Download electricity and magnet vocab

Electricity & Magnetism Vocabulary
Electricity
electrical charge – is a property of matter that tells whether something has a positive or
negative charge
static electricity – the buildup of electrical charges on an object
discharge – the movement of static electricity from on object or another
conductors – materials that let charges flow through them easily
insulators – materials that do not let charges flow through them easily
electrical current – the flow of electrical charges
circuit– path along which electric current flows; it has 4 parts: power source (battery),
connectors (wires), a switch and the load (lamp, computer, etc..)
closed circuit – a complete, unbroken circuit (this enables the light to turn on)
open circuit - a circuit that has a break or opening; electric current cannot flow (the light will
not turn on)
series circuit – all the electrical charges flow in the same direction along the same path
parallel circuit - electrical current flows through more than one path
pigment - colored substance in an object
Magnetism
magnet – any object with magnetic force
pole – parts of the magnet where the magnetic force is the strongest; magnets have 2 poles:
north & south
magnetic field – the area of magnetic force around a magnet
compass – instrument that uses Earth’s magnetic field to help people find directions
electromagnet – is a coil of wire wrapped around a metal core, such as an iron bar. This
creates a magnetic field. The metal becomes a magnet (the more wire, the stronger the magnet)