The Power of Moving Charges

Electricity is the flow of electric charge, and circuits are the paths that charges travel along. Understanding circuits is key for everything from heart pacemakers to smartphones.

Current and Voltage

• Current (\(I\)): The flow of electric charge, measured in amperes (A).
• Voltage (\(V\)): The electric potential difference that pushes charges through a circuit.

Resistance and Ohm's Law

• Resistance (\(R\)): How much a material opposes current, measured in ohms (Ω).
• Ohm's Law: \( V = IR \)

Series and Parallel Circuits

• Series: One path for current; the same current flows through all components.
• Parallel: Multiple paths; voltage is the same across each path.

Real-World Connection

Electrical circuits are everywhere, from the wiring in your house to the neurons firing in your brain.