Fundamentals of Electricity

Basic Electronic Skills and Understanding

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Guide to Unit Standard 18239: Circuit Concepts and Measurements

Welcome to your essential guide for Unit Standard 18239. Think of this as your foundational toolkit for understanding how electronic circuits actually work.

Rather than just memorizing definitions, this guide will help you master the core electrical parameters that drive technology: charge, current, voltage, resistance, energy, and power. We will break down the essential relationships between these elements using Ohm’s Law (V=IR) and Kirchhoff’s laws , ensuring you can confidently calculate how simple circuits function.

Beyond the math, we will focus on the practical side of electronics. You will learn the correct procedures for using a multimeter to measure voltage, current, and resistance safely, as well as how to check for continuity

Whether you are starting your journey in Electronic Engineering or looking to secure your Level 2 credits, this guide covers the requisite knowledge of circuits, calculations, and safety measurements you need to succeed.

18239.pdf

Outcome 1: Electronics Basics

Electronics vs Electricity

These two concepts are not the same. So, what is the difference?

You have to be able to:

Describe electricity and where it is used
Describe electronics and name examples
Explain what the difference is between electricity and electronics

Electricity is the flow of electrons, while electronics is the use of electricity to control devices. Electricity is the fundamental energy source that powers electronic devices. Electricity is a natural phenomenon. Electronics deals with the design, construction, and operation of electronic circuits and devices.

Here is a table that summarises the key differences between electricity and electronics:

Electronics is a subset of electricity, and it relies on the fundamental principles of electricity to operate. For example, electronic devices use transistors to control the flow of current, and they use resistors, capacitors, and inductors to store and release energy.

Electronics is a rapidly growing field with many applications in our everyday lives. As technology continues to advance, electronics will play an even greater role in our society.

Here are some specific examples of how electricity and electronics are used in the real world:

Electricity: Powering homes and businesses, lighting cities, and transmitting data over long distances.
Electronics: Computers, smartphones, TVs, cars, medical devices, and industrial control systems.

Static Electricity

Static electricity is the result of an imbalance between negative and positive charges in an object. These charges can build up on the surface of an object until they find a way to be released or discharged. One way to discharge them is through a circuit. ... The electrons cling to your body until they can be released. - https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/item/how-does-static-electricity-work/

Science made Simple is a website that explains how it works

Make Sure you have covered the basics in Electrical Concepts

AC vs DC

There two types of current and voltages: AC and DC. It is important to understand how these influence the functionality of an electronic circuit.

You have to be able to:

Describe what AC is?
Describe what DC is?
Explain the difference between AC and DC?
Explain why AC and DC exist?
Describe the different applications of AC and DC current

Power

Power is the rate which work is done. In electronics that is really important as the power rating of components will determine if the circuit will function reliable and components are not destroyed because their power rating is too low.

You have to be able to:

Describe what power is
Understand the relations between power, voltage, current and resistance
Know how to identify the units of power

Outcome 2: Knowledge of Circuits

Ohm's law

Ohm's Law is a formula used to calculate the relationship between voltage, current and resistance in an electronic circuit.

You have to be able to:

Describe voltage and the units of voltage
Describe current and the units of current
Describe resistance and the units of resistance
Understand the relationship between voltage, current and resistance
Know Ohm's law and how to use it to do simple calculations
Define potential Difference (p.d.) or voltage in terms of energy and charge.

To really understand Ohm's Law we have to dig deeper into what voltage, current and resistance is.

Electric Current

An electric current is a stream of charged particles, such as electrons or ions, moving through an electrical conductor or space. ... The SI unit of electric current is the ampere, or amp, which is the flow of electric charge across a surface at the rate of one coulomb per second. -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_current

Outcome 3: Use of Multimeters

You have to be able to:

Describe what a multimeter is
Explain how a multimer function
Measure voltage, current and resistance using the multimeter
How to use multimeters for faultfinding
Use measurements as part of simulation tools

What is a multimeter?

A multimeter is a tool used to measure different aspects of electrical circuits. It combines several functions in one device, making it versatile for various tasks.

Here are its key uses:

Voltage (Volts): Measures the electrical potential in a circuit.
Current (Amps): Measures the flow of electricity in a circuit.
Resistance (Ohms): Measures how much a component resists the flow of electricity.
Continuity Test: Checks if there's a complete path for electricity between two points.
Capacitance (Farads): Measures the ability of a component to store electrical charge.

Why is important to know how it works?

Knowing how to use a multimeter is important for:

Troubleshooting: Helps find and fix issues in circuits.
Safety: Ensures safe usage and prevents accidents. Students should never measure mains.
Maintenance and Repair: Useful for keeping electronic devices in good working condition.
Quality Assurance: Ensures components meet standards during manufacturing.

In summary, a multimeter is a handy tool for measuring and understanding electricity in circuits, making it essential for both learning and practical applications.

How do we use multimeters?

There are lots of other information on the internet to find specific information.

Test yourself

This tutorial is an example for students to practise their skills. Same worksheet to the right
You can use this worksheet to test electronics components. Use a range of resistors, capacitors, diodes, LEDs, transistors, LDRs. Refer to the Electronic Components page for more information. Should add instructions for individual components.

11 ELT - Outcome 3 Multimeters Worksheet

Outcome 4: Calculating Simple Circuits

Practice Exam for Outcome 4

Use this to help find holes in your knowledge and work through the problems

11 ELT - Outcome 4 Practice Test

Bonus Knowledge: Frequency

Frequency describes the number of waves that pass a fixed place in a given amount of time. So if the time it takes for a wave to pass is is 1/2 second, the frequency is 2 cycles per second or 2Hz.

You have to be able to:

Describe what frequency is
Describe how do you determine the frequency of a signal
Know what the unit of frequency is

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