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.

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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.

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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 ____ holds electric power until the

power is needed.

5. Metal is a good ____ of electricity.

6. A ____ 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.

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