1. Georgia Performance Standard S8P5. Students will recognize characteristics of gravity, electricity, and magnetism as major kinds of forces acting in nature. b. Demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of series and parallel circuits and how they transfer energy.

2. Electricity Terms Electricity Electric current Voltage Circuit Load Switch Series circuit Parallel circuit

3. Electricity Definition: Produced by the movement and distribution of charged particles known as electrons. Characteristic: The ability of some electrons to jump from one atom to another easily results in electricity.

4. Electric Current Definition: The flow of electric charges. Characteristic: Electric current must have a path to move along. Current flows from an area of high energy to an area of low energy.

5. Voltage Definition: The force of electric current in a circuit Characteristic: The energy that a power source gives to electrons in a circuit

6. Circuit Definition: A closed path through which electricity can flow. Characteristic: Energy flows only through a circuit that is closed. Opening a circuit stops the movement of charged particles.

7. Load Definition: A device in a circuit that operates using electrical energy. Characteristic: You might think of a load as anything that is using the energy that is being delivered by the electric current in a circuit. Examples: light bulbs, bells, radios, motors

8. Switch Definition: A device that is used to control the flow of current through a circuit. Characteristic: A switch works by separating (open) or bringing together (closed) two conductors attached to a circuit.

9. Series Circuit Definition: A circuit that provides only one possible path for the flow of current. Disadvantage: Since there is only one path for current to follow in a series circuit, a failure or break in any part of the circuit will stop the flow of current through the entire circuit.

10. Parallel Circuit Definition: A circuit that provides more than one path for the flow of electricity. Advantage: Since a parallel circuit provides more than one path for current, a failure in one part of the circuit will not affect the flow of current in another part of the circuit.