WHAT IS ELECTRICITY?

Electricity is the flow

of electrical charge.
Charges flow in a
current like water
flows in a river.

Electricity is NOT Fire

The electrons move
from negative to
positive in an electric
current.
The electrons move
randomly in fire.

Electrons give a CHARGE!

Gaining or losing
electrons makes the
object have a
charge.
Gaining electrons
makes it have a
negative charge.
Losing electrons
makes it have a
positive charge.

Opposites Attract!
Just like magnets,
opposites attract.
Positive charges
attract negative
charges.
Positive charges
repel other positive
charges.

What does electricity flow through?

Conductors are
materials that allow
electricity to flow like
copper and aluminum.
Insulators do not
allow electricity to
flow like rubber and
plastic.
Resistors slow the flow
of electric current.

Static Electricity
the build-up of electric
charges in one place
Clothes from the dryer
show static electricity.
Getting shocked by a
doorknob is also a form of
static electricity.
Lightning is also static
electricity.

ElEctric FiEld
the area around
electric charges where
electric forces can act
This field increases
with size and force
depending on the
amount of charge.

Electric Circuit
An electric circuit is
a continuous
pathway that can
carry an electric
current.
Any break in the
circuit will stop the
electric current.

SERIES CIRCUIT

An electric circuit with only one path for current

If one light bulb blows, the entire circuit is broken.

PARALLEL CIRCUIT
An electric circuit with
two or more paths for
current
If one path fails,
another path can still
complete the circuit
and the current
continues to flow.

Think of all the ways you use

electricity!
What would we do without it?