Introduction to Electrical Safety
- All matter is made up of atoms, and atoms are made up of smaller particles
- The three main particles making up an atom are the proton, the neutron and the electron
- The simple definition of “ELECTRICITY” is the flow of electrons through a conductor
- Electricity is conducted through some materials better than others
- Its resistance measures how well something conducts electricity
- Some things hold their electrons very tightly
- Electrons do not move through them very well
- These things are called insulators
- Rubber, plastic, cloth, glass and dry air are good insulators and have very high resistance.
- Other materials have some loosely held electrons, which move through them very easily
- These are called conductors
- Most metals -- like copper, aluminum or steel -- are good conductors
