Electrical Circuits Fundamentals
Think of current as the flow of tiny charged particles (electrons) rushing through a wire - it's measured in amperes (A) and calculated as charge divided by time. When 1 coulomb of charge flows past a point in 1 second, you've got 1 amp of current.
Voltage (or potential difference) is the energy push that makes electrons move around a circuit. It's like the pressure in a water pipe - the higher the voltage, the more energy each electron carries. Voltage is measured in volts (V), where 1 volt equals 1 joule of energy per coulomb of charge.
Series circuits keep things simple: current stays the same throughout the entire loop, but voltage gets shared between components. Parallel circuits work differently - voltage stays constant, but current splits up between different branches. This is why your bedroom lights don't dim when you plug in your phone charger!
Quick Tip: Remember that ammeters always go in series (to measure current flow), whilst voltmeters always connect in parallel (to measure the energy difference across components).