Electricity Flashcards
How are magnetism and electricity related?
electric current field makes a magnetic field and vice versa
What is an electromagnet?
electric powered magnets
How do electromagnets work?
they can be turned on and off
How can the strength of an electromagnet be increased?
- increase the number of coils 2. increase the voltage of the current
Give an example of everyday magnets that use electromagnetism.
scrap yard cranes - sort out scrap metal at junk yards and recycling plants. A large magnet on the end of a crane can be turned on and off to pick up and drop large pieces of scrap metal.
List 5 electricity safety rules
- don’t put metal in toasters
- Take plug-ins out of the the socket using the plug not the wire
- Never put your fingers in an empty socket
- Do not fly kites near electrical wires
- Never touch electrical items when in contact with water
Current
the flow of energy/electricity
electricity
the flow and movement of electrons
battery
a power source where chemicals react to make electricity
proton
are positively charged and found inside the nucleus
neutron
are neutral and also found inside the nucleus
electron
negatively charged and and orbit around the nucleus
insulator
a material that does not let electrons flow through it
examples of insulators
rubber, glass, plastic
conductor
a material that allows electrons to flow through it
examples of conductors
copper, gold, people, animals
open circuit
when there is a break that interrupts the flow of electricity (switched off)
closed circuit
when there is a complete circuit allowing a continuous flow of electricity (switch on)
switch
a device that opens and closes a circuit
anode
the negative end of a battery
cathode
the positive end of a battery
resistor
a material that slows down the flow of electrons - used to control the current of electricy
What are two possible outcomes when there are too many loads and not enough voltage?
- some or all of the loads may not get their power
2. the circuit could short out/overload the circuit
Static Electricity
a build up of an electric charge on the surface of a material
Why is this called static electricity
it is not a continuous current or flow of electrons, static means motionless
Why is static electricity not a good source of power
it is a very quick transfer of electricity that does not last very long
How does lightning work
raindrops and ice crystal collide inside a rain cloud creating electrical charges. The electrons move to the bottom of the cloud, the protons move to the top. Negative charges build up at the bottom of the cloud. Positive charges build up on the ground creating a large electric field. Step leaders snake down from the clouds, streamers surge up creating lightning
