Electricity

Question 1

What is electricity?

Answer 1

It is a flow of negative charge

Question 2

When a push is provided, what happens to the negative electrons in an atom?

Answer 2

They are pushed away from their atom and flow as negative charge. This is electricity.

Question 3

Name 2 sources of ‘push’ for electricity.

Answer 3

Cell (Battery) or Mains (Socket)

Question 4

Are atoms positive, negative or neutral?

Answer 4

Neutral

Question 5

What does electricity flow through in a circuit?

Answer 5

Wires (Electrical Conductors)

Question 6

Where does electricity begin and end in a circuit?

Answer 6

The Cell (Battery)

Question 7

How are the battery’s power ‘rated’?

Answer 7

Volts (V)

Question 8

In which direction does electricity flow?

Answer 8

From the positive terminal to the negative terminal

Question 9

For an electrical circuit to work, what must you have?

Answer 9

A full circuit.

Question 10

What things do you need to have a complete circuit?

Answer 10

No breaks in the circuit. All components to be fully functional.

Question 11

Define these words: Current, Electron, Circuit, Terminals, Cell, Volt, Component and Poles.

Answer 11

Flow of negative charge, Tiny particle that has negative charge, Complete route from positive terminal to negative terminal of power source, Positive and negative ends of a power source, Chemical source of electrical energy, Unit for power sources, one part of an electrical circuit, Positive and negative ends of a component.

Question 12

How does a complete circuit work?

Answer 12

The power source gives energy to the electrons which flow around the circuit and power components and make their way back to the power source.

Question 13

How does an SPST (Single Pole Single Throw) switch work?

Answer 13

When there is a gap, the circuit is not complete. Components do not operate.
When gap is closed, electricity travels through the metal and all of the components are able to operate.

Question 14

What is the instrument for measuring size of current?

Answer 14

Ammeter

Question 15

What is the unit for the size of current?

Answer 15

Amps (A)

Question 16

In a series circuit, what would you notice about the ammeter reading anywhere in the circuit?

Answer 16

There is always the same current throughout the whole circuit. This proves that components do not use up electrical current, but it passes through it.

Question 17

What would happen to the power of a component if you add an extra cell?

Answer 17

It would become more powerful.

Question 18

Why would the ammeter reading for 1 Cell : 1 Bulb be more than the reading for 1 Cell : 2 Bulbs?

Answer 18

In Circuit 2, both of the components are sharing the same voltage, meaning less current passes through the battery.

Question 19

If in a parallel circuit there are 2 bulbs and 2 cells, would the bulbs be dim, normal brightness or bright.

Answer 19

Bright. This is because although there are 2 bulbs to 2 cells, the electricity has another path to follow which allows more current to flow through. It will have to produce double the amount of voltage it would normally produce.

Question 20

In a parallel circuit, is the ammeter reading different or the same throughout a circuit?

Answer 20

Different. It depends where you take the reading as the current is being shared by 2 or more components.