After studying this chapter, you will be
able to
• describe the makeup of an atom,
• explain the relationships between
valence shells, free electrons, and conduction,
• describe the fundamental (coulomb)
force within an atom, and the energy
required to create free electrons,
• describe what ions are and how they are
created,
• describe the characteristics of conductors,
insulators, and semiconductors,
• describe the coulomb as a measure of
charge,
• define voltage,
• describe how a battery “creates” voltage,
• explain current as a movement of charge
and how voltage causes current in a conductor,
• describe important battery types and
their characteristics,
• describe how to measure voltage and
current.