1. Electricity The Science Channel “Understanding Electricity”:

2. Background Remember that atoms have protons, neutrons and electrons.
Electrons are negatively charged particles that can sometimes when the situation is just right, escape from one atom and move to another!
Movement of electrons is the basis of electricity

3. Static Electricity
An electric shock that is caused by the buildup of electrons is called static electricity
Small amounts of static can cause a slight shock like when you rub your feet along the carpet and touch someone
Large amounts of static can occur as in the case when clouds discharge static electricity in the form of lightning

4. Static Lab and Activity
Static Electricity Video:

5. About Electricity
The movement of electrons from one place to another is called electric current
Electric current is measured in amperes
When electrons travel in an electric current they follow a path called a current

6. Closed Circuits VS Open Circuits
Electrons can only follow a complete, unbroken path called a closed circuit
Sometimes we DON’T WANT a closed circuit like when we want to turn the lights out. To do this, we can use an incomplete or Open Circuit
Closed Circuit
Open Circuit

7. Confused???
To make an open circuit into a circuit that we can use when we want, we put in switches.
When the switch is closed the circuit is now closed so that electrons can flow in an unbroken path
When the switch is open the circuit is now open
so that now the current cannot flow through
Switch
Switch

8. Conductors and Insulators
A conductor is any material that electricity passes through easily (metals are great conductors!)
An insulator is any material that electricity does NOT pass through easily (rubber, plastic)
Electric wires normally have a center made of conducting material but are coated with insulating material
INSULATOR
CONDUCTOR

9. Resistance
In electricity, resistance is the measure of how easy or hard it is for electric current to move through a material.
Resistance is measured in Ohms
Insulators have high resistance
Conductors have low resistance

10. Resistance Resistance of wire depends on 3 things:
The material the wire is made of (Copper is less resistant than tungsten)
The length of the wire (longer=more resistance)
The thickness of the wire (thinner=more resistance)
Resistance is GOOD sometimes!...It causes electrical energy to turn into heat and light energy…without resistance many appliances in our home would not work!

11. What have you learned??? Answer the following questions in you notes
What is the difference between an insulator and a conductor?
Why would it be dangerous to use a cord that had it’s insulator destroyed?
What are three things that affect the resistance of a wire?

12. Book Work!
In your Physical Science book: Read lesson one and two then answer the questions on your worksheet

13. Sources of Electrical Current
Something has to “push” electrical current in order for it to move through a circuit.
Electromotive force is the push that keeps the current flowing. This is measured in volts
When voltage is high, electrons have more energy to do work
Check out your light bulbs and appliances at home….how many volts do these things use?

14. Dry Cell Batteries
Batteries are a source of voltage and change chemical energy into electrical energy
Dry cell battery—the materials in this battery are dry or paste-like
Look at the batteries in our class flashlights. What kind are they? How many volts of energy do they supply?

15. Dry Cell Batteries Parts of a dry cell battery Positive terminal +
Zinc can
Paper liner
Cardboard casing
Carbon rod
Manganese dioxide paste
Negative terminal -

16. Wet Cell Batteries
This is a source of electricity with a liquid center
Most wet cell batteries have a hard rubber case filled with a solution of sulfuric acid

17. Dry Cell Battery Parts Video: https://www. youtube. com/watch
Dry Cell Battery Parts Video: Wet Cell Battery video: Construct a Battery Activity or Make a Fruit Battery Dry Cell vs Wet Cell Video

18. Direct and Alternating Current
When current flows in one direction it is called direct current or DC
Current in a wet or dry cell battery flow in one direction.
Current that changes direction regularly is called alternating current or AC.
AC is normally the type of electricity in most homes

19. Ohm’s Law Other options: R = V/I or I = V/R
Volts, Current (amps), and Resistance (ohms) in an electrical circuit are all related to one another
Ohm’s Law helps us put this relationship into a formula
Volts (V) = Current (I)x Resistance (ohms)
Or, more simply V = I x R
Other options: R = V/I or I = V/R

20. Let’s try out the Ohm’s Law Formula (Yippeeeee!)
An electric circuit has a 1.5 volt dry-cell battery and a light bulb with 0.3 ohms of resistance. What is the circuit’s current?
Current = voltage/resistance
Current = 1.5 volts/.3 ohms
Current = 5 amps

21. Ohms Practice Worksheet

22. Series Circuit
A series circuit is a circuit in which all current flows through different electrical devices (such as light bulbs) in a single path
Draw a series circuit!

23. Series Circuit Disadvantages
If one light is unscrewed or burns out all of the other lights will go out
The more devices in the series, the less electricity goes to each device (2 lights in a circuit would be give off brighter light than 5 lights in a circuit)

24. Batteries in Series Circuits
Batteries can be connected to series circuits and will increase the voltage in the circuit
To find the total voltage in a circuit that included multiple batteries, add the voltages of each battery together.

25. Fuses and Circuit Breakers in Series Circuits
Homes that contain series circuits have fuses and circuit breakers to protect them
Fuses and Circuit Breakers in a series circuit help prevent fires
YOUTUBE VIDEO

26. Fuses and Circuit Breakers in Series Circuits
If a wire gets too hot the fuse will melt and break the circuit. Then the fuse must be replaced
Circuit breakers are switch-like devices that can be reset after the circuit has been repaired
Do you know where your house’s circuit breakers or fusebox is?

27. Draw a parallel circuit!
Parallel circuits are circuits in which there is more than one path for current
This can take more energy to run but if one device burns out, the others will keep working
When more electrical devices are added to the same circuit then more current runs through it. As current increases wires can heat up and cause fires. Fuses and circuit breakers can help prevent this problem
Draw a parallel circuit!
Parallel Circuits

28. Batteries in Parallel Circuits
Batteries can be connected in parallel lines which allows them to provide energy for a longer amount of time
A parallel connection does NOT increase the amount of voltage in the circuit

29. Measuring Electricity
A watt is the unit used to measure electric power (check out a light bulb…the watt amount is listed on top of the bulb)
Electric power is the amount of electrical energy used in a given amount of time
A Kilowatt-hour is a unit used to measure how much electric energy is used (this is how many 1000s of watts used in an hour)

30. Bill Nye: Electricity https://www. youtube. com/watch
Bill Nye: Electricity Construct a Circuit Activity