Electricity and Circuits!

Vinny

Q: What is electricity? Electricity is the movement of electrons through something (“medium”) Electrons move for 2 reasons They are attracted to… PROTONS! (Thanks Paula Abdul!) main reason for electricity! They are “hit” by another electron and bounce out of the way.

Q: What is electricity? Electricity is similar to water moving in a hose.

Q: What is a circuit? A complete pathway for electrons to travel In a complete circuit, electrons must be able to travel back to their starting point! Has 3 main parts: Source of power (ie. battery) Medium for electrons to travel (ie. wire and other conductors) Something for electrons to do work on, called a LOAD (ie. light bulb)

Can have other parts Resistor- designed to slow down the flow of electrons. Made of material that isn’t quite considered to be a conductor, but isn’t an insulator either…. Different materials allow circuits to have different resistances. Switch- allows you to disconnect the circuit when you want electrons to stop flowing and reconnect when you want electrons to resume flowing

Q: What is a circuit? Circuits are often drawn as a diagram using the symbols given below:

Q: What are some “types” of circuits? Complete vs. Incomplete Pathway Closed Circuit Just means the circuit is complete and electricity CAN travel through it. Open Circuit Means the circuit is incomplete and electricity CANNOT travel through it. Usually, this occurs when you move a switch to the off position.

Organization of Pathway Series Circuit All the objects that work is done on (ie. light bulb) are in a straight path. In a series circuit, you can travel from one object to the next only ONE way. There are no options!

Organization of Pathway Parallel Circuit Objects that work is done on (ie. light bulb) are NOT in straight path. In a parallel circuit, you have options as to how you can travel from one object to the next!

Part I of the Homework Packet