this post was submitted on 29 Jul 2025
1198 points (97.3% liked)
Science Memes
16069 readers
1251 users here now
Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!
A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.
Rules
- Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
- Keep it rooted (on topic).
- No spam.
- Infographics welcome, get schooled.
This is a science community. We use the Dawkins definition of meme.
Research Committee
Other Mander Communities
Science and Research
Biology and Life Sciences
- !abiogenesis@mander.xyz
- !animal-behavior@mander.xyz
- !anthropology@mander.xyz
- !arachnology@mander.xyz
- !balconygardening@slrpnk.net
- !biodiversity@mander.xyz
- !biology@mander.xyz
- !biophysics@mander.xyz
- !botany@mander.xyz
- !ecology@mander.xyz
- !entomology@mander.xyz
- !fermentation@mander.xyz
- !herpetology@mander.xyz
- !houseplants@mander.xyz
- !medicine@mander.xyz
- !microscopy@mander.xyz
- !mycology@mander.xyz
- !nudibranchs@mander.xyz
- !nutrition@mander.xyz
- !palaeoecology@mander.xyz
- !palaeontology@mander.xyz
- !photosynthesis@mander.xyz
- !plantid@mander.xyz
- !plants@mander.xyz
- !reptiles and amphibians@mander.xyz
Physical Sciences
- !astronomy@mander.xyz
- !chemistry@mander.xyz
- !earthscience@mander.xyz
- !geography@mander.xyz
- !geospatial@mander.xyz
- !nuclear@mander.xyz
- !physics@mander.xyz
- !quantum-computing@mander.xyz
- !spectroscopy@mander.xyz
Humanities and Social Sciences
Practical and Applied Sciences
- !exercise-and sports-science@mander.xyz
- !gardening@mander.xyz
- !self sufficiency@mander.xyz
- !soilscience@slrpnk.net
- !terrariums@mander.xyz
- !timelapse@mander.xyz
Memes
Miscellaneous
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Look up "potential difference" and that should make everything make a little more sense.
Basically, the voltage component of electricity wants to flow where the potential is less than itself. In a 120v circuit, the neutral is bonded to ground at the main for a reference of 0v, and you hot leg will find the path of least resistance to that 0v (through the devices we put in line of that circuit, be it lights, motors, etc). The current, or load, in amps, is the work being done by those devices in conjunction with the designed resistance.
Think of a simple incandescent light bulb. The filament has a certain level of resistance that's designed to sustain a glow when power is applied to it. The 120v potential, trying to reach 0v ground, passes through that filament (the load), making it glow (the current draw is the amount of amps necessary to achieve its full brightness). A motor is similar; power passes through the windings, generating a magnetic field that react with magnets and spin the motor.
Basically, your voltage drives the power through its path to ground, and current is drawn by work being done. V multiplied by A is Watts (kW), or power consumed.