Electricity provides us with … Heat Light Sound Motion
Electrons are the only particle of an atom that can move from one atom to another Electrons have a negative charge, protons have a positive charge Everything in environment carries either a positive, negative, or neutral charge Add electrons and an atom becomes more negatively charged Take away electrons and an atom becomes more positively charged Charged atoms are called IONS
Electrons will move when they have a “push” of energy from A Battery A Power Plant or other Energy Source The energy is then transferred through a conductive material, usually wires or cables, this flow of electrons (negative charges) is called an electrical current
Electrons flow from areas of negative charge to areas with a positive charge in a current If the current runs in a circular path from the battery or power source it is called a circuit
Conductors-electrons flow easily through them Examples: metals such as copper, gold, silver Semi-Conductors-electrons move less easily through them Examples: aluminum, zinc, silicon Insulators-electrons DO NOT flow easily through them Examples: rubber, paper, plastic, wood
Ever notice that your phone becomes warm when you are using it, or a plug in an outlet feels warm when you remove it? This is because electrons have MASS, it is extremely small, but enough so that when electrons are flowing some of them bump into each other, creating HEAT WARNING: The safest way to charge electronics is to turn them off while they are charging, otherwise you could start a FIRE!
Don’t over connect outlets! State Farm Holiday Safety Video State Farm Holiday Safety Video
Usually burn fuel which heats water and creates steam Steam turns turbine which turns a rod with a magnet Causes electrons to flow around a wire wrapped around the magnet Electrons then carried by wires throughout the region
Batteries use energy stored in chemicals to allow electric current to flow Once the energy is used up, the current can no longer flow The current will flow from the negative end of the battery to the positive end Negative end-ANODE Positive end-CATHODE
Called “non-moving” electricity Created when there is a build up of electrons on one object and they try to neutralize with another positively charged object The charge “jumps” from one object to the other
3 parts: 1. Any two charged objects will create a force on each other 2. Opposite charges will produce an attractive force (such as N and S pole of magnet) 3. Similar charges will produce a repulsive force (such as N and N side of magnet)
Electric Field - region in space where electric forces act on charges Lightning over Icelandic Volcano 2010
Big static electric sparks occur when opposite charges between clouds or between the clouds and the ground try to neutralize Can happen from sky to ground or ground to sky Video Video
Avoid water Avoid high ground Avoid open spaces Avoid metal objects Electricity will follow shortest path to the ground, make sure that isn’t through YOU! If in an open area, lay flat on the ground If you are in a car, stay in it, you are SAFE, anyone know why?
Metallic enclosures that prevent the entry or escape of an electromagnetic field A CAR is basically a faraday cage! Electricity will travel around metal shell of the car and into the ground and will not go through it Sweet Home Faraday Suit Video Sweet Home Faraday Suit Video
Flow of charge always in one direction Battery charged objects
Flow of charge back and forth, changing its direction many times in one second. Plugs and outlets / household
Advantages of Alternating Current: Voltage can be raised or lowered More efficient over long distances
Volts-measure of the force or pressure under which electricity flows Amps-measure of the flow rate of electrons or how much current moves through the wire in 1 second Watt-measure of electrical power created Water Faucet analogy Faucet turned on all the way-high voltage and amps Faucet barely turned on dripping water-low voltage and amps
Watts=Volts x Amps or W=V x A