Basic Electricity
Basic Electricity is a core knowledge area on the AMT — General FAA written exam. This hub collects our 16 in-depth, ACS-aligned basic electricity articles — each written in plain English and grounded in the official FAA handbooks. Work through them below, then drill the topic with practice questions.
Series Circuits: Voltage, Current, and Resistance Relationships
In a series circuit, current is identical at every point while voltage divides across resistors proportionally to their resistance — a foundational principle every aviation technician must master for troubleshooting aircraft electrical systems.
Parallel Circuits: Current Paths and Resistance Calculation
In a parallel circuit, multiple current paths share the same voltage while total resistance drops below the smallest branch resistor — a critical concept for AMT electrical troubleshooting and the FAA knowledge test.
Kirchhoff's Voltage and Current Laws
Kirchhoff's Voltage Law and Current Law are the foundational rules governing every electrical circuit in an aircraft, explaining how voltage and current behave at junctions and around loops.
Series-Parallel Circuit Analysis for Aviation Technicians
Series-parallel circuits combine both circuit types, and aviation technicians must analyze them correctly to troubleshoot aircraft electrical systems, calculate load distribution, and ensure component safety.
Ohm's Law and Its Application in Aircraft Electrical Systems
Ohm's Law defines the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in any electrical circuit — a foundational concept every AMT must master to troubleshoot aircraft electrical systems safely and accurately.
Capacitance and Capacitors: Function and Behavior in DC Circuits
Capacitors store electrical energy in an electric field between two conductors and profoundly shape how DC circuits behave during charge and discharge cycles — a must-know concept for the AMT knowledge test.
Types of Electrical Conductors and Insulators Used in Aircraft
Aircraft electrical systems rely on carefully chosen conductors and insulators; understanding their properties, ratings, and applications is essential for safe maintenance and FAA knowledge-test success.
Magnetism and Electromagnetism: Principles for Aircraft Components
Magnetism and electromagnetism are the foundation of generators, motors, transformers, and ignition systems aboard aircraft — understanding their principles is essential for any AMT.
Inductance and Inductors: Self-Induction and Back-EMF
Inductance is a circuit property that opposes changes in current flow; inductors store energy in a magnetic field and generate a back-EMF that resists both increases and decreases in current, a principle critical to aircraft electrical and ignition systems.
AC vs DC Power: Characteristics and Aircraft Applications
Aircraft electrical systems use both AC and DC power, each with distinct characteristics and roles. Understanding how they differ — and why each is used where it is — is essential for every AMT.
Alternating Current Waveforms: Frequency, Amplitude, and Phase
Alternating current changes direction periodically, and understanding its waveform characteristics—frequency, amplitude, and phase—is essential for any aviation maintenance technician working with aircraft electrical systems.
Electrical Test Equipment: Proper Use of Multimeters and Ohmmeters
Multimeters and ohmmeters are essential tools for aviation maintenance technicians; knowing how to select the correct range, lead polarity, and circuit conditions prevents damage to instruments and ensures accurate measurements.
Impedance in AC Circuits: Resistance, Capacitive, and Inductive Reactance
Impedance is the total opposition to current flow in an AC circuit, combining resistance with capacitive and inductive reactance into a single value measured in ohms.
Electric Power and Wattage Calculations in Aircraft Systems
Understanding electric power and wattage in aircraft systems is essential for AMT certification — learn how to calculate watts, apply Ohm's Law, and troubleshoot aircraft electrical loads safely.
Bonding and Grounding Principles in Aircraft Electrical Systems
Bonding and grounding are essential electrical safety techniques that control static electricity, reduce interference, and protect aircraft from lightning and fault currents — critical knowledge for every AMT.
Voltage Drop and Wire Gauge Selection in Aircraft Wiring
Excessive voltage drop caused by undersized wire degrades avionics, dims lights, and can overheat conductors — understanding how to calculate and prevent it is essential for every aircraft maintenance technician.
More AMT — General subjects
Articles are original summaries grounded in the public-domain FAA handbooks and cite their source. ACS-aligned study aids — not a substitute for the official handbooks or regulations.