A career in the expanding field of
electricity and electronics offers young
people an opportunity for satisfying and
productive employment. This exploratory
course is intended to familiarize all
students with basic principles of electricity
and their practical applications.
The course emphasizes how many
ways electricity affects our everyday living.
It helps students acquire safe work habits
and develop skills in using tools in simple
electrical construction.
These instructional units provide, in
easy-to-understand language, information
on sources of electricity, types of circuits,
operating principles of electric motors,
measuring instruments, generators and
transformers, inductance, capacitance, and
an introduction to solid-state devices.
It is the desire of the authors that this
text will contribute much toward the
general educational development, career
preparation, and enjoyment to all who use
this text.
To the Student
Electricity is a fascinating subject to
study. As you progress through the basic
principles on which knowledge of the elec-
trical phenomena is based, you will realize
the important role electricity plays in our
everyday lives. It is one of the greatest
forces we have harnessed.
You will find that the simple projects
you build in connection with your studies
will demonstrate and give understanding
to the laws and applications of electricity.
Your interest will be stimulated. Electricity
is an exciting science.
The study of electricity is not only for
the scientist. This force has molded our
civilization and raised our standard of
living. Having an understanding of its prin-
ciples and application is a basic requirement
of any well-educated person. Electricity
offers you a challenge. Will you accept it?
Howard H. Gerrish
William E. Dugger, Jr.
Kenneth P. DeLucca
3
Introduction