Electricity & Circuits
This is the flow of electrons through a conductor.
What is electricity (or electric current)?
When you rub your hands together, mechanical energy is transformed into this.
What is thermal (heat) energy?
This renewable source uses large blades to capture the kinetic energy of moving air.
What is wind energy?
You should do this to your computer or gaming console at night to save the most energy.
What is turn it off (or unplug it)?
Coal, oil, and natural gas are non-renewable because they take millions of years to form and are called this.
What are fossil fuels?
A circuit is considered "this" when there is a break in the path and the light bulb won't turn on.
What is an open circuit?
A battery contains this type of "stored" energy before it is plugged into a circuit.
What is chemical potential energy?
This energy source uses the heat from deep inside the Earth’s crust
What is geothermal energy?
Replacing old incandescent light bulbs with these more efficient bulbs saves a lot of power.
What are LEDs?
This gas is released when we burn fossil fuels and is a major cause of the greenhouse effect.
What is carbon dioxide?
This device can safely "break" a circuit if too much electricity flows through it, preventing a fire.
What is a circuit breaker (or fuse)?
An electric pencil sharpener transforms electrical energy into this type of energy.
What is mechanical (or kinetic) energy?
These cells are used in panels to turn sunlight directly into electricity.
What are photovoltaic (solar) cells?
This is the term for the "invisible" energy used by appliances that are plugged in but not being used.
What is phantom(or vampire) power?
Using too much energy from fossil fuels can lead to this "Effect," which makes the Earth's atmosphere get warmer like a glass building
What is the Greenhouse Effect?
These materials, like copper and silver, allow electricity to flow through them easily.
What are conductors?
This Law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
What is the Law of Conservation of Energy?
This term refers to organic matter (like wood or corn) that can be burned for fuel.
What is biomass?
This is the most energy-efficient way to dry your clothes after they come out of the washing machine.
What is hanging them on a clothesline (air drying)?
This type of power plant splits atoms to create heat but produces radioactive waste.
What is a nuclear power plant?
In this type of circuit, there is only one path for the electricity; if one bulb burns out, they all go out
What is a series circuit?
A microphone transforms sound energy into this form of energy so it can travel through a wire.
What is electrical energy?
This is the most common renewable energy source used in Canada (and many other places) to produce electricity via dams.
What is hydroelectricity?
To stop wasting electricity, you can plug your computer and charger into this "strip," which lets you turn off the power to everything with one single switch.
What is a power bar (or power strip)?
Sustainability means using resources in a way that doesn't run out for these people.
Who are future generations?