2.2.3 Electrical Circuits Day 1

2.2.3 Electrical Circuits Day 1

• relate energy transfer to an electrical circuit

• explain why electrical conductors are necessary in an electric circuit

Pause and Think

Consider the electric lines leading to homes in this picture. Consider the following questions.

• What is the purpose of the electrical lines?

• What happens to the electricity once it enters the homes?

• How does electricity get to your devices when you turn them on?

Electric Circuits

Video pg. 3 in edio

• What is an electrical circuit?

• How do they work? Power source, conductive wires, load

• Circuits must be completed (or closed). Allows electricity to flow.

• Which way does electricity flow? Positive to negative

Multiple Choice

Electricity flows through a circuit from positive to negative.

• True

• False

Electrical Circuits

An electrical circuit is a path that allows electric current to flow around a loop.

Everything in your home that uses electricity contains electric circuits, including your computer, refrigerator, lights... Appliances that plug into an outlet connect to a large electrical circuit that exists in the walls of your home. Your home circuit connects to a large circuit that runs from the power company around the homes in your neighborhood.

Power refers to the rate at which an electrical circuit transfers energy.
Scientists measure power using watts (W).

Microelectronic circuits are in devices such as smartphones are designed to operate with minimal power.

​Other circuits, such as high-tension electrical lines that carry energy to cities, provide a lot of power.

Electrical circuits carry an electric charge.

An electric charge is a property of matter that determines how it is affected by electric and magnetic fields.

• Electrons which flow through an electric circuit have a negative electrical charge.

• Protons have a positive electric charge.

• Objects with static electricity also have an electric charge; however, the charge remains in place.

​Circuits can be very simple or complex, but they all contain at least three components:

1. Power source (in this case a battery)

2. Conductor - very commonly, a copper wire

3. Load - the part of the circuit that uses electricity to operate such as a light bulb

Hotspot

Which component represents the conductor?

​Note that electrical circuits form a closed loop. The electric current does not have a set beginning or end point. Electrons flow continuously through the circuit in a loop.

Now let's shift gears...

Career Spotlight

Career Spotlight

Career Spotlight

​Career as an Electrician

Two main ways to become an electrician:

• Technical school

• Apprenticeship

What You Need to Know About a Career as an Electrician - This Old HousePlay

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Pittsburgh, PA, is the home of TechWorks. At TechWorks, you can learn to build, operate, and write code for a variety of technologies. All of the technology at TechWorks is powered by electrical circuits.

However, TechWorks also takes you beyond electrical circuits to explore how you can apply new technology and even design your own.

See the video on page 7 of the edio lesson to see a new dance programmed into Spot, the robotic dog, who lives at TechWorks.