Electricity

Question 1

Electric current

Answer 1

The steady flow of electric charges, usually in a wire

Question 2

GFCI outlet

Answer 2

A special outlet with a safety switch that instantly switches off in some dangerous situations to help prevent a shock

Question 3

Generator

Answer 3

A device that uses a magnet to change mechanical energy into electrical energy

Question 4

Kilowatt hour

Answer 4

A unit used to measure the amount of electrical energy used

Question 5

Lightning

Answer 5

A giant spark of electric charges moving between a cloud and another cloud or within a cloud

Question 6

Switch

Answer 6

The part of a circuit that closes the circuit and allows electricity to flow or opens the circuit and prevents the flow of electricity

Question 7

Volt

Answer 7

A unit used to measure how strongly the electrons in a wire are pushed

Question 8

Watt

Answer 8

A unit used to measure how fast electrical energy is used

Question 9

Static electricity

Answer 9

Electricity at rest

Question 10

Proton

Answer 10

A particle in an atom that has a positive electrical charge

Question 11

Neutron

Answer 11

A particle in an atom that has no charge

Question 12

Electron

Answer 12

A particle in an atom that has a negative electrical charge

Question 13

Electrons sometimes move . . .

Answer 13

From one object to another

Question 14

Objects can be uncharged, _________ _________, or __________ __________.

Answer 14

Objects can be uncharged, POSITIVELY CHARGED or NEGATIVELY CHARGED.

Question 15

Opposite charges _________ while same charged objects _________.

Answer 15

Opposite charges ATTRACT while same charged objects REPEL.

Question 16

Forces that attract and repel jumping charges flow in a ________. Electric _________ flows steadily, usually in a _________.

Answer 16

Forces that attract and repel jumping charges flow in a CURRENT. Electric CURRENT flows steadily, usually in a WIRE.

Question 17

Energy flows through a ________ controlled by a variety of ________.

Answer 17

Energy flows through a CIRCUIT controlled by a variety of SWITCHES.

Question 18

Electrical force is measured in _________.

Answer 18

Volts

Question 19

How fast electrical energy is used is measured in ________ and _________.

Answer 19

Watts and Kilowatts

Question 20

The amount of energy used is measured in ________ ________.

Answer 20

Kilowatt hours

Question 21

_________ and __________ are closely related. Each can be used to produce the other.

Answer 21

ELECTRICITY and MAGNETISM are closely related. Each can be used to produce the other.

Question 22

How do generators produce electricity?

Answer 22

By moving a magnet near a coil of wire

Question 23

Name 4 energy sources commonly used by generators

Answer 23

Coal, Oil, Nuclear Fuel, and Hydroelectricity (energy from falling water)

Question 24

How did Ben Franklin discover electricity?

Answer 24

By flying a kite with a key attached during a thunderstorm

Question 25

Describe in detail Benjamin Franklin’s experiment with the key, kite and thunderstorm

Answer 25

• In 1752, on a dark June afternoon in Philadelphia, Ben Franklin discovered electricity by flying a kite.
• With the help of his son, William, they attached his kite to a silk string, tying an iron key at the other end. Next, they tied a thin metal wire from the key and inserted the wire into a Leyden jar, a container for storing an electrical charge.
• While Franklin held onto the kite by the silk ribbon, the thunderstorm cloud passed over Franklin’s kite, whereupon the negative charges in the cloud passed onto his kite, down the wet silk string, to the key, and into the jar.
• Ben, however, was not affected by the negative charges because he was holding the dry silk ribbon, protecting him from the charges on the key.
• When he moved his free hand near the iron key, he received a shock. Why? Because the negative charges in the key were so strongly to the positive charges in his body, a spark jumped from the key to his hand. Franklin’s experiment successfully showed that lightning was static electricity.

Question 26

Describe how electricity and magnetism are similar

Answer 26

Possible answers: Magnetism has two opposite poles, north and south. Electricity has two opposite charges, positive and negative. In magnetism, like poles repel and opposite poles attract. In electricity, like charges repel and opposite charges attract.

Question 27

Describe our experiment with static electricity. Be sure to label all diagrams you draw to explain how static electricity works.

Answer 27

Important facts to remember: If an uncharged object rubs agains another uncharged object, both objects become charges. For example if you rub the balloon on the fabric, the electrons rub off the fabric onto the balloon and it becomes negatively charged. When the balloon is placed near another balloon,, the negative charges on the balloon repel the negative charges on the other balloon near it. When the negative charge changes to a positive charge, it will attract to the negative charge. It will stick to that surface (the chair leg, the pant leg, the wall).