Multimeters in the Real World

Multimeters in the Real World 

Multimeter: (n.) an instrument designed to measure electric current, voltage, and usually resistance, typically over several ranges of value. Now what the heck does that mean? Well, a multimeter is simply used to measure things such as current, voltage and resistance. This tool is typical for workers such as electricians and contractors who deal with having to set up wires and electricity in a home. 

I felt that the picture above was appropriate because it depicts an electrician using his multimeter in his workplace, thus using it in the real world. 

Energy and How it is used in my home

Energy: (n.) the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity. 

For me personally, my family and I use majority of our energy through power strips and outlets in small household appliances such as chargers, internet and cable modems, televisions and various other appliances plugged into the infinite amount of power strips we leave plugged into the wall sucking power we're not using, thus the picture above. Granted, we remember to set our water heater to a certain temperature so that we aren't using too much energy along with remembering to turn off the lights we don't need, but there is always someone leaving their power strip with their charger, hair dryer curling iron and flat iron on in their bathroom that just sucks out energy that no one is using. 

Series and parallel circuits

Series: a circuit in which resistors are arranged the same, so that the current only has one path to take.
Equation: R(total)=R1+R2...
Parallel: a circuit in which resistors are arranged with their heads connected together and their tails connected together. 
Equation: 1/R(total) = 1/R1+1/R2... 

The picture above, although it may not be an original picture, I feel like it ideally depicts exactly what a series diagram is because it shows the pathway that the current flows on. It also shows that as the energy flows to each lightbulb, each one of them get dimmer as the current goes on. 

I know it may be hard to understand exactly what is going on in this picture, considering how small my TV is and how far away it is from the light, but the point of this picture is to show you how parallel circuits work. Without parallel circuits, my TV being on along with the light in my room at the same time would not be as bright as they are in this picture. This is because with the parallel circuits, current has more than one way it can flow, making it easier for the power to get to more than one thing at once. Thus making it possible for both my TV and light to be on at the same time without either one being inefficient or dim. 

Ohm's Law, Power, Applications in Real Life

Ohm's Law: states the during the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the potential difference across two points. Basically, saying that current is inversely related to voltage and resistance. Ohm's are also the units for resistors. 

Equation: I=V/R

Power: the amount of energy consumed per unit time. The unit of power is amp.

Equation: P=W/t

The picture you see above is a prime example of Ohm's law because it shows what the product of Ohm's law is. The calculator you see above is powered by batteries, connected to those batteries are wires that are all connected onto a control panel that trigger different signs and signals to make different numbers and functions appear on the screen of the calculator. The battery source provides voltage, the amount of battery source that is required to run the calculator is the power used. 

What is Electricity?

Electricity

Electricity: a form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles (such as electrons and protons), either statically as an accumulation of charge or dynamically as a current. 

Example: 

Importance of Electricity: Electricity is essential the energy that runs the earth. From the wheels that turn in our brains to the energy needed to run the lives we leave today. 
Electrical Current: Electrical Current is the flow of electric charges, usually carried by moving electrons in a wire. 

The picture above (and yes i did get it from the internet...sorry Mr. Blake) is multiple examples of current in different situations. 

Electrical Resistance: is an electric quantity that measures how the device or material reduces the electric current flow through it. The equation is R= p x l/A (Resistance = the resistivity x the length of the conductor / the cross sectional area of the conductor). Units are ohms.  

Capacitance in Everyday Life

Capacitance

Capacitance is the property of an electric nonconductor that permits the storage of energy as a result of the separation of charge that occurs when opposite surfaces of the nonconductor are maintained at a difference of potential. And yes I know, that is an unnecessarily long and confusing definition of a capacitor. So to sum it up, a capacitor is basically a converter of energy that can take electrons from a battery, then when it reaches its capacity, it stops receiving charge. If the battery is then replaced by a wire, or conductor, the capacitor will generate energy into whatever it is powering until charges are even. 

Equations: E= 2k(pie)J/ J= Q/A

Picture: The picture above is a diagram of a conductor and how it works. In this picture we can see how the capacitor takes the energy from the battery, while the battery is still charging the lightbulb, it is also charging the capacitor. However, if the battery was removed and replaced with a different conductor the capacitor would suffice as an energy source. Large capacitors can hold much larger amounts of energy that takes the place of batteries. 

Electrostatics #2

Electrostatics

As I stated in the previous blogpost, Electrostatics is the study of stationary electric charges or fields as opposed to electric currents. In the picture above, we see myself touching an electrostatic generator and because of the electricity surging through my body trying to find a way out my hair is starting to stick up. If I were to touch metal, which I did, I would be shocked, which I was, which was also not fun. This is an example of electrostatics because it demonstrates how electricity works, because my body is more of an insulator in this sense and because I am being charged by the generator when I touch metal, which has a completely different charge than I do, I will get shocked as the electricity transfers from my body to the chair and into the ground.