The Conga Line

Principle
Mr. McBrien
TEJ2O
Today

 Circuits - The Big Misconception

 Conductivity in Metals
 Resistors and Current
 Current Before and After a Resistor - The Conga
Line Principle
 Let’s Talk.
 Most people misunderstand how we get
energy from current.
 Most people misunderstand what happens in
a simple circuit.
 We don’t want to be “those” kinds of
people.

Today we’re going to unlearn some bad ideas about

electricity. This will help us to get rid of some bad
misconceptions.
Misconceptions

 “Circuits convert electrons into energy.”

 “Circuits consume electrons.”

Electrons are not destroyed in circuits. We

have the same number of electrons before and
after a circuit functions.
So Where Does the Energy Come From?

 Consider a rock. If it’s at the top of a ladder, it

has potential energy.
 We can use this energy to do work – like breaking
a toe, for example.
 When we’re done breaking the toe, the rock has
lost energy. But it’s still a rock.
 Energy From Electrons

 Electrons have potential energy provided

by the potential source.
 An electron at the negative battery
terminal has lots of potential energy.
 An electron at the negative terminal has
zero potential energy.

Electrons give up their energy as they move through

the circuit.
Electrons are not consumed by a circuit!

 Electrons move from the negative terminal to the

positive terminal as the circuit functions.
Misconception

 “Electronsmove quickly towards a resistor

and then slow down when they reach it.”
Electrons all move at the same speed in
a simple circuit!
Electrons all move at the same speed in
a simple circuit!
?
Butyou told us that resistors slow
down the speed of electrons!!!
Resistors Slow Down Electron Flow
Throughout the Circuit.
 Ifelectrons moved quickly to the resistor, then
slower after, they would bunch up before the
resistor.
 Electrons do NOT accumulate anywhere in a
simple circuit.
Conductivity in a Simple Circuit

 In a wire (or a resistor), electrons move

from one atom to the next.
 Asone electron leaves an atom, the next
one takes its place.
 This prevents charge from building up in a
circuit.

An electron can’t leave the battery until the last

electron moves forward!
The Conga Line Principle

 Electrons move through simple circuits in a

“conga line”: As an electron moves forward,
another one takes its place.

In a simple circuit, the current is the same at any

given point (node).
Current is the Same Anywhere in the Circuit!

i3
i = i 1 = i 2 = i3
Summary
 Energy in circuits comes from moving electrons
from a high energy location (the negative
terminal) to a low energy location (the positive
terminal).
 Circuits do not consume electrons!
 Electronsdon’t move quickly to a resistor and
then slowly after it.
 Ina simple circuit, current is the same at any
point.
Homework - PHET
 Complete the Conga Line Activity – build a
series circuit and put an ammeter before
and after each resistor.
 Measure the current and compare.
References

 https://
phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construc
tion-kit-dc-virtual-lab