Kathode, or Cathode

The negative plate or side of a battery. The plate on which the electro deposit is made.

Key

The arm of a telegraph sounder. A bar with a finger piece, which is hinged and so arranged that it will make and break contacts in an electric circuit.

Keyboard

A switch-board; a board on which is mounted a number of switches.

Kilowatt

A unit, representing 1,000 watts. An electric current measure, usually expressed thus: K.W.

Kilowatt Hour

The computation of work equal to the exertion of one kilowatt in one hour.

Knife Switch

A bar of a blade-like form, adapted to move down between two fingers, and thus establish metallic connections.

Laminated

Made up of thin plates of the same material, laid together, but not insulated from each other.

Lamp Arc

A voltaic arc lamp, using carbon electrodes, with mechanism for feeding the electrodes regularly.

Lamp, Incandescent

A lamp with a filament heated up to a glow by the action of an electric current. The filament is within a vacuum in a glass globe.

Leak

Loss of electrical energy through a fault in wiring, or in using bare wires.

Load

The ampere current delivered by a dynamo under certain conditions.

Low Frequency

A current in which the vibrations are of few alternations per second.

Magnet

A metallic substance which has power to attract iron and steel.

Magnet Bar

A straight piece of metal.

Magnet Coil

A coil of wire, insulated, surrounding a core of iron, to receive a current of electricity.

Magnet Core

A bar of iron adapted to receive a winding of wire.

Magnet, Field

A magnet in a dynamo. A motor to produce electric energy.

Magnet, Permanent

A short steel form, to hold magnetism for a long time.

Magnetic Adherence

The adherence of particles to the poles of a magnet.

Magnetic Attraction and Repulsion

That quality of a metal which draws metals. Also the pulling action of unlike poles for each other, and pushing away of like poles when brought together.

Magnetic Force

The action exercised by a magnet of attracting or repelling.

Magnetic Pole

The earth has North and South magnetic poles. The south pole of a magnetic needle is attracted so it points to the north magnetic pole; and the north pole of the needle is attracted to point to the south magnetic pole.

Magneto-generator

A permanent magnet and a revolving armature for generating a current.

Maximum Voltage

The final voltage after charging.

Molecule

Invisible particles made up of two or more atoms of different matter. An atom is a particle of one substance only.

Morse Sounder

An electric instrument designed to make a clicking sound, when the armature is drawn down by a magnet.