Final answer:
A shorthand way of depicting electrical circuits using symbols is called a circuit diagram or schematic, which includes symbols for wires, batteries, resistors, and grounds.
Step-by-step explanation:
A shorthand method for describing a real circuit using electrical symbols is known as a circuit diagram or schematic. A circuit diagram simplifies the representation of an electrical circuit by using symbols to represent various components such as wires, batteries, resistors, and grounds. In such a diagram, wires are depicted by straight lines and are usually assumed to be perfect conductors. The battery or voltage source is often shown as two parallel lines (red for positive, black for negative), while resistors are illustrated with a zigzag symbol. A ground symbol, which often appears as a series of descending lines, indicates the reference point in the circuit. Figure 20.8 depicts a simple circuit where a load (for example, a resistor, represented by the zigzag) is connected by metal wires to the terminals of a battery.