Electricity Study Guide

I. Electric Charges in Atoms.

A. All matter is made of particles too small for the human eye to
see. These particles are called atoms and some have an electric
charge.
B. An electric charge can be positive or negative.

II. Static Electricity

A. The electric charge that builds on an object and does not move
is called static electricity.
B. The friction that moves electrons from one object to another
causes this build up.
C. Too many electrons on an object give it a negative charge.
D. Sometimes the difference in charges moving between 2 objects
is great enough to cause a spark. This spark is called a
discharge.
E. Lightning is a form of static electricity. Lightning is the
result of a negative charge moving towards a positive charge.

III. Current Electricity

A. Electricity that moves through wires is called current
electricity.
B. In order to run through the wires the electricity must travel
through wires that are good conductors. Conductors allow
electricity to move easily through them.
C. The path made for the electrons is called a circuit.
D. The measurement of how well electricity flows through a
material is called voltage.
E. A circuit must be closed to allow current to run through it.

IV. Circuits
A. There are two types of circuits – series and parallel.
B. Series Circuits
1. Have only one path for the electrons to move along.
2. Have more resistance so the charge is weaker and the
light will glow less bright.
3. If one light in a series circuit burns out the others will
not light.
 C. Parallel Circuit
1. Has more than one path for the electrons to move
along.
2. Has less resistance so the lights burn more brightly.
3. If one light in a parallel circuit goes out the others will
stay lit.

V. Conductors and Insulators

A. Metals make good conductors especially copper.
B. Plastic is used over metals as an insulator.

VI. Batteries
A. Batteries are a source of electricity.
B. The points where electricity leaves a battery is called its
terminals.
C. The symbol for a battery on a diagram looks like this:

VII. Light bulbs.

A. A small coiled wire that glows when electric current passes
through it is called a filament.
B. The glow in a florescent light bulb is caused by a special
coating on the inside of the bulb.

VIII. Magnets
A. Magnets are made when the particles in certain metals are all
lined up in the same direction.
B. All magnets have 2 poles a north and south poles.
1. Opposite poles of a magnet attract.
2. The same poles of a magnet repel.
3. The place on a magnet where the magnetism is
strongest is called a pole.
C. Objects that are attracted to magnets are made of metal.