VOCAB 1
What is matter?
Anything with mass and volume that takes up space. All matter is made of atoms.
List charge rules.
1) Opposite charges attract.
2) Like charges repel.
What is a conductor? Provide an example.
Materials that allow electrons to flow easily. They readily conduct electricity. Ex: skin, metal (especially copper wires).
What is electric current?
The net movement of electric charge in a single direction. Electrons travel like bouncy balls thrown down a staircase. Measured in Amperes (Amps).
What is a circuit? Describe open and closed circuits, too.
A closed path where an electric charge flows through. Electric charge must move.
-If the switch is open (off), current won't flow.
-If the switch is closed (on), current will flow.
What are insulators? Provide at least 3 examples.
Materials that block the flow of electrons. Ex: plastic, wood, rubber, air, and glass.
What are atoms?
The simplest form of matter, made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
What are the three ways to transfer charge?
Conduction, Friction, and Induction.
What is voltage difference?
The push (force) that causes a charge to move. Charge flows from higher to lower voltage areas. The larger the voltage difference, the greater the current. Measured in Volts (V).
What is Friction? Provide an example.
The transfer of electrons through rubbing. Ex: rubbing socks on a carpet, then touching your sibling and shocking them.
What is a battery?
A device that converts chemical reactions into electrical energy.
What does the law of conservation of charge state?
Charge cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred. Net electric charge is always constant.
What do electric fields do?
Allow charges to act at a distance. Can move charges around a nearby object. Charged particles placed in the field will be pushed or pulled by the force exerted by the field.
What is conduction?
The transfer of electrons through direct contact. Electrons are moved from one object to another. The object must be a conductor to transfer the charge.
What happens when electrons in an atom move, causing an imbalance of charge?
Static electricity.
What is an electroscope used for?
Detecting charge. It is a tool used to detect the presence and magnitude of an electric charge.
What is static electricity?
A charge imbalance that results in the buildup of excess electrical charge on an object.
What happens when the number of protons in an atom equals the number of electrons?
The atom is considered electrically neutral.
What is grounding?
The process of removing excess charge on an object by transferring electrons to another object to neutralize the charge imbalance. It redirects the charge to the ground rather than a building.
What is induction? Provide a thorough response.
The transfer of electrons through electric fields working at a distance. Ex: A charged object is brought near a neutral object, causing polarization and inducing a charge on the neutral object.
When does shock occur?
1) Objects with loosely held electrons build up on the surface.
2) Shock results when the charge is neutralized.
Describe how, in a battery, chemical energy is converted into electrical energy.
1) Chemical reactions provide a voltage difference between the (+) and (-) terminals of the battery.
2) When the terminals are connected, an electrical current pushes through the conductor/wire because of the voltage difference.
3) Electrons flow from the (-) end to the (+) end.
What is an electric field?
The area surrounding charged particles/objects within which a force can be exerted on other charge objects/particles.
Describe how lightning induces a charge on Earth.
1) Movement of clouds and air currents causes a buildup of static electricity in the clouds.
2) When electron buildup becomes great enough, a positive charge is induced on the Earth.
3) Eventually, attraction is so great that ons travel from the clouds to Earth to neutralize the charge imbalance.
What is static discharge? Provide an example.
The sudden flow of electric charge between two charged objects, due to a buildup of static electricity. Ex: Lightning.