Conductors & Insulators
What are conductors?
Materials that allow electricity to flow easily through them.
What is a closed circuit?
This circuit allows electricity to flow because it has a complete path.
This type of energy is produced when a light bulb is transformed from electrical energy.
Radiant energy
A student has an open circuit. Name three items that would easily allow electricity to easily flow through.
Answers may vary
This phenomenon occurs when you rub a balloon on your hair and then use it to pick up small pieces of paper.
Static electricity
What are insulators?
These materials do NOT allow electricity to flow easily through them and are used for safety.
What circuit component provides the electrical energy that powers the circuit?
A battery
When you plug in a space heater, electrical energy is transformed into this type of energy.
Thermal energy
This circuit component is represented by a gap or break in the diagram and controls the flow of electricity.
A switch
What size battery will conduct the most electricity?
The largest
From this list, identify which materials are good conductors: copper wire, rubber glove, wooden pencil, steel spoon, plastic fork.
copper wire and steel spoon
What is an open circuit?
When a switch is open it prevents electricity from flowing
This electrical device performs work by attracting metal objects when currents flow through wire wrapped around a nail.
An electromagnet
In a closed circuit with a battery, wires and a light bulb, which component transforms electrical energy into light energy.
The light bulb
Miles removed clothes from the dryer, he noticed that his sock was stuck to his shirt. Why?
The socks and shirt had different types of electric charges after tumbling together.
Why are electrical wires are covered with rubber or plastic coating?
This is because rubber and plastic are insulators that prevent dangerous electrical flow and protect people from electric shock
Complete this sentence:
"Open circuits _____ allow electricity to flow, while closed circuits _____ allow electricity to flow."
Open circuits do not allow electricity to flow, while closed circuits do allow electricity to flow
An electric motor transforms electrical energy into this type of energy to make things move.
Mechanical energy
What is the source of energy in a circuit?
The battery
A student is sliding down a plastic slide on the playground. After he reaches the ground, he feels a small electric shock when he touches a piece of metal. What has been built up on his body that causes the shock?
negatively charged particles
A student is testing materials to build the safest handle for an electrical tool.
Explain which material would be best and why: aluminum, copper, plastic, or steel.
The plastic, because it's an insulator that will prevent electricity from flowing through the handle and shocking the person using the tool
Explain what happens in a circuit when you connect a battery, wires, a switch, and a light bulb in a complete loop.
The light bulb will light up because it is a closed circuit, meaning electricity can easily flow through it
Explain how an electric can opener performs work and what energy transformation occurs.
It transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy to rotate cutting wheels and move the can, performing the work of cutting through metal
Draw a closed circuit with labeled parts
Answers will vary
2. Getting a thicker wire
3. Using a different nail
4. Change the number of coils