Electrical energy 6.1 Simple Circuits What is Electricity?

We are going to be Learning about 1.What is electrical charge? 2.How can static electricity be observed? 3.What is current electricity and how do we use it? 4.How to draw diagrams to represent simple circuits using the rules of circuit diagrams.

Pre Quiz 1. Describe what electricity is 2. Explain why you get ‘zapped’ sometime when you get out a car 3. Explain the difference between AC and DC 4. What devices in the home protect people from electrocution? 5. Circuit can be in series or parallel, true or false?

Science for fun – p183 Try doing this at home: 1.Open seal of self sealing envelope 2.Crush sugar cubes with pliers

What is electrical charge?

Observing Static Energy The following experiments involve static electricity. Watch, try, then try to explain what is happening. 1.Balloon and hair 2.Balloon and paper 3.Balloon and tap 4.Balloon and wall 5.Polythene rod and watch glass 6.Van der Graaf Generator 7.Sliding down slide 8.Rolling on the floor

What is static electricity? After performing some of these experiments you should have a good idea of what static electricity is. Write an explanation to the following statements: 1.Using one of the experiments as an example, describe what happens when static electricity builds up. 2.Scientifically, explain what is happening when you sense static electricity.

The Van Der Graaf Generator

Activity Book 6.1 Do Activity Book 6.1

Current Electricity Current electricity comes from a plug or battery cell. It is caused by electrons moving in a circuit. The movement of electrical charge is called current.

What is an electric current? An electric current is a flow of microscopic particles called electrons flowing through wires and components. + - In which direction does the current flow? from the Negative terminal to the Positive terminal of a cell.

simple circuits Here is a simple electric circuit. It has a cell, a lamp and a switch. To make the circuit, these components are connected together with metal connecting wires. cell lamp switch wires

simple circuits When the switch is closed, the lamp lights up. This is because there is a continuous path of metal for the electric current to flow around. If there were any breaks in the circuit, the current could not flow.

circuit diagram cellswitchlampwires Scientists usually draw electric circuits using symbols;

circuit diagrams In circuit diagrams components are represented by the following symbols; cellbatteryswitchlamp motorammetervoltmeter buzzer resistorvariable resistor

Prac – Making a fun electrical circuuit – p189

Unit 6.1 Review p186