Electrical Functions

Concept sheet | Science and Technology

Secondary

3-4

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Components With Other Electrical Functions (Secondary 4 EST and AST)

Definition

An electrical function is the role of a component in an electrical circuit.

The following table describes the main electrical functions.

Click on an electrical function to access the corresponding concept sheet.

Electrical function	Description	Examples of electrical components performing this function
Power supply	Supplies or generates an electric current.	Battery Electrical outlet
Control	Opens or closes the electrical circuit.	Switch
Conduction	Allows current to flow from one component to another in a circuit.	Wire Cable
Insulation	Prevents the flow of current.	Plastic sheathing Wire connector cap
Protection	Interrupts the flow of current in the event of an electrical issue.	Circuit breaker Fuse Surge protector power bar
Energy transformation	Transforms electrical energy into another form of energy.	Light bulb Heating element Motor

Components With Other Electrical Functions (Secondary 4 EST and AST)

The following table describes other electrical and electronic components and their function.
These concepts are studied in Environmental Science and Technology (EST) and/or Applied Science and Technology (AST) in Secondary 4.

Click on a component to access the corresponding concept sheet.

Electrical or electronic component	Function
Capacitor (EST and AST)	Accumulates electrical charges and then releases them quickly.
Diode (EST and AST)	Allows current to flow in a single direction.
Resistor (EST and AST)	Reduces current flow.
Relay (AST)	Opens or closes a circuit using the signal from another nearby circuit.
Transistor (AST)	Blocks or amplifies an electric current.