Circuit Basics
This is the flow of electric charge through a conductor.
What is electric current?
A material that allows electric charge to move through it easily is called this.
What is a conductor?
This component provides electrical energy to a simple circuit.
What is a battery/power source?
The region around a magnet where magnetic forces can be detected is called this.
What is a magnetic field?
This instrument can detect and indicate small electric currents by showing a deflection.
What is a galvanometer?
In a typical metal wire, these negatively charged particles move through the material to produce electric current.
What are electrons?
Copper is commonly used for electrical wiring because it has this property.
What is high conductivity?
This circuit component controls whether the electrical pathway is open or closed.
What is a switch?
This term describes the north and south ends of a magnet.
What is a magnetic dipole?
In the Electric Spike activity, a coil of wire is used to interact with this object to investigate electromagnetic induction.
What is a magnet?
A circuit contains a battery, wires, and a light bulb. The switch is turned off, preventing the complete electrical pathway. What type of circuit is this?
What is an open circuit?
Rubber is commonly used around electrical wires because it does not allow electric charge to move through it easily. What type of material is rubber?
What is an insulator?
A circuit has a battery, switch, wires, and buzzer. The switch is closed, but the buzzer does not work. Name one thing you should check first when troubleshooting the circuit.
What is checking that all wires and components are properly connected?
When electric current flows through a wire, it produces this around the wire.
What is a magnetic field?
A magnet is moved toward a coil and the galvanometer deflects. What does the deflection indicate?
What is an induced current is flowing in the coil?
A flashlight has a battery, wires, and a working bulb, but the bulb does not turn on. When you press the switch, the circuit is completed and the bulb lights. Explain what changed.
What is closing the electrical pathway, allowing current to flow through the load?
Two materials are tested in a simple circuit. Material A allows the bulb to light brightly, while Material B does not allow the bulb to light. Which material has greater electrical conductivity?
What is Material A?
A student builds a circuit with a battery, switch, and bulb. The switch is closed, but there is a break in one of the wires. Predict what will happen and explain why.
What is the bulb will remain off because the broken wire prevents a complete electrical pathway?
: A coil of wire is connected to a circuit. A magnet is moved through the coil. Explain how this demonstrates the relationship between electricity and magnetism.
What is a changing magnetic field/flux through the coil can induce an electric current?
A magnet is pushed into a coil and then held completely still. The galvanometer initially deflects but then returns toward zero. Explain why.
What is the magnetic flux changes while the magnet is moving, but stops changing when the magnet is stationary, so the induced current stops?
A student connects a battery and bulb using wires, but the bulb does not light. The battery works and the bulb works. One wire is connected to the positive terminal but does not make contact with the bulb. What is the most likely problem?
What is an incomplete electrical pathway/open circuit?
A student replaces part of a copper circuit with a material that has much lower conductivity. Predict what will happen to the current and explain why.
What is the current will decrease because the material provides greater resistance to the movement of electric charge?
A circuit works when the wires are connected directly to the battery and load. After a switch is added, the load stops working even when the switch appears closed. What should the student investigate, and what concept explains the problem?
What is the switch and its connections should be checked for continuity because the electrical pathway may still be open?
What is a changing magnetic field/flux through the coil can induce an electric current?
What is the induced EMF/current can increase because the magnetic flux changes more rapidly?
During the Electric Spike lab, a student moves a magnet through a coil and sees the galvanometer spike in one direction. When the magnet is pulled back out, the galvanometer spikes in the opposite direction. What principle explains this observation?
What is electromagnetic induction—the changing magnetic flux induces an EMF, and reversing the direction of the flux change reverses the induced current?