Registro: 1

Circuits and Electronics. By: Currie, Stephen. Circuits & Electronics

(ELL). 2009, p1-2. 2p. 3 Color Photographs, 1 Cartoon or Caricature.
Abstract: A circuit is a road for electricity. Circuits move power through
many kinds of things that run on electricity, or electronics. Electronics,
including cell phones and small video games, need electricity and
circuits to work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Reading Level (Lexile):
660. (AN: 33408054)
Circuits and Electronics
A circuit is a road for electricity. Circuits move power through many kinds of things that run on electricity, or
electronics. Electronics, including cell phones and small video games, need electricity and circuits to work.

Electricity
Electricity is the flow or movement of electrical power. This power is caused by very small pieces of electricity
called electrons. Electrons do not always stay in the same place. When they move, they make electricity.

Electricity often travels or flows through wires or other materials. When electricity flows, it is called an electrical
current or an electric current. Electric currents move electricity from one place to another.

[caption] This illustration shows how electricity flows through a wire. This is called an electrical current.

Copyright Great Neck Publishing

Circuits
Electricity moves in a circuit. In a circuit, the current flows through all the wires. A circuit flows in a circle. In a
circuit, the current will return to where it started.

A circuit is like a bridge over a small river. If the river is not very wide, a person can jump across to get to the
other side. However, if the river is wide, people need to cross by using a bridge. Without a bridge, people
cannot move across.

A circuit acts the same way. Electrons cannot move very well by themselves. They need circuits in order to
travel. Without circuits, electrons stay in place.
Conductors and Insulators
A circuit needs to get electricity from somewhere. The place where electricity comes from is a called a source.
A battery is one source of electricity. A battery holds electric power until the power is needed. An electric
outlet is another source of electricity. An electric outlet is a place where people can plug in things that use
electricity. In houses, electric outlets are usually in the wall. The outlet is a source of electricity.

A circuit also needs wires. Wires move the electrical current away from the source. These wires are usually
made of metal. That is because electricity moves very well through metal. Metal is a good conductor of
electricity.

Not all materials are good conductors of electricity. Rubber and plastic are not good electrical conductors. This
is why wires are not made of rubber or plastic.

However, wires are often covered with rubber or plastic. These materials help keep the electric current inside
the wires. Rubber and plastic are called insulators. Insulators are important for safety reasons. If people touch
a metal wire with electricity running inside it and without insulators, the electricity could go into their body. This
can be very harmful. It will hurt.

[caption] This picture shows copper wire. Copper is a metal that is a good conductor of electricity. This wire is
covered in plastic. The plastic is an insulator.

BU004170 Copyright Getty Images

More About Circuits
In a circuit, the wires go from the power source to an object or thing that needs electricity to work. The wires in
the circuit must be tightly connected to both the power source (or power supply) and the object.

A circuit is like a circle or a loop. It must start and end at the same place. Other wires must come back from the
object to the power supply, too.

[caption] A flashlight contains an example of a circuit. The switch lets energy from the battery turn the light
on and off.

Copyright Great Neck Publishing

If there is a wire back to the power source, the circuit is complete. The electric current can flow from the power
source through the wires. The circuit will stop working if the connections between the wires are broken. Then
the electric current will not be able to get through.

Electronics
The word electronics can be used to talk about objects that run on electricity and use circuits, such as cell
phones and GPS units. GPS units are small computers that have maps in them and help people to find their
way.

Electronics are usually small and easy to carry. They usually use battery power, but some can be plugged into
an electrical outlet, too.

: [Caption] This calculator has a small circuit inside it. Calculators are a kind of electronics.

skd284226sdc Copyright Getty Images

The circuits in electronics are often very tiny. Circuits can also be very complicated. This means that they can
have many parts and send power to many different parts of electronics.

Bibliography
Periodical

Thomsen, Dietrick E. "Lighting Up the Switchboard." Science News 119.2 (30 May 1981): 2p. Online.
EBSCO. 26 September 2008. http://search.ebscohost.com.bdigital.sena.edu.co/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=sch&AN=7094184&site=ehost-live.

Reference Book

Baldasso, Renzo. "Electricity." Encyclopedia of the Scientific Revolution (Jan. 2000): 2p. Online. EBSCO.
26 September 2008. http://search.ebscohost.com.bdigital.sena.edu.co/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=sch&AN=20062902&site=ehost-live.

Websites

Circuits: Energy Story. California Energy Commission. 27 September

2008. http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter04.html.

Conductors and Insulators. NDT Resource Center. 27 September 2008.

http://www.ndted.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/conductorsinsulators.html.

Static Electricity and Resistance: Energy Story. California Energy Commission. 27 September
2008. http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter03.html.

Comprehension Test

Multiple-Choice Questions

1. Things that run on electricity are called

A. electric currents.
B. circuits.
C. electrons.
D. electronics.

2. When electricity flows, it is called

A. an electric current.
B. a circuit.
C. a conductor.
D. an insulator.

3. An example of a source is

A. an electric outlet.
B. an insulator.
C. a circuit.
D. rubber.
Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

4. A Battery holds electric power until

the power is needed.

5. Metal is a good conductor of electricity.

6. A circuit is a road for electricity.

~~~~~~~~
By Stephen Currie
Stephen Currie has extensive experience in writing for middle and high school readers. He has published
books on topics ranging from invasive species to child labor and from the Mississippi River to the construction
of Steinway pianos. He has also written curriculum materials for secondary-level subjects including math,
history, science, and personal finance. He has taught classes and given workshops for students of all ages
from kindergarten through college.

Copyright of Circuits & Electronics (ELL) is the property of Great Neck Publishing and its content may not be
copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written
permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.

TRADUCCIÓN

Circuitos y Electrónica
Un circuito es un camino para la electricidad. Los circuitos mueven energía a través de muchos tipos de cosas que
funcionan con electricidad, o
electrónica. Los aparatos electrónicos, incluidos los teléfonos celulares y los pequeños videojuegos, necesitan
electricidad y circuitos para funcionar.

Electricidad
La electricidad es el flujo o movimiento de la energía eléctrica. Este poder es causado por piezas muy pequeñas de
electricidad llamadas electrones. Los electrones no siempre se quedan en el mismo lugar. Cuando se mueven,
producen electricidad.

La electricidad a menudo viaja o fluye a través de cables u otros materiales. Cuando la electricidad fluye, se le llama
corriente eléctrica o corriente eléctrica. Las corrientes eléctricas mueven la electricidad de un lugar a otro.
Circuitos
La electricidad se mueve en un circuito. En un circuito, la corriente fluye a través de todos los cables. Un circuito fluye
en un círculo. En un circuito, la corriente regresará a donde comenzó.

Un circuito es como un puente sobre un pequeño río. Si el río no es muy ancho, una persona puede saltar para llegar
al otro lado. Sin embargo, si el río es ancho, la gente necesita cruzar usando un puente. Sin un puente, la gente no
puede cruzar.

Un circuito actúa de la misma manera. Los electrones no pueden moverse muy bien por sí mismos. Necesitan circuitos
para viajar. Sin circuitos, los electrones permanecen en su lugar.
Conductores y Aislantes
Un circuito necesita obtener electricidad de alguna parte. El lugar de donde proviene la electricidad se llama fuente.
Una batería es una fuente de electricidad. Una batería contiene energía eléctrica hasta que se necesita la energía. Una
toma de corriente es otra fuente de electricidad. Un tomacorriente es un lugar donde las personas pueden enchufar
cosas que usan electricidad. En las casas, los enchufes eléctricos suelen estar en la pared. La salida es una fuente de
electricidad.

Un circuito también necesita cables. Los cables alejan la corriente eléctrica de la fuente. Estos cables suelen estar
hechos de metal. Eso es porque la electricidad se mueve muy bien a través del metal. El metal es un buen conductor
de la electricidad.

No todos los materiales son buenos conductores de la electricidad. El caucho y el plástico no son buenos conductores
eléctricos. Esta es la razón por la cual los cables no están hechos de caucho o plástico.

Sin embargo, los cables suelen estar cubiertos de goma o plástico. Estos materiales ayudan a mantener la corriente
eléctrica dentro de los cables. El caucho y el plástico se llaman aislantes. Los aisladores son importantes por razones
de seguridad. Si las personas tocan un cable de metal con electricidad corriendo por dentro y sin aisladores, la
electricidad podría entrar en su cuerpo. Esto puede ser muy dañino. Dolerá.
Más sobre circuitos
En un circuito, los cables van desde la fuente de energía hasta un objeto o cosa que necesita electricidad para
funcionar. Los cables del circuito deben estar bien conectados tanto a la fuente de alimentación (o fuente de
alimentación) como al objeto.

Un circuito es como un círculo o un lazo. Debe comenzar y terminar en el mismo lugar. Otros cables también deben
regresar del objeto a la fuente de alimentación.

Electrónica
La palabra electrónica se puede usar para hablar de objetos que funcionan con electricidad y usan circuitos, como
teléfonos celulares y unidades de GPS. Las unidades de GPS son pequeñas computadoras que tienen mapas y
ayudan a las personas a encontrar su camino.

Los dispositivos electrónicos suelen ser pequeños y fáciles de transportar. Por lo general, usan energía de la batería,
pero algunos también se pueden enchufar a una toma de corriente.
 1. Electrical current

An electric current is a flow of charged particles, such as electrons or ions, moving through an electrical conductor or space.
It is defined as the net rate of flow of electric charge through a surface.  The moving particles are called charge carriers,
which may be one of several types of particles, depending on the conductor.

 What sort of electrical current do they have there?

2. Electric battery

A battery is a source of electric power consisting of one or more electrochemical cells with external connections for powering
electrical devices. When a battery is supplying power, its positive terminal is the cathode and its negative terminal is the
anode. The terminal marked negative is the source of electrons that will flow through an external electric circuit to the positive
terminal. When a battery is connected to an external electric load, a redox reaction converts high-energy reactants to lower-
energy products, and the free-energy difference is delivered to the external circuit as electrical energy. Historically the term
"battery" specifically referred to a device composed of multiple cells; however, the usage has evolved to include devices
composed of a single cell.

 This so-called a Voltaic Pile was the first electric battery.

3. Electric outlet

AC power plugs and sockets connect electric equipment to the alternating current (AC) mains electricity power supply in
buildings and at other sites. Electrical plugs and sockets differ from one another in voltage and current rating, shape, size,
and connector type. Different standard systems of plugs and sockets are used around the world.

 Use plastic inserts to cover electric outlet openings that are not being used.

4. Electrical conductor

In physics and electrical engineering, a conductor is an object or type of material that allows the flow of charge (electric
current) in one or more directions. Materials made of metal are common electrical conductors. Electric current is generated
by the flow of negatively charged electrons, positively charged holes, and positive or negative ions in some cases.

 Aluminum is also a good thermal and electrical conductor.

 5. Insulator (electricity)

An electrical insulator is a material in which electric current does not flow freely. The atoms of the insulator have tightly bound
electrons which cannot readily move. Other materials—semiconductors and conductors—conduct electric current more easily.
The property that distinguishes an insulator is its resistivity; insulators have higher resistivity than semiconductors or
conductors. The most common examples are non-metals.

 You can buy a 6mm Basic CR Loop Insulator here.

6. Power supply

A power supply is an electrical device that supplies electric power to an electrical load. The main purpose of a power supply
is to convert electric current from a source to the correct voltage, current, and frequency to power the load. As a result, power
supplies are sometimes referred to as electric power converters. Some power supplies are separate standalone pieces of
equipment, while others are built into the load appliances that they power. Examples of the latter include power supplies
found in desktop computers and consumer electronics devices.

 Power supply: 2 AAA battery (not included in the package)

7. Brass

Brass is an alloy of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), in proportions which can be varied to achieve different colours and
mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties, but copper typically has the larger proportion. In use since prehistoric times,
it is a substitutional alloy: atoms of the two constituents may replace each other within the same crystal structure.

 For brass or bronze use 3 times the crucible #.

 8. Cathode

A cathode is the electrode from which a conventional current leaves a polarized electrical device. This definition can be
recalled by using the mnemonic CCD for Cathode Current Departs. A conventional current describes the direction in which
positive charges move.

 With anode and cathode, like a huge PN junction.

9. Anode

An anode is an electrode of a polarized electrical device through which conventional current enters the device. This contrasts
with a cathode, an electrode of the device through which conventional current leaves the device. A common mnemonic is
ACID, for "anode current into device".The direction of conventional current (the flow of positive charges) in a circuit is
opposite to the direction of electron flow, so (negatively charged) electrons flow out the anode of a galvanic cell, into an
outside or external circuit connected to the cell. For example, the end of a household battery marked with a "-" (minus) is the
anode.

 The coulometric cell contains two compartments, an anode and a cathode.

10. Electronics

Electronics is a scientific and engineering discipline that studies and applies the principles of physics to design, create, and
operate devices that manipulate electrons and other charged particles. Electronics is a subfield of electrical engineering, but
it differs from it in that it focuses on using active devices such as transistors, diodes, and integrated circuits to control and
amplify the flow of electric current and to convert it from one form to another, such as from alternating current (AC) to direct
current (DC) or from analog to digital. Electronics also encompasses the fields of microelectronics, nanoelectronics,
optoelectronics, and quantum electronics, which deal with the fabrication and application of electronic devices at
microscopic, nanoscopic, optical, and quantum scales.

 Jorge Herrera is an electronics and communications engineer for CommScope.