Lesson 13 — Activity 2: Electricity and Circuits
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Lesson 13 — Activity 2:
Electricity and Circuits
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The previous activity focused on why electrical charges exist. This activity focuses on how to control electrical charges to use them to do work. You will learn more about how electricity works by learning how a circuit can control the flow of charged particles.
Machines that are run by electricity require a way to control the flow of charged particles (an electric current). To control an electric current requires a path or circuit for the electrons to follow.
To create a circuit, four parts are needed:
- a power source of electrical energy
- a conductor (a wire of some sort) that the charged particles (the current) can move through
- a load — anything powered by electricity that converts the current into another form of energy (sound, light, heat, etc.)
- a switch to turn the circuit on and off
These
components are part of all circuits, such as those that power a simple
battery or a computer system or those that power a city for millions of
people.
Electric current flowing through a circuit is measured by units called amperes (A). Amperage is a measurement of the amount of charge or current that passes per second past a particular point in a conducting wire.
Electrical energy of the charged particles flowing through the circuit can also be measured by units called volts (V). Voltage is the force causing the flow of current. Most electrical appliances in North America, such as hair dryers, toasters, and
coffee makers, use the low voltage (120 V) of the usual household plug-in. Some devices may plug into the usual outlets, but they may use very low voltages, such as a cordless phone or a computer.
- a power source of electrical energy
- a conductor (a wire of some sort) that the charged particles (the current) can move through
- a load — anything powered by electricity that converts the current into another form of energy (sound, light, heat, etc.)
- a switch to turn the circuit on and off
These components are part of all circuits, such as those that power a simple battery or a computer system or those that power a city for millions of people.
Electric current flowing through a circuit is measured by units called amperes (A). Amperage is a measurement of the amount of charge or current that passes per second past a particular point in a conducting wire.
Click on the Play button below to watch a video on how simple electric circuits work.
Click on the Play button below to watch a video on how simple electric circuits work.
Digging Deeper
Click here to view a video to learn more about how batteries work.
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