Terms
Electricity
Magnetism
Potpourri 1
Potpourri 2
Potpourri 3
100

What is a conductor?

What is...A material that allows electricity to flow through it easily, like copper?

100

Lightning is a form of _____ _____.

What is...static electricity.

100

What is the magnetic field of a magnet?

What is...The invisible area around a magnet where magnetic forces can be felt?

100

A simple electromagnet can be made with which of the following?

a. An electric current.

b. A turbine and a nail.

c. A nail, a wire, and a battery.

d. A compass and a battery.

What is...

c. A nail, a wire, and a battery?

100

How is an electromagnet different from a permanent magnet?

What is...An electromagnet’s magnetism can be turned off?

100

Which statement is true?  

a. Bar magnets are permanent, but electromagnets are temporary.

b. Bar magnets and electromagnets are permanent.

c. Electromagnets are permanent, but bar magnets are temporary.

What is....

a. Bar magnets are permanent, but electromagnets are temporary?

200

What is an insulator?

What is..something that does not give up its electrons easily (ie. plastic or rubber)?

200

What is it called when electrons move along wires?

What is...electric current?

200

A _______ is a metal that can push or pull an object without touching it.

What is...magnet?

200

The places on a magnet where the magnetism is the strongest are the...

What is...north and south pole?

200

  Which type of material does a magnet attract?  

What is...iron, nickel and cobalt?

200

An electromagnet is a magnet made by winding a wire with a current around an iron bar. The more coils it has, the _____ the magnet.

What is...stronger?

300

What is static electricity?

What is...when electrons move from one surface to another?

300

Of these materials, which would NOT make a good insulator?

a. plastics

b. metals

c. rubber tubing

d. cotton cloth

What is...

b. metals

300

Which is a safe practice when using magnets?

a. Place magnets near electronics to see if they work.

b. Keep magnets close to other magnets to increase their strength.

c. Test magnets by putting them in your mouth to feel their strength.

d. Use magnets away from electronic devices and credit cards.

What is...

d. Use magnets away from electronic devices and credit cards?

300

When a current runs through a wire, it produces a very small _____ ______.

What is...magnetic field?

300

  Which choice best completes this sentence: Like poles ___________, while unlike poles ______________.  

What is...repel, attract?

300

Which of these is NOT an advantage of an electromagnet?

a. It can be turned on and off.

b. Its strength can be adjusted.

c. It doesn’t require electricity to work.

d. It can be used to lift heavy objects.

What is...

c. It doesn’t require electricity to work?

400

What is a magnet?

a. A material that creates light and sound.

b. An object that can attract materials like iron and steel.

c.  A device that stores electrical energy.

d. A tool used to measure temperature.

What is...An object that can attract materials like iron and steel?

400

What is a circuit breaker?

What is...A device that automatically stops the flow of electricity in a circuit to prevent damage?

400

You can use _____ _____ to turn a piece of metal like a nail into a magnet!

What is electric current?

400

Which of the following demonstrates static electricity?

a. You know you should never put your fingers into an electrical outlet.  You could get shocked.

b. You bend a paper clip back and forth until it breaks.  The broken ends feel hot.

c. You brush your hair on a cold, dry day.  Your hair springs away from your head and sticks out in all directions.

d. You use a charger to charge batteries for a digital camera.

What is....

c. You brush your hair on a cold, dry day.  Your hair springs away from your head and sticks out in all directions.

400

The diagram above shows an electric circuit.  Explain why this circuit will NOT work?


What is...It has no energy source (battery, etc)

400

Electromagnets can be found in all of the following EXCEPT:

a. doorbells

b. computers

c. cranes

d. Wooden furniture

What is...d. Wooden furniture?

500

What is an electromagnet?

a. A permanent magnet that never loses its magnetism.

b. A magnet made by running an electric current through a wire wrapped around a metal core.

c. A tool used to measure magnetic field strength.

d. A type of magnet found naturally in rocks.

What is...A magnet made by running an electric current through a wire wrapped around a metal core?

500

Which is a correct statement about lights that are part of a series circuit?

a. The lights will flash on and off in a pattern.

b. If one light burns out, the others will go out.

c. If one light burns out, the others will stay lit.

d. Two switches are needed to turn the lights on and off

What is....

b. If one light burns out, the others will go out.

500

Compare and contrast electromagnets and bar magnets (Fully explain how they are similar and different from one another).  

What is...

Similarities:

  • Both electromagnets and bar magnets attract certain metals like iron, nickel, and cobalt.
  • They both have a magnetic field, which is the area around the magnet where it can pull on or push other magnetic materials.
  • They both have a north and south pole, which means they can attract and repel other magnets.

Differences:

  • A bar magnet is permanent, meaning it is always magnetic, no matter what. You can put it in a drawer for years, and it will still be a magnet when you take it out.
  • An electromagnet is temporary. It only becomes magnetic when there is an electric current running through the wire around it. When you turn off the electricity, it stops being a magnet.
  • You can control the strength of an electromagnet by adding more coils of wire or increasing the electric current, making it stronger or weaker. With a bar magnet, the strength is set and can’t be changed.
  • Electromagnets are used in things that need a switchable magnet, like cranes in junkyards (to pick up metal) and in electric devices like speakers and motors, while bar magnets are used in things like compasses and fridge magnets.
500

How can you increase the strength of an electromagnet?

What is...Increase the amount of current or add more coils of wire?

500

What is a battery?

a. A device that stores and provides electrical energy.

b. A tool used to measure temperature.

c. A type of magnet that attracts metal objects.

d. A machine that produces light and sound.

What is...A device that stores and provides electrical energy?

500

What is the term for the spark that occurs when static electricity is discharged?

a. Conduction

b. Lightning

c. Current

d. Static discharge

What is...Static discharge?

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