Definitions
This is the path made of wires that allows electrons to flow through in order to create electricity.
What is an electrical circuit?
Materials that let electricity pass through them easily.
What are conductors
In a series circuit, electricity has only one path to follow, all parts are connected along the same pathway with no branches.
Define a parallel circuit.
In a parallel circuit, electricity has multiple pathways or branches to follow. The current flowing through this type of circuit divides as it reaches each branch.
Name the components of a basic circuit.
A power source such as a battery, a device that will use the power such as a lightbulb, and wires to connect them.
These are negatively subatomic particles that flow through the circuit.
What are electrons?
Materials that do not allow electricity to pass through them.
What are insulators?
True or False: If one part of a series circuit is removed, the circuit becomes incomplete or open and the current stops flowing. If one bulb gets fused, all the bulbs will light up.
True
True or False: In a parallel circuit, the more lights there are the dimmer they will be.
False
This is why you shouldn't be in water when it is lightning out.
People are good conductors, therefore lightning could strike the water and then the electricity would flow into you!
This is the movement of electricity which flows through a circuit to provide power to devices.
What is an electrical current?
Name 4 metal conductors.
What are copper, iron steel and silver?
Name the benefits of a series circuit.
2. Gives you a warning that one of the components in the circuit has failed.
True or False: Homes only have series circuits
False
Name an example of a load.
Toaster, light bulbs,
This is any component of a circuit that consumes power or energy.
What is a load?
Name 4 examples of non metal conductors.
What are: water, people, animals and trees?
True or False: The more bulbs that are added to a series circuit, the brighter the lights will be.
False
Name the benefits of a parallel circuit.
It is useful if you want everything to work, even if one component has failed.
If a live wire hits your vehicle, is it safe to get out of your vehicle?
No: the car is grounded by the rubber tires therefore, it is safer to remain inside your vehicle until help arrives!
This is when there is a buildup of negative charges.
What is static electricity?
Name 4 examples of insulators.
What are plastic, glass, rubber and wood?
This is an example of a series circuit.
What are christmas lights?
True or False: In a parallel circuit if one light burns out, electrons will have different paths to flow so only the light that burns out will go dark without affecting the rest of the lights.
True
This is why static electricity is not a useful power source.
All energy is released at once.