Scientific notation and metric prefixes : significant digits, rounding off to three significant digits, metric prefixesand multiplication and division with powers of 10

5–4 SIGNIFICANT DIGITS Most practical calculations are generally limited to only three significant digits. What does this statement mean? An example will make this clear. Assume that some friends you know want to brag about the performance of their new automobile. They tell you that they clocked their speed at 104.6784935 miles per hour. (That […]
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Scientific notation and metric prefixes : rationale for studying this unit, powers of 10 and scientific notation

Scientific Notation and Metric Prefixes 5–1 RATIONALE FOR STUDYING THIS UNIT Personnel working in the field of electricity and electronics are frequently called upon to perform mathematical calculations in order to predict or confirm proper circuit operation. The numbers involved in such calculations are often extremely large or extremely small. For example, you may remember […]
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Scientific notation and metric prefixes : rationale for studying this unit, powers of 10 and scientific notation

Scientific Notation and Metric Prefixes 5–1 RATIONALE FOR STUDYING THIS UNIT Personnel working in the field of electricity and electronics are frequently called upon to perform mathematical calculations in order to predict or confirm proper circuit operation. The numbers involved in such calculations are often extremely large or extremely small. For example, you may remember […]
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Basic circuit concepts : a simple electric circuit , open circuits and closed circuits , the schematic diagram , basic circuit notation , the short circuit , electrical safety , national electrical code ® and summary of basic circuit concepts

4–6 A SIMPLE ELECTRIC CIRCUIT Figure 4–7 represents a simple, functional circuit. The necessary elements of such a circuit are described as source, load, conductors, and control. The first three of these terms are closely linked with the four important concepts discussed in Sections 4–2 to 4–5. The source represents the voltage that forces the […]
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Basic circuit concepts : a simple electric circuit , open circuits and closed circuits , the schematic diagram , basic circuit notation , the short circuit , electrical safety , national electrical code ® and summary of basic circuit concepts

4–6 A SIMPLE ELECTRIC CIRCUIT Figure 4–7 represents a simple, functional circuit. The necessary elements of such a circuit are described as source, load, conductors, and control. The first three of these terms are closely linked with the four important concepts discussed in Sections 4–2 to 4–5. The source represents the voltage that forces the […]
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Basic circuit concepts : four measurable circuit quantities, voltage, current, resistance and watts

Basic Circuit Concepts 4–1 FOUR MEASURABLE CIRCUIT QUANTITIES In dealing with any useful quantity, whether vegetables, steel bars, or electrons, a system of measurement must be used to keep track of the production, transfer, and use of the commodity. So it is with electric circuits that are arranged to obtain practical use of electrical energy. […]
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Basic circuit concepts : four measurable circuit quantities, voltage, current, resistance and watts

Basic Circuit Concepts 4–1 FOUR MEASURABLE CIRCUIT QUANTITIES In dealing with any useful quantity, whether vegetables, steel bars, or electrons, a system of measurement must be used to keep track of the production, transfer, and use of the commodity. So it is with electric circuits that are arranged to obtain practical use of electrical energy. […]
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Electrostatics : stationary electrons , electroscopes , electrostatic induction , lightning , nuisance static charges , useful static charges , potential energy of electrons , electrostatic lines of force and summary of electrostatics .

Electrostatics 3–1 STATIONARY ELECTRONS The word static means that something is at rest; it is not going anywhere. There- fore, static electricity is a charge that is stationary; it is not a current. A good deal can be learned about electrons when they are stationary. Even though they are not traveling, electrons do not sit […]
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Electrostatics : stationary electrons , electroscopes , electrostatic induction , lightning , nuisance static charges , useful static charges , potential energy of electrons , electrostatic lines of force and summary of electrostatics .

Electrostatics 3–1 STATIONARY ELECTRONS The word static means that something is at rest; it is not going anywhere. There- fore, static electricity is a charge that is stationary; it is not a current. A good deal can be learned about electrons when they are stationary. Even though they are not traveling, electrons do not sit […]
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Electricity production and use : electricity production and use , electricity from friction , electricity from magnetism , electricity from chemical energy , electricity from light , electricity from heat , electricity from mechanical pressure: piezoelectricity , the effects of electricity and summary of electricity production and use

  Electricity Production and Use 2–1 ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION BY ENERGY CONVERSION As we have seen in Chapter 1, electricity is a form of natural energy and, thus, can neither be created nor destroyed. What mankind has learned, however, is to derive the desired electrical effect from the conversion of any of the existing types of […]
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