Electricity Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words Electricity Electron Static Electricity Current Electricity Alternating Current Direct Current Circuit Series Circuit Parallel Circuit Resistance 11. Conductor 12. Insulator 13. Volt 14. Amp 15. Ohm 16. Lightning 17. Open Circuit 18. Closed Circuit 19. Magnetism 20. 3 Things Needed 4 Electricity

The flow of electrons that creates an electric current. 1) Electricity The flow of electrons that creates an electric current.

A subatomic particle with a negative charge. 2) Electron A subatomic particle with a negative charge.

An electric charge built up on persons or objects through friction. 3) Static Electricity An electric charge built up on persons or objects through friction. Static = Stationary Not moving!

The flow of electricity through a cable, wire, or other conductor. 4) Current Electricity The flow of electricity through a cable, wire, or other conductor. DC Direct Current AC Alternating Current

5) Alternating Current (AC) An electric current that regularly reverses direction. Ex) Outlet

An electrical current that flows in only one direction. 6) Direct Current (DC) An electrical current that flows in only one direction. Ex) Battery

7)Circuit The route in which an electrical current can flow, beginning and ending at the same point.

3 Parts of a Circuit Energy Source Ex) Battery, Outlet, etc. Energy Collector/Load Ex) Light bulb Energy Pathway Ex) Wire

Circuit Symbols

Circuit Diagram

8) Series Circuit A circuit having one path for the electricity to flow. If one bulb goes out, the circuit is open and they all go out!

If one bulb goes out, the rest can stay on w/ their own path! 9)Parallel Circuit A circuit having MORE than one path for the electricity to flow – “branches”. If one bulb goes out, the rest can stay on w/ their own path!

Series & Parallel Circuits

10) Resistance Measures how difficult it is for electricity to pass through an object. SI unit = Ohm Ω Ω

Electrical Resistance Low Resistance Easy to get through Good Conductors (copper, gold, etc) Large/Thick Wires High Resistance Tough to get through Good Insulators (glass, rubber, etc) Small/Thin Wires

A material that allows electricity to flow through it easily. 11) Conductor A material that allows electricity to flow through it easily. {Poor Insulator}

A material that DOES NOT allow the transfer of electricity easily. 12) Insulator A material that DOES NOT allow the transfer of electricity easily. [Poor Conductor]

{The Force or Push of Electricity} 13) Volt (V) Measures Electrical Pressure {The Force or Push of Electricity} SI Unit = Volts

[The Volume of the Current] 14) Amp Measures Electrical Current [The Volume of the Current] SI Unit = Ampere.

Ω 15) Ohm SI Unit = Ohm Measures Electrical Resistance {How difficult it is for the current to pass through} SI Unit = Ohm

Plumbing Pipe Analogy Voltage/Volts (V) = Water Pressure It determines how fast the electrons will travel through the circuit. Current/Amps = Flow Rate A measure of the volume of electricity that flows past a given. Resistance/Ohms = Pipe Size Measures the difficulty of electric flow

Current is equal to the voltage divided by the resistance. Current Formula Current is equal to the voltage divided by the resistance. I = V/r I = Current V = Voltage r = resistance

An electric spark discharged in the atmosphere. 16) Lightning An electric spark discharged in the atmosphere.

In electrons, the absence of flow through with electric current. 17) Open Circuit In electrons, the absence of flow through with electric current.

18) Closed Circuit An electric current providing an uninterrupted, endless path for the flow of the current.

Attraction for iron associated with electric currents 19) Magnetism Attraction for iron associated with electric currents

20) 3 Things Needed to Create Electricity Magnet Conductor Motion

Electrical Analogies Electricity flows like water A transistor is like a switch A capacitor is like a reservoir A resistor is like a dam with a hole

Electricity Web Sites http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/parallelcircuit.htm http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/revision/Science/electricity.htm http://www1.curriculum.edu.au/sciencepd/electricity/index.htm