The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-07-03
rHE ELECTRICAL DICTIONARY
Things That Everyone Should Know
About Electricity


that everyone should know and under
stand the electrical terms now part
of our language. The following def
intions of commonplace ldctrical
terms, as explained by General Elec
trio engineer, will be found interest
ing and Instructive:
Alternating current-Electric cur
rent which reverses its direction of
flow periodically
Ampere-The practical unit of cleo
trio current indicating quantity not
pressure. One ampere is the amount
of current which will pass through a
resistance of one ohm under a pres
sure of one volt.
Archie brilliant bow of light
which appears between the slightly
separated terminals of an electric cir
cult carrying sufficiently powerful
current
Armature-The soft iron keeper"
which is placed across the poles of
any magnet. The movable attracted
part of any electromagnetic appara-
tus That part of an electric dynamo
carrying the conductors in which the
current is generated. That part of
an electric motor which generates
mechanical power.
Brushes-The electrical conductors
which transmit current to revolving
parts of apparatus by sliding contact,
as on a dynamo or motor
dle-Power-The amount of light
given by standard sperm candle
and the unit of measurement of illu-
minating power.
Carbon-An elementary nonmetal-
lie electrical conductor much used in
the electrical arts. 1t is used for the
inactive element of battery cells, tne
electrodes or terminals of arc lamps,
the brushes of dynamos an motors,
etc. Arc lamp carbons are in the
form of round rods.
Choking COLA coil of insulated
wire found on an iron core in such
manner as to possess high self Undue
lance. 1t is used to obstruct or cut
off an excess of alternating current
with a minimum loss of power The
greater the frequency of the alterna-
ting current, the greater the choking
effect.
Circuit-A complete conducting
path for an electric current.
Circuit, Short-A circuit of low re-
sistance. An accidental connection
through which the current flows des.
erting its proper path.
Commutator-A mechanical device
for changing the ERECTION of electric
current. That revolving part of dir
ect current dynamo or motor which
makes sliding contact with the brush
es, the parts of the commutator being
connecte to the armaturs
Conductor-Any material through
which electric current will flow. All
the metals, the earth, most chemical
and some of the nonmetal-
lie elements, as carbon, etc, are con-
iuctors.
Cycle-A completed single action of
an alternating current during which
it starts at zero flows in one direct
Ion returns to zero, starts and flows
in the opposite direction, and returns
TO zero again The frequency of al
ternating current is usually expressed
In the number of cycles per second.
Direct current-Electric current
which flows continuously in the same
direction.
electromagnetic coil of insulated
wire wound upon core of iron which
becomes a magnet only ynile electric
current is flowing through the wire.
Field-The region of magnetic in
huence surrounding the poles Of
Field magnet-That part of dyna-
mo or motor whose magnetism is con-
tinuous. 1t is always stationary in
irect current machines but may be
either stationary or revolving In alter
mating current machines.
Filament-The part of an incandes-
cent lamp that emits light 1t is
thin conuctor of high resistance: usu-
ally of carbon, but lately being made
of special metals.
Frequency-Tne number of times
in a given period an alternating cur
rent changes it's direction. 1t is ex-
in alterations per min
ute.
Fuse-A short conductor of rela-
lively high resistance an low melting
point which melts and breaks the cir
cult in case the current becomes
stronger than its rated value thus
the apparatus in the cir
cult from. damage.
Generator-Any apparatus capable
Of proucing electric current Usually
applied to a machine operated by me-
power. A dynamo.
Ground-The earth wnen used as
IN electrical conductor. Any electri
al connection with the earth. A |
aulty point in circuit, through |
which the current escapes to earth. |
Horse Power-The unit of mechan-
cal power. One horse power will
aise $4,000 pounds one foot in one
minute. An electrical horse power is
46 watts.
Incandescent lamp-An electric
gnt depending for its Illuminating
over on a filament of high resis-
lnce which is heated white hot by
lie passage of electric current of pro-
er strength.
Induction-The influence exerted
trough space by magnet or a cur d.
mt bearing wire.
Insulator-Any material or sub
ance which will not conduct cleo
ic current or whose resistance is so
hig1 that practically no
TRENT passes. Glass, ry wood, rub
,r, silk, wax, shellac, etc, are insu-
tors.
thousand watts.
ne unit of large electrical powers.
Ohm-The unit of electrical resis- =
nee. All electrical conductors offer
ore or less resistance to the pas