Download Electricity and Magnetism

ZZZAPP! A jagged bolt of lightning slashes and flashes through the sky. Less than a second later,
it’s gone. But then more and more brilliant bolts appear, briefly connecting the clouds to the
ground. Like snowflakes and grains of sand, each bolt is unique. BOOOOM!! The sound of
thunder startles you. You are glad that you are indoors, watching this dazzling “spark-a-palooza”
through a window. What causes this super-charged sight that can pack a deadly wallop?
How does the electric energy in a battery get to
a light bulb?
Static electricity stays in one place. But most electricity
is on the go.
An electric charge in motion is called an electric
current.
The electric charge flows
from one place to another.
An electric current travels
quickly and invisibly.
Check out the closed
circuit on the next slide!
Q. What is the difference between an insulator and a
conductor?
A. An insulator, such as plastic, is a material through
which electric charges cannot travel easily. A conductor
is a material, such as metal wire, through which electric
charges can travel easily.
• In a simple circuit, known as a series circuit, electric
charge can flow only in one path.
• When the power source is turned on, the charged
particles in the wire flow in one direction around a
single loop.
• Any bulb along this
path receives the same
amount of electrical
energy.
• If all the bulbs are
identical, none will be
any brighter than the
others.
Today, people rarely use series circuits. Our
appliances and other electrical equipment
need different amounts of current.
Parallel circuit
• A parallel circuit has two or more paths for the
electric charge to follow.
• The main loop leaves from and returns to the
power source.
Parallel circuit
• Along the loop, there are little loops. Each little
loop is a separate path for the electric charge.
• How the
charges flow
through each
little loop does
not affect the
flow of charges
in any other
path.
Q. Why are most homes wired in a parallel
circuit rather than a series circuit?
A parallel circuit has a number of
advantages over a series circuit. If one electrical
appliance in a parallel circuit malfunctions or is turned
off, other devices in the loop can still receive electric
current. Different electric devices can receive different
amounts of electric current. All devices in a series loop
can receive only the same amount of electricity.
Magnetism
Magnetism
A magnet is anything that attracts other
things made of iron, steel, and certain other
metals.
Magnetism is a force that acts on moving
electric charge and magnetic materials that
are near a magnet.
If you break a magnet into two pieces, what happens
to its magnetic poles?
If you break a magnet into two pieces,
you will have two magnets, each with
its own north-seeking pole and southseeking pole.
What is a closed circuit?
A loop with no breaks through which electric
current can flow
What happens to an
electric current at a
switch?
If the switch is closed, the current flows. If
the switch is open, the current does not flow
If you find a metal
bar, how can
you determine if it is
a magnet?
Put the metal bar near something made of
iron or steel, and see if there is an attraction
between the two. If there is, then the metal
bar is a magnet.
What is an electric charge in motion called?
An electric charge in motion is called an electric current.
The Electrical Safety Foundation urges everyone
to remember the 4 Rs of electrical safety:
Respect the power of electricity.
Read and follow the instructions that come
with every electrical product
Replace worn or cracked electrical cords.
Relocate, or move, appliance cords so
people will not walk on or trip over them,
and children or pets can’t pull them
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