MODULE 5: Introduction to Electricity

Learning Objectives:
Define what is electricity
Define what is electric current
Differentiate Direct current from Alternating current.
Define what is voltage, current and resistance.

Learning Resources:

https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/voltage-current-resistance-and-ohms-law/electricity-
basics#

A. Basic Electricity Questions:

1. What is electricity?

Electricity is the flow of electrical power or charge. It is a secondary energy source which
means that we get it from the conversion of other sources of energy, like coal, natural gas, oil,
nuclear power and other natural sources, which are called primary sources.

2. What is the difference between a conductor and an insulator in terms of electrons?

The difference between the two is that while conductors allow free flow of electrons
from one atom to another, insulators restrict free flow of electrons.
3. Name four metallic conductors.
copper, aluminum, gold, and silver.
4. Which metallic conductor of the four is the best conductor? Why?
Silver because it’s pure silver and the most conductive of all metals.
5. How does electricity travel through wires?
The electricity that is conducted through copper wires in your home consists
of moving electrons.
6. Name five common materials that are insulators.
glass, plastic, rubber, air, and wood.
7. Why are wires typically coated with plastic?
Electrical wires are covered with a layer of plastic to make it safe.
8. What is the difference between alternating current and direct current? Give advantages and
disadvantages for each type of currents.
The generation of AC is cheaper than that of DC. When AC is supplied at higher voltages, the
transmission losses are small compared to DC transmission
9. Complete the chart

Electrical What does it measures Symbol Unit of Instrument

Properties Measur use to
ement measure
Voltage the pressure from an electrical V Volt voltmeter
circuit's power source that pushes
charged electrons (current) through a
 conducting loop
Resistance the opposition to current flow in an Ω ohm ohmmeters
electrical circuit.
Current the rate at which electrons flow past a A ampere ammeter
point in a complete electrical circuit.

10. Identify situations when resistance is desirable.

Example is electric heater or a light bulb. the amount of electrical resistance that exists in an
electrical circuit when one amp of current is flowing with one volt being applied to the circuit.
11. Identify situations when resistance is undesirable.

A situation where electrical resistance is undesirable is in the transmission of electrical energy

through wires from a power plant to consumers, since resistance in the wire will cause some of
the electrical energy flowing through the wire to be converted into thermal energy, which will
be wasted.
12. What components are placed in an electrical circuit to control the amount of resistance in circuit?
Resistors control how much electric charge flows through a circuit each second – the size of
the current in the circuit. They do this by controlling how difficult it is for electric charges to
flow in the circuit – that is, the resistance in the circuit.

B. Electric Circuits
1. What is a complete circuit?
An uninterrupted path for electrons to flow from an energy source (i.e. battery or
household power), through a device and back to the source.
2. What are the components of a complete circuit?
An energy source (AC or DC), a conductor (wire), an electrical load (device), and at least
one controller (switch).

3. Why won’t an incomplete circuit work?

They are not sentient. They stop flowing because there is nowhere for them to flow. They
can't flow through the air, only the wire. When the wire is broken, they can't jump the gap,
so they stop.

4. If you are using more than one battery in a circuit, how should they be
connected?

Batteries in series need to be connected with the positive end of one battery to the negative
end of the next battery.

5. Draw the circuit diagram symbols for the following

a. 2 cell battery b. An closed c. A resistor/ load

 switch

d. A light bulb e. Ammeter d. voltmeter

12. On the circuit diagram below,

1. label the positive and negative electrodes of the battery
 2. draw an arrow to show the direction that the current flows

3. use Ohm’s Law to calculate the resistance of the resistor. Voltmeter and ammeter
readings are indicated on the diagram.

V 6V
R= R= =2 R
I 3A

C. Activity 1: Simulation of a simple Electric circuit

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/circuit-construction-kit-dc

Click the link above (Circuit Construction Kit DC only) Click on the Intro part.

1. Create a battery, switch and wires as seen to the right

A battery stores what type of energy? Explain

Place Current setting to electrons.

a. What happens? Why do you think this happens?

The flow of the electron in the circuit is slow because when we follow the
formula when we multiply the voltage and resistor the result is the ampere of
the circuits.

b. Draw the schematic diagram of your set up.

2. Un-attach the top wires and connect a light bulb as seen to right & below

Place Current setting to electrons

a. What happens?

b. Examine inside the light

bulb, what is happening?

 The electron is also flowing inside the light bulb.

c. Which way are the electrons flowing?

From left to right

d. Click on Conventional Current

e. Draw the schematic diagram of your set up.

3. Notice the brightness of the light.

Take the ammeter from the right and PLACE THE SCOPE ANYWHERE ALONG THE CIRCUIT WIRE

What does the AMMETER read?

0.45 A

Now place the ammeter scope on the BULB.

What does the AMMETER read?

0.45 A

Now place the ammeter scope on the BATTERY.

What does the AMMETER read?

0.45 A

What can you say about the current (ampere) of the circuit?

The value of the current in circuit is the same.

4. Take the voltmeter from the right and PLACE THE RED PRONG on the POSITIVE SIDE OF BATTERY
and PLACE THE BLACK PRONG on the NEGATIVE SIDE OF BATTERY

What Does the VOLTMETER READ?

9.00 V

5. Take the voltmeter from the right and PLACE THE RED PRONG on the POSITIVE SIDE OF LIGHT
BULB and PLACE THE BLACK PRONG on the NEGATIVE SIDE OF LIGHT BULB

What Does the VOLTMETER READ?

4.50 V

Take the voltmeter from the right and PLACE THE RED PRONG anywhere along on the wire and PLACE
THE BLACK PRONG anywhere along on the wire

What Does the VOLTMETER READ?

9.00 V

6. Take the voltmeter from the right and PLACE THE RED PRONG anywhere along on the wire and
PLACE THE BLACK PRONG anywhere along on the wire

What Does the VOLTMETER READ?

0.00 V

Using Ohm’s Law, I=V/R and V= I·R and R=V/I

Determine the light bulb resistance

R=V/I R= 4.50 V/0.45 A

R=10 Ω

7. Add another bulb to the circuit as seen to the right.

Draw the schematic diagram of the set up.

What do you notice about the brightness of the light?

The brightness of the light become deem.

What happens when you add more bulbs to a circuit? Why does this happen?
 Increasing the number of bulbs in a series circuit decreases the brightness of the
bulbs.

What happens when you add more batteries to a circuit? Why does this
happen?

Increasing the number of batteries in a circuit it also increases the brightness of the
bulbs.

How does the length of the wire affect the circuit?

The longer the wire, the more resistance that there will be.

Using your data from above, determine the current of the circuit now (The resistance will be doubled, The
VT will be the same.)

I=VT/RT

I=_18.00 V /10 Ω I=_1.8A

Now take your ammeter and a anywhere along circuit,

What does it read? 0.60A
Now take your voltmeter, determine the voltage drop across each bulb (6.00 V each)

Now take your ammeter and aim scope anywhere along circuit,

What does it read?0.60A

Now take your voltmeter, determine the voltage drop across each bulb

Bulb1: 6.00 V Bulb2: 6.00 V

Add the Voltage drops of bulb1 and bulb2.

Total Voltage dropped:12V

Total Voltage dropped How does the total voltage dropped compare to the VT?

nd
5. Change the 2 bulb to a bulb with a resistor (located further down the list)
Draw the schematic diagram of the circuit

What do you notice about the brightness of the light?

The brightness of the light bulb is super bright

What do you notice about the movement of the electrons?

The movement is slow

Use your ammeter to determine the current of the circuit now.

Use your voltmeter to determine the total voltage of the circuit now.
Using Ohm’s Law, Determine the RT
RT=VT/I

RT=3.00V/0.30A
Knowing the resistance of the regular light bulb, Determine the resistance of the
bulb with A resistor

RT – Rreg bulb = 10 Resistance of bulb with resistor