ELECTRICITY

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

How does electricity flow?

LEARNING COMPETENCIES
1. differentiate static and current electricity
2. describe a simple dry cell
3. infer the conditions necessary to make a
light bulb light up
4. determine the effects of changing the
number of type of components in a circuit
ELECTRICITY
● it is the presence of motion of electric charges in a
material
○ static electricity - electricity at rest; it is a
buildup of electric charge on the surface of
an object
○ c
STATIC ELECTRICITY
○ electricity at rest;
○ it is a buildup of electric
charge on the surface of an
object;
○ usually caused by the
sudden contact of objects, or
friction
ELECTRIC CURRENT

● the flow of electrons along a

material (like water flowing
from a hose)
● the most common source of
current electricity is a dry
cell (a battery)
ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS
● materials that allow electrical charges to flow freely
● most metals are good conductors of electricity
● electrical wires are made up of copper metal (one of
the best conductors)
● other examples: aluminum, silver, and salt solution
INSULATORS
● do not allow electrical charges to flow freely
● the coating from electrical wires
● rubber, glass, wood, and air are examples
USES OF ELECTRICAL CURRENTS
● huge amounts of electric current is produced by
generators of power plants
● fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas are common
sources for electricity generation
Conductors and Insulators
Conductors Insulators

Electrons flow easily between Electron flow is difficult

atoms between atoms
Examples: Silver, Copper,
Gold, Aluminum
Examples: Mica, Glass,
Quartz
Conductors and Insulators
Identify conductors and insulators

Insulators
Conductors
Electrical Circuit
A system of conductors and components
forming a complete path for current to travel

Properties of an electrical circuit include

Voltage Volts V
Current Amps A
Resistance Ohms Ω
Current
The flow of electric charge
- measured in AMPERES (A)

Tank (Battery) Faucet (Switch)

Pipe (Wiring)

When the faucet (switch) is off, is there

any flow (current)?
NO
When the faucet (switch) is on, is there
any flow (current)?
YES
Current in a Circuit

off on

When the switch is off, there is no current.

When the switch is on, there is current.
Current Flow
Electron Flow is what actually
happens. The electrons flow out of the
negative side of the battery, through the
circuit, and back to the positive side of
the battery.

Electron
Flow
Voltage in a Circuit

off on

The battery provides voltage that will push

current through the bulb when the switch is on.
Circuit Configuration
Components in a circuit can be connected in one
of two ways.
Series Circuits Parallel Circuits
• Components are connected • Both ends of the components are
end-to-end. connected together.
• There is only a single path for • There are multiple paths for
current to flow. current to flow.

Components
(i.e., resistors, batteries, capacitors, etc.)
Series Circuits
A circuit that contains only one path for current flow
If the path is open anywhere in the circuit, current
stops flowing to all components.
Parallel Circuits
A circuit that contains more than one path for
current flow
If a component is removed, then it is possible
for the current to take another path to reach
other components.
Image Resources

Microsoft, Inc. (2008). Clip Art. Retrieved November 20, 2008, from
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/default.aspx