This introductory chapter is a basic explanation of what electricity actually is, before moving on to the fundamental concepts of electrical engineering. It begins by describing the parts of the atom—the proton has a positive charge, the electron is negative, and the neutron has no charge. It explains that electricity is fundamentally charges, both positive and negative and that like charges repel and opposite charges attract. This is followed by a discussion of conductors and insulators. An analogy of an electron pump (a crank used to generate enough electricity to power a light bulb) is used to illustrate the following concepts: an accumulation of charges is called voltage, movement of charges is current or amperage, and energy is work; in a circuit the electromagnetic effects move energy from one point to another. The chapter concludes by drilling that knowing the basics leads to greater understanding of more advanced topics.