Static Electricity and Magnetism

ELECTRICITY &

MAGNETISM

Conductor Examples:

Metals

Copper

Silver

Gold

Aluminum

CONDUCTORS

ELECTRICITY

​Electricity refers to the build-up or movement of charges. Natural processes can lead to the build-up of charges (static electricity) between materials. Humans have developed technologies to harness the flow of charges (electric current) to transfer energy locally and over long distances.

any type of object through which an electric current can flow.

INSULATORS

any type of object through which an electric current CANNOT flow.

Insulator Examples:

Glass

Plastic

Rubber

Leather

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ELECTRIC CURRENT

Energy can be transferred from place to place by electric currents, which can then be used locally to produce motion, sound, heat, or light.

Electricity in circuits can be transformed into light, heat, sound, and magnetic effects. Electrical circuits require a power source and a complete loop through which an electrical current can pass.

MAGNETISM

Electricity and magnetism are interconnected forms of energy, and each can produce the other. Electric currents produce magnetics fields and the movement of magnets can produce electric current in a conductor.

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ELECTROMAGNET

Certain metal objects can produce a permanent magnetic field that attracts or repels other magnets and attracts iron-containing metal objects. Temporary electromagnets can be produced by running electric current through a coil of wire wrapped around iron-containing metal core.

In general, the wire in an electromagnet is wrapped around a core made of a magnetic metal, such as iron or steel. A magnetic field is created around the wire, turning the core into a temporary magnet.

When the electric current is turned off, the magnetic field quickly fades. You can make an electromagnet using a circuit with a battery, and a wire wrapped around a nail.

Multiple Choice

Which Image has an electrical current flowing through (closed Circuit) ?

Multiple Choice

Imagine you are creating a circuit. It works and the light bulb turns on. Then you add a piece of plastic to the circuit, and the light bulb does not turn on. We can infer that the plastic is

• an insulator

• a conductor

• an electron

• static electricity

Multiple Choice

Why is an insulator used in a circuit? 

• An insulator helps keep the electric charges inside the pathway.  

•  An insulator transforms electrical energy into other forms of energy.      

•    An insulator provides the pathway electric current moves through.

•  An insulator provides the energy to pump electric charges through the circuit.   

Multiple Choice

Why might a glove stick to a sweater when you take them out of a clothes dryer?

• An electric current reduced the number of electrons in both items.

• Both items are dry.

• An electric current flows between the glove and the sweater.

• The glove and the sweater have opposite charges.

Match

Match the following

Insulator

power source

conductor

load

Switch

• Insulator

• power source

• conductor

• load

• Switch

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a way to make an electromagnet stronger?

• Replacing the iron core with a copper core

• Wrapping the wire around the iron core more times

• Putting a switch in the electrical circuit

• Replacing the copper wire with plastic wire

Multiple Choice

What is true about electricity and magnetic fields?

• Electricity is needed to create any magnet.

• Electricity always creates a magnetic field.

• Electricity is stronger than a magnetic field.

• Electricity prevents magnetic fields from occurring.

Multiple Choice

Look at the diagram.

Which object could replace the switch and still allow the bulb to light up?

• Wooden toothpick

• Rubber band

• Steel paper clip

• Strip of cloth

Multiple Choice

What happens when an electric circuit is opened?

• Electric current stops flowing

• An electromagnet is created

• Electrical energy changes to another form of energy

• Electric current starts to flow.

Multiple Choice

A student has four items: an iron bar, a light bulb, a battery, and a wire.

Which of these items does the student need to make an electromagnet?

• Battery

  Iron Bar

  Wire

• Iron Bar

  Light Bulb

  Wire

• Battery

  Light Bulb

  Wire

• Iron Bar

  Light Bulb

  Battery