Electricity Within a Circuit

Electricity Within a Circuit

A Little something to make sure we are awake.

Even though it is after lunch.

Lets see what you remember

5 questions

Multiple Choice

Which of the following correctly describes one way in which static electricity is different from the current electricity that is used in homes?

• Static electricity is a quick release of energy.

• Static electricity requires magnets and coils of wire.

• Static electricity flows at a constant rate.

• Static electricity always goes in the same direction.

Multiple Choice

The girl's hair and the comb are attracting one another. The hair and the comb have

• opposite charges

• like charges

Multiple Choice

An electrical force which occurs as electrons are built up in an object

• Complete circuit
• Static electricity
• Power source
• Load

Multiple Choice

What is a conductor?

• A material that allows electricity to go through it
• The area of a conductor through which a current is able to move
• A battery or other device which provides energy for a curcuit
• When there is only one path for the electricity to flow

Multiple Choice

What is an insulator?

• The area of a conductor through which a current is able to move
• A material which does not allow electricity to go through it
• The amount of devices which are in a circuit
• A battery or other device which provides energy for a circuit

Components of a Circuit and their Diagrams

Source

• This represents the source of the electrical energy

• Where the electrons are coming from and to an extent the direction that they are moving in.

Conductor

• This is the wire through which the current flows

• 
  

Load

• Items along the circuit that convert electricity into other forms of energy

• light bulbs, motors, heaters, and speakers

• Which is also referred to as a resistor

Control

• A switch or device that can turn the circuit or devices along it on or off

• 
  

• 
  

You will be doing a lab to try your skills and understanding of drawings

Measuring Current

If you were to describe the current you might state the number of litres of water that flow past a certain point every minute. Similarly, scientists describe electric current as the amount of charge that passes a point in a conducting wire every second. The symbol for current is I. Electric current is measured in amperes (A) or milliamperes (mA)

An instrument used to measure very weak electric current is called a galvanometer. Larger currents are measured with an ammeter or

milliammeter. The symbols for these instruments are a circle with “G,”

“A,” or “mA”

Measuring Voltage

All forms of energy are measured in joules (J).

However, when describing the energy of electrons in

an electric circuit, we describe the energy possessed by

a standard unit of charge instead of the total energy of

all of the charges. As well, we always compare one

point in a circuit to another.

The term potential

difference means the difference in energy per unit of

charge between one point in the circuit and another

point in the circuit. Potential difference is commonly

referred to as voltage.

Multiple Choice

Why voltage is important?

• Because it is the pressure that causes the electrons to move around in a circuit and make the current flow and make appliances work

• To supply energy to be able to make the current flow in electric circuit and make appliances work

• To control the resistance in the circuit

• To reduce the current in the circuit

key terms

• voltmeter,

• voltage.

• potential difference

• volt

• galvanometer.

• amperes

key terms

• ammeter

• loads.

• resistor

• switch

• battery

• circuit

Your assignment will be an online lab

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/circuit-construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab/latest/circuit-construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab_en.html