UNIT 5

ELECTRICITY
And
MAGNETISM
 Starter
Benjamin Franklin

Thomas Edison

• Have you heard of these people?

• Why are they significant?
• 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
 15.1.18
WALT : Know that Electrical current flows

•Electricity is a type of energy.

•It can be changed into other types of energy such as
light, heat and movement.
•It flows through certain materials, called conductors.
•Materials which electricity can’t flow through are called
insulators
•Electricity can flow through the components in a
complete electric circuit.
•We can use symbols to draw circuits.
 Keywords 15.01.18
An electrical energy source
Battery
A light source powered by electricity
Bulb
A sound source powered by electricity
Buzzer
A device that uses electricity to produce movement
Motor
In an electric circuit a break will stop the circuit working
Break
A material that will not allow electricity to pass through
Electrical insulator
A material that will allow electricity to pass through
Electrical Conductor
A good conductor of electricity
Metal
An electrical insulator
Plastic
 Electricity
• Electricity is very important in our lives.
• There are so many things in our homes that
are powered by electricity.
• Can you think of some of them?
EBI: What difference would it make if you
woke up and there was no electricity
tomorrow?
• All matter is made of up of particles .
• Each substance is made up of very small particles that we
cant see, even under microscope.
• These are atoms.
• Each atom is made up of even smaller particles. Some of
these particles have a negative charge( electron) and some
have positive charge ( proton)
• Sometimes charged particles can escape from their atoms-
this is where current can be thought as the flow of particles
around the circuit.
• Electricity is a form of energy
• It is caused by a flow of tiny particles called electrons
through a material
• Current flows from positive to the negative
terminal of the cell.
• In reality the electrons are flowing in the opposite
direction.
• Some kinds of atoms lose their electrons more
easily that the others and these materials conduct
electricity better than those electrons are not lost
easily.
• Coppers is a well known ex. Of such material.
• This is why we use copper wires to carry or
conduct elctricity in a circuit.
• Charged particles are inside the copper wires , but
we need something to push these particles
around the circuit.
• This is where cell comes in .
• We use the term “cell” rather than battery in this
unit.
• Battery is actually when you have many cells.
• The cell contains energy that “push” the charged
particles to move around the circuit.
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) by using

an ammeter.
There are many sources of electricity such as:

Fossil fuels: coal, oil and wood.

Electricity is a kind of energy. It is made in power
stations. Electricity is also made in batteries.

How do you think electricity is

connected to our homes?
 Mains Electricity
• The electricity produced in power stations is carried
through wires into buildings.
• This is called mains electricity and we can connect to
it by using a plug.

•
Most of the large appliances in our home are
powered by Mains Electricity.
•Mains appliances change or convert electrical
energy into other forms of energy
•Can you think what the other forms of energy
are?
• Light energy
•Sound energy
•Movement energy
•Heat energy
 Can you think up some examples
for each type of energy?
Sound Movement

lighting
Heating
WALT: know that a circuit needs a power source

A circuit always needs a power source, such as a battery (or cell),

with wires connected to both the positive (+) and negative (-)
ends.

The source might also be from the mains electricity from a

socket in the wall.

A (one) battery is also known as a cell.

Batteries come in many shapes and sizes.

All batteries are marked with + (positive) and – (negative)

terminals.

Electricity flows from the positive terminal of the battery to the

negative terminal.
 Battery Power
• Many small electrical appliances use batteries.
 
• Batteries are also a source of electrical energy
• Battery powered appliances also convert
electrical energy into heat, light, sound and
movement energy
• Can you think of some battery powered
appliances for each source of energy?
Large batteries normally have more energy in them than small
batteries.

Batteries always have some numbers and letters written on

them.

For example, AA batteries have 1.5V written on them. This

number shows you the battery’s voltage.

Voltage tells you how much push the battery will give the
electricity.

We often use batteries together to give electricity a bigger push.

WALT: know that a complete circuit is needed for a device to work

A circuit can also contain other electrical components, such as

bulbs, buzzers or motors, which allow electricity to pass
through. The components are connected by wires.

Electricity will only travel around a circuit that is complete. That

means it has no gaps.
Simple Circuits

Which of the circuits will work and which ones will not?
Why will they not work?
Complete or incomplete?
A circuit is the path electricity takes when it flows. Electricity
cannot (usually) jump gaps.

The different components in the circuit must all be connected to

each other to make a complete circuit. This is needed for
electricity to flow.

If a circuit had any breaks in it, the electricity wouldn’t be able to

flow around it.
WALT: draw electrical circuits using symbols

Circuit Diagrams

cell lamp switch wires

Symbols
We use these symbols to draw diagrams of circuits:
Circuit Symbols
Voltmete
r
Ammeter

Switch
Bulb
Motor
Cell

Battery
 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
 Complete or Incomplete?
• An incomplete circuit is where the pathway
for electricity is broken
• The electricity cannot flow
Component Symbols – a cell
• A cell is what gives
the circuit power

• The long line is the

positive end

• The short line is the

negative end
Battery
• A battery is made
up of 2 or more
cells

• It gives the circuit

power

• 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?
Voltmeter

• The voltmeter
measures the
voltage of the
circuit

• This is the push of

electricity around
the circuit
Voltmeter
• The voltmeter measures the
voltage of the circuit

• Voltage is like the pressure in

a garden hose with a hand
operated spray nozzle at the
end.

• Even when the nozzle is turned

off there's still pressure in
the garden hose. Even when a
light is switched off there's
still voltage in the energized
portion of the circuit.
Ammeter
• The ammeter
measures the
current in the
circuit

• This is the flow of

electricity around
the circuit
 Ammeter
• The ammeter measures
the current in the
circuit

Current is like the rate of flow of water in the garden

hose, say how many litres per minute are moving in the hose.
When the nozzle is turned off, there's still pressurized
water in the hose, but there's no flow.
 Quiz
1. Name 1 material that conducts electricity
2. Name 1 material that is an electrical insulator
3. What does this symbol stand for?

4. What does this symbol stand for?

WALT: identify which materials conduct electricity

What materials are good conductors of electricity?

How can we test various materials to see if they are
conductors?
Material Conductor Insulator

What do the results show?

Are there any exceptions to the

general rule?
WALT: know that a switch can be used to make or break a circuit to turn
things on or off (using both batteries or mains)

Switches

What does the switch actually do?

Switches

When a switch is open (off), there is a gap in the circuit. Electricity

cannot travel around the circuit.
When a switch is closed (on), it makes the circuit complete.
Electricity can travel around the circuit.
Brighter bulbs!

Changing circuits

How can you change the brightness of the bulb?

List all the things you could change to do this.
What will happen if you add more bulbs to the circuit?
What would a switch do to the circuit?
If the bulb was exchanged for a motor, how could the speed of the motor
be changed?
How could the loudness of a buzzer be changed?
WALT: alter the brightness of a bulb in a circuit and the speed of a motor in a circuit
Changing circuits

Adding more batteries to a simple circuit will increase the

electrical energy, which will make a bulb brighter.
More bulbs

Adding more bulbs to a simple circuit will reduce the electrical

energy and make the bulbs dimmer.
Longer wires

Lengthening the wires in a simple circuit will reduce the electrical

energy, as it has further to travel. The extra distance will make
the bulb dimmer.
Adding a motor

If electrical energy is flowing around the circuit, the motor will

rotate
What is a Magnet?

What Materials are Magnetic?

There are many legends that tell us about
the  discovery of magnets.

One of the most common, is that of an

elderly shepherd named Magnets, who was
herding his sheep in an area of Northern
Greece called Magnesia, about 4,000 years
ago.

It is said that both the nails in his shoes and

the metal tip of his staff became firmly
stuck to the large, black rock on which he
was standing. This type of rock was later
named magnetite, after either Magnesia or
Magnets himself.
• Magnet
A stone or a piece of metal that attracts some
other metal with an invisible force.

• Attract
To pull towards each other.

• Repel
To push away from each other.

• Poles
The ends of a magnet.
What Materials are Magnetic?
WALT: understand the properties of magnet

al ly m a d e
a r e us u They
They h a ve t
of iron. e nd s c wo
They can also magn alled
e tic p o
repel other les.
magnets.

y c a n
The ome
c t s
attra rials.
m a t e
What Do Magnets Do?
Attract or repel other magnets (exert a
force)

Attract other magnetic metals

Have at least 2 distinct ends (poles) each

Like poles repel, opposite poles attract

Notes:
Do not need to touch to exert force (can exert force through
empty space)
Can turn other magnetic metal objects into temporary
magnets
 Magnetic Field
Magnetic field of a Bar
Magnet: 2 poles, called
North and South

Dipole field

Field has direction: lines

point away from N and
toward S

Definition of a Pole: Where lines meet

(converge)

e.g.: lines of longitude on a globe meet

at poles
 Every m
a gne t
has at l
east on
north p e
ole and
one sou
th pole
. 

The blue end of a magnet is usually the south

pole.
The red end of a magnet is usually the north
pole.
 When two magnets are
close, they create pushing or
pulling forces on one
another.

These forces are strongest at the ends of the

magnets. The two ends of a magnet are
known as the north pole and the south pole.
WALT: understand that magnets can attract and repel each other

• So now we know that “like” poles repel each

other…
• and that “opposite” poles attract each other.

They do this because there is a

FORCE
between them.
If you try to put two magnets together with
the same poles pointing towards one another,
the magnets will push away from each other.
We say they repel each other.
In thi
s pic
north ture
poles two
push
ing a are
each way
other from
(repe
lling
other each
).
 If you put two magnets together with different
poles pointing towards one another, the magnets
will pull towards each other. We say they attract
each other.

In this picture a north and a south pole are pulling

towards each other (attracting each other).
WALT: understand that magnets attract some metals but not others

Magnets can attract

other magnets but they
can also attract
magnetic materials. Magnetic
materials are
always metals
but only a few
metals are
magnetic.
 e t al w it h
s o a n y m
ag n e t i c, t o a
Iron IS m t t ra c t e d t eel
w i l l b e a n ,s o a s
n i n i t a i n s i r o
iro t e e l c o n t
l l b e
t . S w i
magne , for example,
ap e rc l i p n e t.
p t o a m a g
attra c t e d
Most other metals, for
example aluminium, copper
and gold, are NOT
magnetic. An aluminium
drinks can, for example,
will not be attracted to a
magnet.
 Unit 3E: Uses of Magnets

Scrap yards
(Cranes)

Hospitals
Compasses
(MRI Scan)

What are magnets

used for?

Locking Doors Speakers

Fridge Magnets

Unit 3E: Uses of

Magnets: L.O. 8
How do magnets help in a scrap yard?
A car is made up of many different materials. When a car is
scrapped the different types of metals need to be sorted. A
huge rotating magnet is used to sort the magnetic materials
from the non-magnetic materials. Separating the materials
allows them to be reused.
Electricity and Magnetism
Electric Current (Electricity) is
moving charge.

In an electric circuit, batteries

provide an electric field to push
charges through a wire, which
provides a path for them to flow.
Unless there is a complete
circuit the charges cannot flow.

Compasses around a circuit with

flowing electric current detect a
magnetic field.

Magnets can push or pull on a

wire with current flowing through
it.
 Electricity and Magnetism
The shape of
the magnetic
field around a
long, straight
wire carrying
electric current

Many loops in a
solenoid shape
creates a dipole-
Looping the shaped magnetic
wire turns the field, similar to that
magnetic field of a bar magnet
into a toroidal
(donut) shape.
Electricity and Magnetism
A dynamic electric field creates
a magnetic field.

A dynamic magnetic field creates

an electric field.

The basic principle behind

electric generators is creating
relative motion between a
magnet and a wire to create an
electric field that will push
current through a circuit.

Converts kinetic energy into

electric energy.
 Need a power
Switch can break source
Bulb brighter a circuit
Co
m po
Motor faster ne
nt
M
s
or
Buzzer louder e r ies
tte

its
Ba

cu
Cir
Bulb dimmer Needs to be
s
Les

complete
Motor slower
Circuits and
Buzzer quieter
Conductors
Allow electricity
through Do not allow
electricity through

Some better than others

Insu
lator
s s
r
d ucto
Cables Con Non-metal
Metals are
good
Wires