Electricity

Conductors and Insulators

• Conductors are materials that allow electricity to flow easily Examples: metal, water, air and some chemicals

• Insulators are materials that resist the movement of electricity Examples: rubber, wood, plastic, cloth

Electricity NotesThere are two kinds of electricity

AC-Alternating current where the charges move back and forth (wall outlet)

DC-Direct current where the charges flow in one direction (batteries)

Kinetic Energy is energy of movement

Voltage• Voltage (volts) measures the force of

electrons that flow in a circuit

AmperesAmperes (amps) measure the number of

electrons that pass one point within one second. Amperes measure electric current

WattageWatts= amperes x volts

Circuits• Two types of circuits-Parallel and

Series

• Parallel circuits provide more than one path for electrons to flow.

• Series circuits have only one path for the electrons to flow.

Battery

Battery

Switch

Switch

Light Bulb

Light Bulbs

Series Circuit

Parallel Circuit

Resistance

• Insulators resist the movement of electricity or the movement of electrons. This resistance is measured in Ohms

Base

Filament

Support

Lead-in Wires

Bulb

What Makes a Light Bulb Light?

Electricity goes in one lead wire and travels up to the very thin filament wire

cause it to glow from the electricity running through it.

The electricity then runs back down through the other lead wire back to the

energy source.

Gauge of wire refers to its size.

The bigger the number the smaller its size

The smaller the number the bigger its size