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Study Guide for Unit Test on Magnetism and Electricity
2 Types of Electricity
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Current Electricity
Static Electricity
Conductors vs Insulators
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Conductors allow electric current to flow through them in an electric circuit.
Insulators do not allow electric current to flow through them in an electric circuit.
Simple Circuit
 A simple closed circuit consists of a battery, wire, light bulb, and switch.
Series Circuit
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In a series circuit, electric current goes through each device in the circuit in one
sequential, complete path from the source of the current.
If one light bulb in a series goes out, all the other light bulbs in the circuit go out too
because the circuit is no longer complete.
Parallel Circuit
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In a parallel circuit the current branches into several loops and has more than one path
through which the electric current flows.
If a light bulb goes out in one of the loops or paths of a parallel circuit, the lights in
the other loops stay on because the electric current can flow in more than one path.
Properties of Magnets
 Polarity
o Like poles repel each other.
o Unlike poles attract each other.
 Attraction
o Magnets and electromagnets attract or tend to move toward each other (if
unlike poles are near each other) and certain types of metals (mainly iron or
steel).
 Repulsion
o Magnets and electromagnets can repel or move away from each other if their
like poles (North-North or South-South) are brought near each other.
 Strength
o The attractive strength of a magnet or electromagnet is greatest at its poles.
o Some magnets have a greater attraction for magnetic materials than others
Electromagnets
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An Electromagnet is a type of magnet in which the magnetism is produced by the
flow of electric current.
An electromagnet becomes a magnet when an electric current passes through an
insulated wire that is wrapped around an iron core ( like a nail)
Ways to make an electromagnet stronger
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Increase the number of coils of wires around an iron core
Increase the number of batteries or the voltage of the battery
Increase the diameter of the iron core