Photography 101

[BigV]

First question:

I don't really understand "exposure".

Increasing exposure, stops, etc. I (think) I know some ways to do it. That is, I'm sure there's more than one way to do it. And each different way has different "side effects". Increasing the aperture, the size of the opening behind the lens. Naturally, this will increase the amount of light entering the camera.

Or, increasing the length of time the shutter is open. That also lets more light in.

And making more light reflect from the subject, like with a flash, that also increases the exposure, right?

Stops? I'm confused. And to what extent is six of one indistinguishable from half a dozen of the other when it comes to trying to reach a certain point?

I'm trying to clear a backlog of unarticulated confusion, and I'm certain that shows. I'll organize my questions better in the future, now that I have a place to put them.

Thanks.