Charges & Atoms
What tiny, negatively charged particle orbits the nucleus of an atom and is responsible for creating an electric current when it moves?
Electrons
Give two examples of conductive materials
Examples: Copper, silver (also gold, aluminum, steel).
Which quantity is described as the "push" that causes charge to move and is measured in volts?
Voltage (V).
Name the four essential components of a complete circuit listed in the document.
Power source (battery), conductor (wire), load (e.g., light bulb), control device (switch).
What unit measures electrical power?
Watts (W).
In a neutral atom, the number of protons equals the number of what?
Electrons
Give two examples of insulating materials listed
Examples: Rubber, glass (also dry air, wood, plastics, sulfur).
Which quantity is the rate of flow of electric charge and is measured in amperes?
Current (A, amperes).
What is the purpose of a schematic diagram compared to a pictorial representation?
A schematic uses standard symbols to represent components clearly and concisely so others can read and understand circuits regardless of realism.
Complete the relationship stated in the PDF: Power = ______ / ______.
Power = Energy / time.
Name the two particles found in the nucleus of an atom and state their charges.
Protons (positive) and neutrons (neutral).
Describe in one sentence why conductors allow current to flow more easily than insulators.
Conductors have loosely held outer electrons that can move between atoms with relatively little energy; insulators do not.
Which quantity opposes current flow, is measured in ohms, and is often what allows
Resistance (Ω, ohms)
Identify the standard schematic symbol used for a battery and the symbol used for a light bulb
Battery: alternating long and short lines; Light bulb: circle with an X inside
According to the safety list, name two precautions you must take before connecting or disconnecting components.
Always disable power before connecting/disconnecting components; ensure the power switch is OFF before plugging in a power cord. (Also: never leave leads unconnected while power is enabled; keep contacts clean and dry.)
A simple circuit diagram shows a battery, switch, and lamp. If the switch is open, will the lamp light?
Ionization is the process of an atom gaining or losing electrons, creating charged ions.
The Copper (Cu) atomic model in the document shows one glowing outer electron. Explain how that electron helps copper conduct electricity.
The single loosely held outer electron can be easily forced to move from one copper atom to the next, forming an electron flow (current).
Using the water-pipe analogy from the PDF, match: Voltage = ?, Current = ?, Resistance = ?
Voltage = water pressure; Current = flow rate (gallons per minute); Resistance = pipe width (narrow pipe = higher resistance).
A simple circuit diagram shows a battery, switch, and lamp. If the switch is open, will the lamp light?
No — an open switch breaks the closed loop so current cannot flow, so the lamp will not light.
A 100-watt bulb and a 60-watt bulb are connected separately to identical batteries. Which bulb uses energy at a faster rate, and how do you know?
The 100-watt bulb uses energy at a faster rate because it is rated for higher power (100 W > 60 W).
Draw or describe briefly the electron configuration differences that help explain why an atom with one loosely held outer electron is more likely to conduct electricity.
Atoms with a single loosely held outer electron (like copper) can lose that electron easily so electrons move between atoms, allowing current; insulators have tightly held outer electrons so they do not move easily.
Provide a short real-world example (one or two sentences) where choosing an insulator instead of a conductor is important for safety
Example: Insulating rubber gloves on electrical lines prevent current from flowing through a person because rubber has no loosely held electrons; this reduces the risk of shock.
State Coulomb's Law concept in your own words and explain why LIKE charges repel and UNLIKE charges attract (one or two sentences).
Coulomb's Law: Charged particles exert forces on each other—like charges repel and opposite charges attract—because of the electric force between them, causing motion or equilibrium shifts.
Draw (or describe) a basic series circuit with one battery and two identical bulbs. Explain what happens to the brightness of each bulb if a second bulb is added in series.
In a series circuit, both bulbs share the same current; adding a second bulb in series increases the total resistance, so each bulb becomes dimmer compared to only one bulb.
Provide a short safety scenario (one or two sentences) where leaving leads unconnected while power is enabled could cause a problem, and explain the likely hazard using terms
Scenario: If you leave test leads unconnected and the power supply is enabled, the open leads could touch and cause a short circuit or create a path for shock; this can produce sparks, damage components, or injure a person.