Introduction to Electricity

Getting the most out of our photovoltaic training program requires that students have a fundamental a basic understanding of electrical:

systems (properties & terminology)
components (installation & use)

Video

In order to help potential students prepare for this course of study, this 22 minute video explores:

fundamentals
methods of generation
common tools

Quiz

Test your knowledge of these topics. Should you desire to learn more about this topic, we encourage you to participate in a physics or introductory electronics class at one of the many community colleges throughout the state.

Introduction to Electricity from Florida Solar Energy Center on Vimeo.

Presentation handouts are available in PDF.
Click here to download the file.

1. Ohm's Law is given by which of the following equations:

a. V = IP
b. R = IV
c. P = IV
d. V = IR

2. Voltage can be described as which of the following:

a. the capacity to perform work
b. the rate of charge flow
c. a difference in electric charge between two different positions
d. the rate at which energy is transferred, produced, or consumed

3. If you measured the following voltage signal over time with a multimeter, would you consider it a DC or AC signal?

a. DC
b. AC

4. Consider four DC sources with the same current and voltage output, 6.8 amps and 23 volts respectively. If all four sources are all connected in series, what would be the current output?

a. 27.2 amps
b. 13.6 amps
c. 6.8 amps
d. 3.4 amps

5. Consider four DC sources with the same current and voltage output, 6.8 amps and 23 volts respectively. If all four sources are all connected in series, what would be the voltage output?

a. 92 volts
b. 46 volts
c. 23 volts
d. 11.5 volts

6. Consider four DC sources with the same current and voltage output, 6.8 amps and 23 volts respectively. If all four sources are all connected parallel, what would be the current output?

a. 27.2 amps
b. 13.6 amps
c. 6.8 amps
d. 3.4 amps

7. Consider four DC sources with the same current and voltage output, 6.8 amps and 23 volts respectively. If all four sources are all connected parallel, what would be the voltage output?

a. 92 volts
b. 46 volts
c. 23 volts
d. 11.5 volts

8. Which equation describes the relationship between power, current, and voltage:

a. V = IP
b. R = IV
c. P = IV
d. V = IR

Current flow from voltage source to resistor 9. What is the power delivered to the load in this circuit if the resistor is 2 ohms and the voltage source is 7 volts?

a. 43 watts
b. 24.5 watts
c. 14 watts
d. 7.35 watts

10. What type of power source is a fossil fuel generator?

a. DC
b. AC

11. What type of power source is an array of solar panels?

a. DC
b. AC

12. Would you classify the following as centralized or distributed generation – a large 10 MW photovoltaic system located 4 miles away from a community, where power is sent to the community via high voltage transmission lines?

a. centralized generation
b. distributed generation

13. Would you classify the following as centralized or distributed generation – a 5 kW photovoltaic system installed on a residential home and directly interfaced to the home’s electrical system?

a. centralized generation
b. distributed generation

14. What dictates a conductor’s ability to act as a barrier to the environment – for example, resistance to UV light, moisture, etc.?

a. conductor size
b. ampacity
c. type of insulation
d. conductor material (i.e. copper or aluminum)

15. Are photovoltaic systems covered in the National Electrical Code?

a. yes
b. no