Electricity

People
Benjamin Franklin
Proved

that lightning was electricity by

flying a kite in a lightning storm

Helped

people understand the

principles of electricity

Thomas Edison
Invented

the electrical light bulb

What is electricity?

Electricity is a form of energy

It is caused by a flow of tiny particles called

electrons through a material

Electricity
Electricity is a flow of electric charges along a wire.

Electricity
Electricity is a flow of electric charges along a wire.

This flow of electric charge is called a current.

Current is measured in the units of Amps (A).

What is an Electrical
Circuit?

A circuit is an electrical device that provides a

path for electricity to flow

Complete or Incomplete?

A complete circuit is where all the

components of a circuit are joined up
and there are no gaps

The pathway for electricity is

complete

An incomplete circuit is where the

pathway for electricity is broken

The electricity cannot flow

Circuit Diagrams

cell

lamp

switch

wires

Component Symbols a
cell

The cell stores chemical

energy and transfers it to
electrical energy when a
circuit is connected.

The long line is the positive

end

The short line is the

negative end

Battery

When two or more cells

are connected together
we call this a Battery.

The cells chemical energy

is used up pushing a
current round a circuit.

It is important that each

cell faces the right way

Switch

A switch can be open (as

shown) or closed

When the switch is open, the

circuit is incomplete no
electricity can flow

What happens when the

switch is closed?

Bulb / Lamp

The lamp lights up when

electricity flows through
it

What would happen to

a lamp if there was an
open switch in the
circuit?

Wires

wires

The wires which carry electricity consist of two parts:

The metal wires (conductor).

The plastic coating around the metal wires (insulator).

Prevents people from being electrocuted.

Voltmeter

The voltmeter measures the voltage

of the circuit

We will discuss this in another lesson

Ammeter

The ammeter measures the current in

the circuit

We will discuss this in another lesson

Resistor

A resistor can change the amount of current in a circuit

In a variable resistor, the resistance can be changed.

Resistance

Fuse

A fuse is a safety device

When the current is too high, the fuse

breaks

Example
The wire inside a 3A fuse will melt when the
current is greater than 3A.

Motor

A motor can be fitted into a circuit

What do you think happens to a

motor in a complete circuit?

Circuit Symbols
Voltmet
er
Ammeter
Variable Resistor
Switch
Bulb
Motor
Cell
Battery

types of circuit
There are two types of electrical circuits;
SERIES CIRCUITS

PARALLEL CIRCUITS

SERIES CIRCUITS

The components are connected end-to-end, one

after the other.
They make a simple loop for the current to flow
round.
If one bulb blows it breaks the whole circuit and
all the bulbs go out.

PARALLEL CIRCUITS

The components are connected side by side.

The current has a choice of routes (paths).
If one bulb blows there would still be a complete
circuit to the other bulb so it stays lit.

measuring current
A
Electric current is measured in amps (A) using
an ammeter connected in series in the circuit.

V
The electrical push which the cell gives to the current
is called the voltage. It is measured in volts (V) on a
voltmeter