Lesson 9: Electricity

What is electricity? With your neighbor, brainstorm what you know about electricity. Questions to ask yourself: What is electricity? What does ‘the flow of electricity’ mean? How do we make electricity? When do we experience electricity in nature?

Review: the atom

Review: the atom

Review: the atom

Review: the atom

Review: the atom

Review: the atom Subatomic Particle Found in the: Charge Relative Size Neutron Proton Electron

Review: the atom Subatomic Particle Found in the: Charge Relative Size Neutron Nucleus Neutral Big Proton Electron

Review: the atom Subatomic Particle Found in the: Charge Relative Size Neutron Nucleus Neutral Big Proton Positive Electron

Review: the atom Subatomic Particle Found in the: Charge Relative Size Neutron Nucleus Neutral Big Proton Positive Electron Shells Negative Small

Review: the atom Subatomic Particle Found in the: Charge Relative Size Neutron Nucleus Neutral Big Proton Positive Electron Shells Negative Small Can subatomic particles be separated from an atom?

Review: the atom Subatomic Particle Found in the: Charge Relative Size Neutron Nucleus Neutral Big Proton Positive Electron Shells Negative Small

Electrons Electrons: Very small Located in shells around the nucleus

Electrons Electrons: Very small Located in shells around the nucleus The outermost electrons can be easily pulled away from the nucleus

Electrons Electrons: Very small Located in shells around the nucleus The outermost electrons can be easily pulled away from the nucleus When an object loses electrons, it becomes positively charged When an object gains electrons, it becomes negatively charged

Electrons Electrons: Very small Located in shells around the nucleus The outermost electrons can be easily pulled away from the nucleus When an object loses electrons, it becomes positively charged When an object gains electrons, it becomes negatively charged Because they are negative charged, electrons are attracted to (and will travel towards) positively charged objects

Electricity Electricity: the movement of charged particles (i.e. electrons) Electrical energy: the energy of charged particles

Electricity Electricity: the movement of charged particles (i.e. electrons) Electrical energy: the energy of charged particles When electrons are separated from their atoms, they want to travel towards positively charged objects. The more electrons that are separated, the more potential you have for the electrons to travel.

Electricity Electricity: the movement of charged particles (i.e. electrons) Electrical energy: the energy of charged particles When electrons are separated from their atoms, they want to travel towards positively charged objects. The more electrons that are separated, the more potential you have for the electrons to travel. This potential is called the electrical potential difference

Electricity Electricity: the movement of charged particles (i.e. electrons) Electrical energy: the energy of charged particles When electrons are separated from their atoms, they want to travel towards positively charged objects. The more electrons that are separated, the more potential you have for the electrons to travel. This potential is called the electrical potential difference Electrical potential difference = voltage The symbol for electrical potential difference/voltage is ‘V’ Measured in units called volts. The symbol for volts is ‘V’

Current If a conductor (a wire) is placed between the electrons and a positively charged object, the electrons will flow along the conductor, producing current.

Current If a conductor (a wire) is placed between the electrons and a positively charged object, the electrons will flow along the conductor, producing current. Electric current: moving charges The symbol for current is ‘I’ Measured in units called amperes. The symbol for amperes is ‘A’ Quick video

Recall During the chemical potential energy lecture we learned about batteries

Recall During the chemical potential energy lecture we learned about batteries A chemical reaction inputs the energy to separate the negatively charged electrons from the positively charged nuclei

Recall During the chemical potential energy lecture we learned about batteries A chemical reaction inputs the energy to separate the negatively charged electrons from the positively charged nuclei The separated charges want to move back together (they have the potential to move)

Recall During the chemical potential energy lecture we learned about batteries A chemical reaction inputs the energy to separate the negatively charged electrons from the positively charged nuclei The separated charges want to move back together (they have the potential to move) Once the terminals of the batteries are connected, the negatively charged electrons have a path to travel towards the positively charged terminal, creating current

Recall During the chemical potential energy lecture we learned about batteries A chemical reaction inputs the energy to separate the negatively charged electrons from the positively charged nuclei The separated charges want to move back together (they have the potential to move) Once the terminals of the batteries are connected, the negatively charged electrons have a path to travel towards the positively charged terminal, creating current Chemical potential energy

Recall During the chemical potential energy lecture we learned about batteries A chemical reaction inputs the energy to separate the negatively charged electrons from the positively charged nuclei The separated charges want to move back together (they have the potential to move) Once the terminals of the batteries are connected, the negatively charged electrons have a path to travel towards the positively charged terminal, creating current Chemical potential energy Electrical energy

Electrical energy As the electrons travel towards the positively charged object, the electrical potential difference is converted into electrical energy

Electrical energy As the electrons travel towards the positively charged object, the electrical potential difference is converted into electrical energy This electrical energy can be harnessed and converted into other types of energy

Electrical energy As the electrons travel towards the positively charged object, the electrical potential difference is converted into electrical energy This electrical energy can be harnessed and converted into other types of energy Load: a device that converts electrical energy into another type of energy

Electrical energy As the electrons travel towards the positively charged object, the electrical potential difference is converted into electrical energy This electrical energy can be harnessed and converted into other types of energy Load: a device that converts electrical energy into another type of energy This is what it means to ‘use’ electricity. For example:

Electrical energy As the electrons travel towards the positively charged object, the electrical potential difference is converted into electrical energy This electrical energy can be harnessed and converted into other types of energy Load: a device that converts electrical energy into another type of energy This is what it means to ‘use’ electricity. For example: When you plug in a space heater, the heater uses electricity by converting it into heat

Electrical energy As the electrons travel towards the positively charged object, the electrical potential difference is converted into electrical energy This electrical energy can be harnessed and converted into other types of energy Load: a device that converts electrical energy into another type of energy This is what it means to ‘use’ electricity. For example: When you plug in a space heater, the heater uses electricity by converting it into heat When you screw in a lightbulb, the lightbulb uses electricity by converting it to light (and heat)

Electrical energy As the electrons travel towards the positively charged object, the electrical potential difference is converted into electrical energy This electrical energy can be harnessed and converted into other types of energy Load: a device that converts electrical energy into another type of energy This is what it means to ‘use’ electricity. For example: When you plug in a space heater, the heater uses electricity by converting it into heat When you screw in a lightbulb, the lightbulb uses electricity by converting it to light (and heat) When you use a blender, the blender uses electricity by converting it into mechanical energy

Electrical energy As the electrons travel towards the positively charged object, the electrical potential difference is converted into electrical energy This electrical energy can be harnessed and converted into other types of energy Load: a device that converts electrical energy into another type of energy This is what it means to ‘use’ electricity. For example: When you plug in a space heater, the heater uses electricity by converting it into heat When you screw in a lightbulb, the lightbulb uses electricity by converting it to light (and heat) When you use a blender, the blender uses electricity by converting it into mechanical energy

Phet simulation Pay attention to: The movement of charges (current) The use of loads (lightbulb)