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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 039 10 09 08 07 06 05
What Is Electricity?...................... ........................ 2

Converting Electrical Energy .................................. 4

Magnets and Electricity ........................................ 6

Static Electricity.......................... ........................ 8

Current Electricity ............................................... 10

Series Circuits ............................ ........................ 12

Parallel Circuits .......................... ........................ 14

Glossary. . . . . . ..................................................... 16

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 What Is Electricity?
You know what electricity does. When you flip on a switch, a
light comes on. When you push a button, your computer turns
on. Electricity also powers appliances such as washers, dryers,
ovens, vacuum cleaners, televisions, and stereos. Electricity runs
the traffic lights in the streets and the heating and cooling
systems of many buildings and homes. You may know what
electricity does, but do you know what electricity really is?
To understand electricity means you have to understand
atoms. You may remember that an atom is the smallest unit of a
substance that still has the properties of that substance. Atoms
contain charged particles called protons and electrons. Protons
have a positive charge. Electrons have a negative charge.

Electricity is the energy of

moving electrons. It runs
through the wires that you
plug into the wall.

2
 Atoms have different numbers of protons and electrons. Some
atoms have more electrons than protons, and some have more
protons than electrons. An atom with more electrons than protons
has a negative charge. An atom with more protons than electrons
has a positive charge.
Electrons move around the outside of the nucleus of an atom.
Sometimes, these electrons move from one atom to another.
The movement of electrons from one atom to another produces
energy. This energy is electricity. Electricity is electrical energy
produced by moving electrons.
MAIN IDEA AND DETAILS What is electricity? Explain.

+ +

– +

When the number of protons and

electrons are not equal, matter
becomes charged. Like charges
repel each other. Opposite
charges attract each other.
3
 Converting Electrical Energy
You know that electricity makes your toaster toast bread and
your refrigerator keep things cold. Electrical energy can be
converted, or changed, into other forms of energy. For example,
lamps, street lights, and traffic lights convert electricity into light
energy. Electrical energy can be changed into mechanical energy,
too. Electricity is converted into mechanical energy through an
electric motor. Electric motors are
at work in fans, electric toys,
and water fountains. They
also produce motion in
appliances and tools
like blenders, mixers,
and electric saws
and drills.

Some electric devices,

like this fan, produce
motion when electrical
energy is converted to
mechanical energy.

4
 This computer
changes electrical
energy into light
energy (the screen),
mechanical energy
(playing the DVD),
and sound energy
(the sounds from
the movie).

Electricity can also

be changed to heat
energy and sound
energy. Toasters,
electric ovens, hair
dryers, and electric
space heaters use electrical energy
to produce heat. Some homes are
heated by electricity, too. Radios, You’ve probably seen neon
stereos, CD players, and doorbells all lights. They are used to
produce sound energy from electrical spell out the names of
energy. Some of these devices use movie theaters, stores, and
electricity from electrical outlets. restaurants. Neon lights
Others use the electrical energy contain gases, including
produced by batteries. neon. These gases glow
MAIN IDEA AND DETAILS when electricity flows
What are some other forms of through them.
energy that electrical energy can
be converted into?

5
 Magnets and Electricity
A magnet is a material or device that attracts items containing
certain metals. Magnets produce an area called a magnetic field.
A magnetic field is a region of magnetic force around a material.
Natural magnets come from a rock called magnetite. Magnetite
is not very strong. Permanent magnets, which are made from
metals like iron and steel, are usually stronger than magnetite.
Electrical energy can be used to produce magnets that are
even stronger than permanent magnets. These magnets are
called electromagnets. An electromagnet is a magnet made
by coiling a wire around a piece of iron and running electricity
through it. Electromagnets are
very useful. Not only are they
strong, but they can also
be turned on and off.

This magnet is a
permanent magnet.
Its magnetic field is
strongest at its poles.

6
Electromagnets are used
in recycling centers,
shipyards, and junkyards
to lift cars and other
heavy objects. When the
operator wants to drop
the scrap, she or he will
simply shut off the
electricity flowing to the
electromagnet.

Electricity produces
magnetism. The reverse is
Did you know that an electromagnet
true, too. Magnets produce
is used in a doorbell? When you
electricity. In a power station,
press the button, electricity flows
a coil of wire is spun inside
through the electromagnet. The
the magnetic field of a very
magnet pulls a small hammer, which
large magnet. This produces
hits a bell to make a sound.
a magnetic field between the
ends of the coil. When the
wire cuts through the magnetic field, electricity flows through it.
Electricity flows through wires from the power station to schools,
offices, and homes. Did you know that magnets produce the
electricity you use every day?
CAUSE AND EFFECT How is electricity used to
produce magnetism?
7
 Static Electricity
Have you ever rubbed a balloon on your head or on a wool
sweater and then stuck it to a wall? Maybe you’ve pulled socks
apart and heard a crackling noise, or touched a doorknob and
felt a small shock. Each of these situations involves static electricity.
Static electricity is the buildup of charges on an object.
Most objects have no
charge, because the atoms
that make up the matter
are neutral. But when one
object rubs against
another, electrons move,
and the number of
protons and electrons in
the atoms are no longer
equal. When a charged
object comes in contact
with an object with a
different charge, the
opposite charges attract
each other.

Rubbing a balloon on your

head or on a sweater causes
it to become negatively
charged. The negatively
charged balloon is attracted
to the wall’s positive
charges and sticks to it.

8
 Lightning is a discharge
of static electricity. Clouds
can become charged. When
electrons jump from one
cloud to another, or from
a cloud to the ground, you
see lightning.

For example, when you rub a

balloon on your head, electrons
Earth can absorb lightning attach to the balloon and it becomes
without being damaged. negatively charged. Opposite charges
But when lightning strikes on the balloon and the wall make the
a tree or another object, a two objects attract each other. The
fire may start. If lightning balloon sticks to the wall. Items of
strikes a beach, it can melt clothing in a dryer pick up static
grains of sand together to charge as they rub against each other.
form glass. You hear crackling when you pull
them apart and the electrons move to
balance the charges. The crackling is called static discharge. The
same thing occurs when you drag your feet on carpet—your body
gains a positive charge. When you touch a doorknob or another
object, your body attracts electrons from that object. The electrons
jump from the doorknob to your hand. You feel a shock!
CAUSE AND EFFECT What causes the buildup of static charges
on an object?

9
 Current Electricity
You’ve learned that static electricity is a buildup of charges on
an object. Static electricity is considered potential energy. The
electrons on charged objects can move, but they haven’t moved
yet. When the electrons do move during a static discharge,
potential energy changes to kinetic energy.
Static discharges are short bursts of kinetic energy. Short
bursts are not very useful. To light a light bulb or run a computer
you need a continuous flow of electricity. A continuous flow of
electricity comes from a steady flow of electrons. If electrons have
a path to follow, they move in a steady stream instead of building
up a charge. The flow of electrons is called electric current.
Current electricity is the kinetic energy of flowing electricity.
Current electricity requires a
constant supply of electrons.
Sources of electrons include
batteries and energy stations.
Power stations produce a large flow
of electrons. This supplies electric
current to homes, businesses,
and schools.

Batteries provide a portable

source of current electricity.

10
 When you use current electricity to run an electric device, you
plug the device into a socket. This connects the device to wires.
Electric current is pressured through the wires to give the
electrons energy. Electrical pressure is measured in units
called volts. The rate at which electric current flows is
measured in units called amps. Electrical devices
change current electricity into another form of
energy such as heat, light, or motion. The
amount of energy an electrical device
uses each second is measured in
units called watts.
CAUSE AND EFFECT
How does current
electricity get from
the source to the
electric device?

This electrical device,

a hair dryer, changes
current electricity into
heat energy.

11
 Series Circuits
Electric current needs a path to follow in order to flow. Any
path along which electrons can flow is called an electric circuit.
In order for current to flow in an electric circuit, the circuit needs
two things. One thing that is needed is a source of electricity.
Another thing that is needed is for the circuit, or loop, to be
complete. If a circuit is not complete, the electric current
won’t flow.
When the current only has one path to follow, the circuit is
called a series circuit. The parts of a series circuit are connected
one after another. They form one continuous loop. If any part of
the circuit is removed or not working, the circuit is broken.
Current stops flowing.

In a series circuit, there

is only one path for the
electrons. If one of the bulbs
in this diagram burns out,
the other bulb goes out, too.

12
 A switch controls the flow of
current in a circuit. When the
flashlight’s switch is turned
on, the circuit is completed.
Electricity flows through the
circuit. The flashlight turns on.

The parts of a flashlight work together to form a series circuit.

In a flashlight, the source of electrons is the batteries. The
batteries, pieces of metal, and the light bulb are connected
together one after another in a single loop. You use the
flashlight’s switch to open and close the circuit. When the switch
is turned on, a piece of metal inside the switch moves. The circuit
is closed. Electricity flows, and the flashlight turns on. When you
turn the switch off, the piece of metal inside the switch moves
back again. The circuit is open. This breaks the flow of current
and the light goes out.
MAIN IDEA AND DETAILS What is an electric circuit? What is a
series circuit?

13
 Parallel Circuits
Series circuits require that everything be connected at the
same time. If electric devices were connected in series circuits,
they would have to all be switched on or off at the same time.
This means that if you turned on a lamp in your house, all the
other lights would go on, too! For this reason, series circuits are
not used for the electrical wiring in most homes or buildings.
Circuits that have more than one path for current to flow
through are called parallel circuits. The current for each device
in a parallel circuit has a separate path. If one device is turned off
or removed, current only stops flowing along the loop for that
device. Current continues to flow through the other loops in
the circuit.
MAIN IDEA AND DETAILS What advantage does a parallel
circuit have over a series circuit?

In a parallel circuit, there is more

than one path for the electrons. If
one of the bulbs in this diagram
burns out, the other bulb will
stay on.

14
 With parallel circuits, you can
turn the flow of electricity on
and off for one loop in the
circuit without affecting the
other loops. For example, you
can turn the television off,
and the lamp will stay on.

Summary
Electricity is electrical energy produced by the movement of
electrons between areas that have opposite charges. Electrical
energy can be converted into light, heat, sound, motion, and
magnetic energy. Static electricity is the buildup of charges on an
object. These charges move from one place to another during a
static discharge. Static is discharged in brief bursts of kinetic
energy, but current electricity is the steady flow of electric
current. Electric current needs a complete electric circuit in order
to flow. A series circuit provides only one path for current to flow.
A parallel circuit provides several paths for the current.

15
 Glossary
current electricity (KUR•uhnt EE•lek•tris•uh•tee) A kind of kinetic
energy that flows as an electric current (10, 11, 15)
electric circuit (ee•LEK•trik SER•kit) The path an electric current
follows (12, 15)
electric current (ee•LEK•trik KER•uhnt) The flow of electrons
(10, 11, 12, 15)
electricity (ee•lek•TRIS•ih•tee) A form of energy produced by
moving electrons (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 15)
electromagnet (ee•lek•troh•MAG•nit) A magnet made by
coiling a wire around a piece of iron and running electric current
through the wire (6, 9)
parallel circuit (PAR•uh•lel SER•kit) An electric circuit that has
more than one path for the current to follow (14, 15)
series circuit (SIR•eez SER•kit) An electric circuit in which the
current has only one path to follow (12, 13, 14, 15)
static electricity (STAT•ik ee•lek•TRIS•uh•tee) The buildup of
charges on an object (8, 9, 10, 11, 15)

16
Think and Write
1. Describe three ways electric energy can be converted
into another form of energy.
2. MAIN IDEA AND DETAILS How does a switch control
the flow of electricity in a circuit?
3. CAUSE AND EFFECT What causes electric current to
keep moving?
4. Persuasive Writing A friend tells you he wants to
connect several devices in his house in a series circuit. He
says that it will take less materials to do the wiring than if
he makes parallel circuits. Write a paragraph that explains
why his idea is not a good one.

Hands-On Activity
Lightning is a dangerous discharge of static electricity. Work with
a classmate to research how to stay safe during an electric storm.
Make a list of “Lightning Safety Rules.” Print your list on poster
board and explain each safety rule to others.

School-Home Connection
Discuss what you have learned with a family member. Together,
list some of the ways your family uses electricity. What would
you do if you did not have electricity? What things would
you miss doing?