Alternating current:
 An electric current that reverses directions at regular intervals (typically 60 times a second); abbreviated "AC." This current is found in homes.
Ampere, Amps:
 The measurement of the flow of an electric current through a conductor.
Anemometer:
 An instrument for measuring wind speed and velocity.

Battery:
 A single electric cell, or group of connected cells, that produces a direct electric current.
Biomass: Organic materials such as plants and animal waste that can be used as a fuel.
Blackout:
 The total loss of electric power supplied by the electric company.
Brownout:
 A temporary reduction of voltage supplied by the electric company. Typically causes lights to dim.

Cell:
 A container filled with a chemical substance consisting of electrodes and electrolytes that produce an electric current by chemical action.
Charge:
 Electricity produced by a surplus (positive) or shortage (negative) of electrons in an object.
Circuit: A complete or partial path followed by a flow of electric current.
Conductor: A substance or material that allows electrons, or electrical current, to flow through it.
Current: The flow of electricity through a conductor.

Direct current:
 An electric current flowing in only one direction; abbreviated "DC".
Dynamo: The first type of large generator developed for a power plant.

Electricity:
 The phenomena arising from the behavior of electrons and protons that is caused by the attraction of particles with opposite charges and the repulsion of particles with the same charge.
Electrolysis:
 The production of chemical energy by passing an electric current through a liquid called an electrolyte.
Electromagnet: A coil of wire that is wrapped around a soft iron core that is magnetized when electric current flows through it.
Electron: A negatively charged particle that rotates around the nucleus of an atom.
Energy: The power for doing work.

Fuel cell: A device in which a fuel, such as hydrogen gas, is combined with oxygen to produce electricity, water, and heat.
Fuse:
 A safety device with a metal wire or strip that melts when the current gets too strong, cutting off the flow of the electrical current.

Generator: A machine for producing electrical current when rotated by an external driver such as a turbine.
Geothermal energy: The heat energy that is stored below the earth's surface.
Ground:
 A connection from an electrical circuit to the earth.
Grid:
 The power highways for electricity, including substations and large power lines.

Hydroelectricity: Electric energy made by the conversion of energy produced from running water.

Insulator: An object or material that does not let electricity pass through it.

Kilowatt (kW): A unit for measuring electrical energy.
1,000 watts = 1 kilowatt
Kilowatt Hour (kWh):

The use of 1,000 watts of electricity for one full hour.
1 kWh = ten 100 watt bulbs all burning at the same time for one hour.
10 bulbs x 100 watts each x 1 hour = 1,000 watts hours or 1kWh.

Lightning: A static electrical discharge between two clouds or between a cloud and the earth accompanied by a flash of light.
Load:
 The power output of a generator or power plant. Also, the resistance of a device to which power is delivered.

Magnet: An object surrounded by a magnetic field that has the ability to attract iron or steel.
Magnetic field: A detected force that exists around a magnet.
Mechanical energy: The energy of motion used to perform work.
Megawatt: One million watts, or 1,000 kW.
Meter: An instrument that records or regulates the amount of something passing through it, like electricity, water, or gas.
Motor:
 A machine that produces motion or power for doing work.

Nuclear power: The energy produced by splitting atoms in a nuclear reactor.

Ohms: The unit of measurement of the electrical resistance of a material to the flow of current.

Photosynthesis: The process in which green plants absorb the energy of sunlight to produce carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of chlorophyll.
Photovoltaic: Capable of producing a voltage when exposed to light or other radiation.
Power:
 The force or energy used to do work.

Radio: The sending or receiving of messages or effects, like sound, by means of electromagnetic waves through the air without a connecting wire.
Resistance:
 The opposition of a body or substance to electric current passing through.

Socket:
 A hollow opening or cavity into which something fits, such as an electric light socket.
Solar energy:
 Energy produced by the action of the sun's light or heat.
Static electricity: An electrical charge that builds up due to friction between two dissimilar materials. Friction removes some electrons from one object and deposits them on the other.
Switch:
 A device for connecting, breaking, or changing the connections in an electrical circuit.

Thermal: Of, using, producing, or caused by heat.
Transformer: A device that raises or lowers the voltage or force of AC electricity.
Turbine-generator: A machine in which the energy of a moving fluid, such as water or steam, is converted to mechanical power that drives an electric generator.

Volt: A unit for measuring the force used to produce an electric current; the push or force that moves electric current through a conductor.

Watt: A unit for measuring electric power.
1 Kilowatt = 1000 watts.
1 Megawatt = 1,000,000 watts.
Wind turbine: A machine that captures the energy of the wind and transfers the motion to an electric generator shaft.