Electricity Flashcards
Electric current
The steady flow of electric charges, usually in a wire
GFCI outlet
A special outlet with a safety switch that instantly switches off in some dangerous situations to help prevent a shock
Generator
A device that uses a magnet to change mechanical energy into electrical energy
Kilowatt hour
A unit used to measure the amount of electrical energy used
Lightning
A giant spark of electric charges moving between a cloud and another cloud or within a cloud
Switch
The part of a circuit that closes the circuit and allows electricity to flow or opens the circuit and prevents the flow of electricity
Volt
A unit used to measure how strongly the electrons in a wire are pushed
Watt
A unit used to measure how fast electrical energy is used
Static electricity
Electricity at rest
Proton
A particle in an atom that has a positive electrical charge
Neutron
A particle in an atom that has no charge
Electron
A particle in an atom that has a negative electrical charge
Electrons sometimes move . . .
From one object to another
Objects can be uncharged, _________ _________, or __________ __________.
Objects can be uncharged, POSITIVELY CHARGED or NEGATIVELY CHARGED.
Opposite charges _________ while same charged objects _________.
Opposite charges ATTRACT while same charged objects REPEL.
Forces that attract and repel jumping charges flow in a ________. Electric _________ flows steadily, usually in a _________.
Forces that attract and repel jumping charges flow in a CURRENT. Electric CURRENT flows steadily, usually in a WIRE.
Energy flows through a ________ controlled by a variety of ________.
Energy flows through a CIRCUIT controlled by a variety of SWITCHES.
Electrical force is measured in _________.
Volts
How fast electrical energy is used is measured in ________ and _________.
Watts and Kilowatts
The amount of energy used is measured in ________ ________.
Kilowatt hours
_________ and __________ are closely related. Each can be used to produce the other.
ELECTRICITY and MAGNETISM are closely related. Each can be used to produce the other.
How do generators produce electricity?
By moving a magnet near a coil of wire
Name 4 energy sources commonly used by generators
Coal, Oil, Nuclear Fuel, and Hydroelectricity (energy from falling water)
How did Ben Franklin discover electricity?
By flying a kite with a key attached during a thunderstorm
Describe in detail Benjamin Franklin’s experiment with the key, kite and thunderstorm
- 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.
Describe how electricity and magnetism are similar
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.
Describe our experiment with static electricity. Be sure to label all diagrams you draw to explain how static electricity works.
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).
