Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Secondary Integrated Science Practice Test 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

A load is defined as a device or component in an electrical circuit that consumes electrical energy to perform work. This could include a variety of devices such as light bulbs, motors, and heaters. When electric current passes through a load, it converts electrical energy into other forms of energy, such as light, heat, or mechanical energy, depending on the nature of the load.

In the context of a circuit, it’s essential to understand that a load serves as the endpoint for the electrical energy flowing through the circuit, effectively utilizing that energy to achieve a specific function. This is different from other elements of the circuit, such as switches, which may control the flow of electricity but do not use energy themselves, or resistance, which quantifies how much a component opposes the flow of current without producing a useful output. Current itself refers to the flow of electric charge, but it is the load that ultimately makes use of that energy in a circuit.