucleus contains tiny particles called protons and neutrons. Orbiting around the nucleus are electrons.

Photovoltaic cell
A device that changes sunlight directly into electricity.

Power plant
A place where electricity is generated.

Power line
A wire used to carry electricity. Power lines are located high overhead or buried underground.

Proton
A basic particle in an atom’s nucleus that has a positive electrical charge.

Solar energy
Electricity produced from the sun’s radiation.

Substation
A facility where transformers lower electricity’s voltage.

Transformer
A device used to increase or decrease electricity’s voltage and current.

Transmission lines
Power lines that carry high-voltage electricity long distances.

Turbine
A device used in the generation of electricity. It has a shaft with blades at one end and electromagnets at the other. Water or steam or some other energy source pushes the blades, which make the shaft and the magnets spin very fast. The magnet end is surrounded by heavy coils of copper wire, and the spinning magnets cause electrons in the wire to begin to move, creating electricity.

Utility
A company or other organization that provides a public service, such as supplying electricity, natural gas, or water.

Voltage, volts
A measure of the pressure under which electricity flows.

Wattage, watts
A measure of the amount of work done by a certain amount or amperage of electric current at a certain pressure or voltage.