Electricity Concepts
10 concepts · Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 · 21 prerequisite connections
Electricity is the study of electric charge in motion. Starting from the basic idea that charges attract and repel, students build up to current (flowing charge), voltage (energy per charge), and resistance (how materials oppose flow). Ohm's law ties these together, and circuits — series and parallel — show how components combine in real devices like flashlights, phone chargers, and household wiring. Circuit diagrams provide the visual language for analyzing any electrical system.
This family view narrows the full physics map to one connected cluster. Read it from left to right: earlier nodes support later ones, and dense middle sections usually mark the concepts that hold the largest share of future work together.
Use the graph to plan review, then use the full concept list below to open precise pages for definitions, examples, formulas, and related guides.
Concept Dependency Graph
Concepts flow left to right, from foundational to advanced. Hover to highlight connections. Click any concept to learn more.
Connected Families
Electricity concepts have 4 connections to other families.
All Electricity Concepts
Electric Charge
A fundamental property of matter that causes it to experience a force in an electromagnetic field. Measured in coulombs (C).
Electric Current
The rate of flow of electric charge through a conductor. Measured in amperes (A).
Voltage
The difference in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points. Measured in volts (V).
Resistance
A measure of how much a material opposes the flow of electric current. Measured in ohms (\(\Omega\)).
Ohm's Law
The relationship stating that voltage across a conductor equals the current through it multiplied by its resistance.
Circuit
A closed loop of conducting material through which electric current can flow, typically including a power source and one or more components.
Series Circuit
A circuit in which components are connected end-to-end, so the same current flows through each one.
Parallel Circuit
A circuit in which components are connected across the same two points, so each has the same voltage across it.
Circuit Diagram
A simplified drawing of an electrical circuit using standardized symbols for components like batteries, resistors, switches, and bulbs.
Electrical Power
The rate at which electrical energy is converted to other forms of energy (heat, light, motion). Measured in watts (W).