CONDUCTORS
Which conducts current: a metal paper clip or a rubber eraser?
A metal paper clip.
Why cover electrical wires with plastic?
Plastic is an insulator that helps prevent electric shocks and keeps electricity from flowing where it should not.
How many paths does a series circuit have?
One path.
How many paths does a parallel circuit have?
Two or more paths.
What supplies energy in a battery-and-bulb circuit?
The battery.
Could a metal spoon complete a circuit gap? Why?
Yes. A metal spoon is a conductor that allows electric current to flow through it, completing the circuit.
Which resists current: a plastic ruler or a metal spoon?
A plastic ruler because plastic is an insulator.
Removing a bulb leaves a gap. What happens to all other bulbs?
All the bulbs go out because the circuit is broken and current can no longer flow.
One bulb is removed. What happens to bulbs on other complete branches?
The other bulbs stay lit because current can still flow through their complete branches.
What is the job of the wires?
Wires connect the circuit parts and provide a conducting path for electric current to flow.
Why is copper a good material for wires?
Copper is a good conductor of electricity, allowing electric current to flow easily.
Why use an insulating cover on a switch?
To protect people from electric shocks by preventing contact with conducting parts.
Why does a gap stop every bulb in a series circuit?
Because a series circuit has only one path for current to flow. A gap breaks that path, stopping the current throughout the circuit.
Why are parallel connections useful for classroom lights?
Each light has its own path for current. If one light goes out, the other lights can continue working.
How does opening a switch turn a bulb off in a single loop?
Opening the switch breaks the circuit, stopping the flow of electric current and causing the bulb to turn off.